Greetings, Stampers!
I'm here in Seattle, visiting the grandchildren. Of course I've got my Oma hat on, not my Stampin'Up! demonstrator hat, so this will be an extremely short post. We plan to go to the Pike's Place Market today and we're thrilled that the sun is shining!
I've got two stamping opportunities this weekend for you, so send me a quick email at sjrstamps@gmail.com if you'd like to attend. The first is Kelly's party on Saturday morning (October 1st) at 10:30 at my house. The second is my annual World Card-Making event that starts at 1:30 on Sunday, October 2nd. There's plenty of room for you to come and bring a friend on Saturday. For Sunday I have only a couple of spots open. Just let me know you'd like to attend and I'll get your name on my list!
Hope you'll enjoy a great Wednesday whatever the weather may be!
Happy stamping!
Susan
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Gloomy outside... sunny inside!
Hello stampers and welcome back to The Classic Card!
Yes, it appears that fall is really here, judging from the gray skies and wet streets. Despite all that gloom outside, I'm happy here in my stamping room with its sunny yellow walls and bright lights, which I'm so thankful for on days like this! I can almost convince myself that it's another gorgeous day!
I'm facing a busy week ahead so I won't be posting here on The Classic Card for a few days. But I'll still be dreaming up classic cards for your viewing pleasure once I'm able to blog again. If you are a reader in the Portland, Oregon area, I've got some fun events coming up this weekend and you are invited to attend. First I've got a stamping party at my house on Saturday, October 1st, beginning at 10:30 am. You'll get to make two great cards, enjoy yummy snacks, some fun door prizes, and enjoy chatting with some friendly stampers.
On Sunday, we're celebrating World Card-Making Day at 1:30 at my home. I have only three spots left for this fun annual event. Again, you'l be making two cards, both with an "interesting" fold. After we're done stamping, snacking, and chatting, we're going to play Stampin'Up! bingo for all the hostess dollars generated by the sales at this party. I'll also be throwing in some extra prizes to make bingo more fun. You'll get one bingo card for your $35 purchase and an additional card for every $30 after that. If you'd like to attend one or both of these events, please send me a quick email at sjrstamps@gmail.com and I'll save you a spot!
OK, I know you came here to look at a card, so here's a warm and sunny card to brighten your Monday...
The colors here are Cherry Cobbler, More Mustard, and Whisper White. Here's a quick list for your ordering ease, just in case you'd like to make this card:
Stamps:
Creative Elements, 122647 for clear-mount
Petite Pairs, 122497
Ink:
Cherry Cobbler, 119669
More Mustard, 103162
Paper:
Whisper White, 100730
More Mustard, 100946
Cherry Cobbler, 119685
Accessories:
Petals a Plenty embossing folder, 116824
1 3/4 inch circle punch,119850
1 3/8 inch circle punch, 119860
Cherry Cobbler Striped Grosgrain ribbon, 125056
Stampin' Sponge, 101610 (you get 3)
Dimensionals, 104430
This is a quick and easy card to make and the colors are easily changed. It would be gorgeous with Pool Party and Island Indigo, Old Olive and Certainly Celery, and tons of other great combinations. Just check the back of your Color Coach cards for the "Dynamic Duo" combination. All of these would make a beautiful card, using this stamp set and layout.
Hope your Monday will be a great day! Thanks for stopping by today and I'll see you later in the week!
Happy stamping!
Susan
Yes, it appears that fall is really here, judging from the gray skies and wet streets. Despite all that gloom outside, I'm happy here in my stamping room with its sunny yellow walls and bright lights, which I'm so thankful for on days like this! I can almost convince myself that it's another gorgeous day!
I'm facing a busy week ahead so I won't be posting here on The Classic Card for a few days. But I'll still be dreaming up classic cards for your viewing pleasure once I'm able to blog again. If you are a reader in the Portland, Oregon area, I've got some fun events coming up this weekend and you are invited to attend. First I've got a stamping party at my house on Saturday, October 1st, beginning at 10:30 am. You'll get to make two great cards, enjoy yummy snacks, some fun door prizes, and enjoy chatting with some friendly stampers.
On Sunday, we're celebrating World Card-Making Day at 1:30 at my home. I have only three spots left for this fun annual event. Again, you'l be making two cards, both with an "interesting" fold. After we're done stamping, snacking, and chatting, we're going to play Stampin'Up! bingo for all the hostess dollars generated by the sales at this party. I'll also be throwing in some extra prizes to make bingo more fun. You'll get one bingo card for your $35 purchase and an additional card for every $30 after that. If you'd like to attend one or both of these events, please send me a quick email at sjrstamps@gmail.com and I'll save you a spot!
OK, I know you came here to look at a card, so here's a warm and sunny card to brighten your Monday...
The colors here are Cherry Cobbler, More Mustard, and Whisper White. Here's a quick list for your ordering ease, just in case you'd like to make this card:
Stamps:
Creative Elements, 122647 for clear-mount
Petite Pairs, 122497
Ink:
Cherry Cobbler, 119669
More Mustard, 103162
Paper:
Whisper White, 100730
More Mustard, 100946
Cherry Cobbler, 119685
Accessories:
Petals a Plenty embossing folder, 116824
1 3/4 inch circle punch,119850
1 3/8 inch circle punch, 119860
Cherry Cobbler Striped Grosgrain ribbon, 125056
Stampin' Sponge, 101610 (you get 3)
Dimensionals, 104430
This is a quick and easy card to make and the colors are easily changed. It would be gorgeous with Pool Party and Island Indigo, Old Olive and Certainly Celery, and tons of other great combinations. Just check the back of your Color Coach cards for the "Dynamic Duo" combination. All of these would make a beautiful card, using this stamp set and layout.
Hope your Monday will be a great day! Thanks for stopping by today and I'll see you later in the week!
Happy stamping!
Susan
Friday, September 23, 2011
Fall, Friday, and Sunshine... a great combination!
Welcome to Fall, Stamping Friends!
Yes, it is officially here! Today marks the first day of fall! Many people claim that fall is their favorite season. They love the clear blue skies and cool temperatures (around these parts it is not usually clear and crisp, but rainy), the gorgeous colors of fall leaves, going to harvest festivals for apples and pumpkins, and the renewed energy that the new school year brings. I love all those things too, but I still have to admit that fall is in second place on my favorite season list. I think you all know that I'm a summer person. I love fall too... just not quite as much!
Have you noticed that I haven't missed a post all week, even though I said I'd be out of town? Well, my plans changed and I've been here all week. Next week, however, I will be missing several posts as I travel to Seattle to visit my daughter and her family. I hope you've got some fun things planned for this weekend, as it is going to be sunny today and Saturday. Let's just not mention Sunday, OK? Let's just ignore that and maybe it will go away.
In honor of fall, I've got a fun Halloween card for you. I know some of you don't celebrate Halloween. If you're in that category, you have my permission to skip this post. To me, Halloween is a time for little kids to dress up in cute costumes and go trick-or-treating. I don't buy into the whole "vampires, monsters, and ghosts" scene and I'd never make a Halloween card featuring skeletons, spiders, rats, or other scary stuff. Let's just keep Halloween fun and forget the ghoulish aspect that some people like to engage in. With that in mind, here's my card for today. I love how it turned out!
Isn't this a happy little guy? This color combination is great for Halloween cards... Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, and Rich Razzleberry, with a touch of Basic Black.
Here's a quick list, for ordering ease:
Stamps:
Jack of all Trades, 122622
Lighthearted (sentiment), 121157 (in the Holiday Mini-catalog)
Ink:
Basic Black Craft pad, 102192 (Craft ink is more opaque)
Pumpkin Pie, 105216
Old Olive, 102277
Paper:
Basic Black, 121045
Rich Razzleberry, 115316
Old Olive, 102277
Whisper White, 100730
Designer Series Paper Stack, Brights, 117155
Other:
Scallop Dots Ribbon, Old Olive, 124139
Don't forget to take a break from routine this weekend. The sunshine won't be here forever, so get out and enjoy it! You have my permission to save the cleaning and dusting for later. It'll still be there after the sunshine has gone away. And speaking of breaks... why not take a creative break as well? Take 15-20 minutes to sit down with your stamps, ink, and paper and stamp something pretty. It will raise your spirits and you'll feel refreshed! Happy first day of fall and happy weekend everyone! Thanks for stopping by my blog today and I'll meet you back here on Monday.
Sunny stamping!
Susan
Yes, it is officially here! Today marks the first day of fall! Many people claim that fall is their favorite season. They love the clear blue skies and cool temperatures (around these parts it is not usually clear and crisp, but rainy), the gorgeous colors of fall leaves, going to harvest festivals for apples and pumpkins, and the renewed energy that the new school year brings. I love all those things too, but I still have to admit that fall is in second place on my favorite season list. I think you all know that I'm a summer person. I love fall too... just not quite as much!
Have you noticed that I haven't missed a post all week, even though I said I'd be out of town? Well, my plans changed and I've been here all week. Next week, however, I will be missing several posts as I travel to Seattle to visit my daughter and her family. I hope you've got some fun things planned for this weekend, as it is going to be sunny today and Saturday. Let's just not mention Sunday, OK? Let's just ignore that and maybe it will go away.
In honor of fall, I've got a fun Halloween card for you. I know some of you don't celebrate Halloween. If you're in that category, you have my permission to skip this post. To me, Halloween is a time for little kids to dress up in cute costumes and go trick-or-treating. I don't buy into the whole "vampires, monsters, and ghosts" scene and I'd never make a Halloween card featuring skeletons, spiders, rats, or other scary stuff. Let's just keep Halloween fun and forget the ghoulish aspect that some people like to engage in. With that in mind, here's my card for today. I love how it turned out!
Isn't this a happy little guy? This color combination is great for Halloween cards... Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, and Rich Razzleberry, with a touch of Basic Black.
Here's a quick list, for ordering ease:
Stamps:
Jack of all Trades, 122622
Lighthearted (sentiment), 121157 (in the Holiday Mini-catalog)
Ink:
Basic Black Craft pad, 102192 (Craft ink is more opaque)
Pumpkin Pie, 105216
Old Olive, 102277
Paper:
Basic Black, 121045
Rich Razzleberry, 115316
Old Olive, 102277
Whisper White, 100730
Designer Series Paper Stack, Brights, 117155
Other:
Scallop Dots Ribbon, Old Olive, 124139
Don't forget to take a break from routine this weekend. The sunshine won't be here forever, so get out and enjoy it! You have my permission to save the cleaning and dusting for later. It'll still be there after the sunshine has gone away. And speaking of breaks... why not take a creative break as well? Take 15-20 minutes to sit down with your stamps, ink, and paper and stamp something pretty. It will raise your spirits and you'll feel refreshed! Happy first day of fall and happy weekend everyone! Thanks for stopping by my blog today and I'll meet you back here on Monday.
Sunny stamping!
Susan
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Fun and Fast!
Hello Stampin' Friends!
As usual, the week has flown by and Friday is almost here. If you are working... hang on! The weekend is coming and Saturday is supposed to be nice! Hurray for sunshine! I won't mention what is supposed to happen on Sunday. I'll just pretend I didn't see that in the forecast. I've been working on getting ready for three upcoming stamping parties this week and I'm happy to say that I'm finished with designing cards and cutting paper. I'll show you the cards over the next few days. I love how they turned out and I think you will too! After all that card-making, I needed a break. So yesterday, I put together a little gift for my granddaughter Emma, who's five years old. She is in that "princess" phase right now and everything she owns seems to be either pink or purple or both! Check this out....
This is a cute journal I made for her. Yes, I know she's too young to keep a journal, but she loves to write and the practice she'll get printing her letters will be great. I imagine she'll also draw pictures in it as well.
Check out Target and big box office stores for discounted school supplies. I got this composition book for just 16 cents (on clearance) at my local Target. These would be a great gift for a niece, daughter, granddaughter, or friend. It can be almost anything you want it to be--- a collection of your favorite recipes, a book of favorite quotations, an inspiration book with pictures from magazines or catalogs showing great color combinations for card-making, or even a gratitude journal. I'm going to make a creative journal for myself so I can keep all my card sketches in one place, instead of putting them on random scraps of paper.
Once you decide on a color scheme and theme for your journal, the rest is easy. For a woman, I'd choose a more sophisticated color scheme, such as black and white with maybe a touch of red or hot pink. Mocha Morning Designer Paper would also be elegant for a woman. But for my five year-old, of course I chose her favorite color... Melon Mambo... a nice hot pink. Measure the front of the book and cut a piece of designer paper to fit. I rounded the corners before I glued it down to the front cover. I used my Scotch ATC gun to glue, but you could use Stampin'Up's snail adhesive or dotto or other double sided tape. Stampin'Up!'s glue stick would work well too. I would not use a wet glue such as Elmer's school glue as it will cause the paper to bubble. The trick is to get the adhesive right at the edge of the cover, so the paper will not curl up at the edge. I don't think it is necessary to cover the back of the book, but if you want to, go ahead and cover that too. Avoid covering the binding of the book.
The name plate is just a Top Note shape, cut with the Big Shot. The letters I used to stamp her name are from the alphabet set Lovely Letters. To make it easier, I decided to have my letters jumping around... so much easier than trying (and failing!) to line them up perfectly. If you are a perfectionist and want all of your letters in one perfect line, get out your Stamp-a-ma-jig. For those of you who may not have been introduced to the Stamp-a-ma-jig, it is a stamp-positioning tool. I will be happy to demonstrate its use at our next get-together--- just remind me. The flowers are from a stamp set called Cottage Garden. I colored directly on the stamp with Melon Mambo, Elegant Eggplant, and Old Olive markers. To finish up, I simply tied a polka dotted ribbon ( non-SU) around the front cover. I think the whole process took less than 20 minutes.
Here's a quick list of the products I used:
Stamps
Lovely Letters, 115030
Cottage Garden, 120003
Ink
Melon Mambo, 115656
Old Olive marker, 100079
Melon Mambo marker, 121074
Elegant Eggplant marker, 105110
Paper
Designer Series Paper Stack, Brights Collection, 117155
Whisper White, 101650
Accessories
Top Note Die for the Big Shot, 113463
These would be great fun to make as Christmas gifts. If you start now, you could have a whole stack finished by Christmas! Thanks for stopping by for a visit today. I appreciate it very much! Don't forget to come back on Friday for more stamping fun!
Susan
As usual, the week has flown by and Friday is almost here. If you are working... hang on! The weekend is coming and Saturday is supposed to be nice! Hurray for sunshine! I won't mention what is supposed to happen on Sunday. I'll just pretend I didn't see that in the forecast. I've been working on getting ready for three upcoming stamping parties this week and I'm happy to say that I'm finished with designing cards and cutting paper. I'll show you the cards over the next few days. I love how they turned out and I think you will too! After all that card-making, I needed a break. So yesterday, I put together a little gift for my granddaughter Emma, who's five years old. She is in that "princess" phase right now and everything she owns seems to be either pink or purple or both! Check this out....
This is a cute journal I made for her. Yes, I know she's too young to keep a journal, but she loves to write and the practice she'll get printing her letters will be great. I imagine she'll also draw pictures in it as well.
Check out Target and big box office stores for discounted school supplies. I got this composition book for just 16 cents (on clearance) at my local Target. These would be a great gift for a niece, daughter, granddaughter, or friend. It can be almost anything you want it to be--- a collection of your favorite recipes, a book of favorite quotations, an inspiration book with pictures from magazines or catalogs showing great color combinations for card-making, or even a gratitude journal. I'm going to make a creative journal for myself so I can keep all my card sketches in one place, instead of putting them on random scraps of paper.
Once you decide on a color scheme and theme for your journal, the rest is easy. For a woman, I'd choose a more sophisticated color scheme, such as black and white with maybe a touch of red or hot pink. Mocha Morning Designer Paper would also be elegant for a woman. But for my five year-old, of course I chose her favorite color... Melon Mambo... a nice hot pink. Measure the front of the book and cut a piece of designer paper to fit. I rounded the corners before I glued it down to the front cover. I used my Scotch ATC gun to glue, but you could use Stampin'Up's snail adhesive or dotto or other double sided tape. Stampin'Up!'s glue stick would work well too. I would not use a wet glue such as Elmer's school glue as it will cause the paper to bubble. The trick is to get the adhesive right at the edge of the cover, so the paper will not curl up at the edge. I don't think it is necessary to cover the back of the book, but if you want to, go ahead and cover that too. Avoid covering the binding of the book.
The name plate is just a Top Note shape, cut with the Big Shot. The letters I used to stamp her name are from the alphabet set Lovely Letters. To make it easier, I decided to have my letters jumping around... so much easier than trying (and failing!) to line them up perfectly. If you are a perfectionist and want all of your letters in one perfect line, get out your Stamp-a-ma-jig. For those of you who may not have been introduced to the Stamp-a-ma-jig, it is a stamp-positioning tool. I will be happy to demonstrate its use at our next get-together--- just remind me. The flowers are from a stamp set called Cottage Garden. I colored directly on the stamp with Melon Mambo, Elegant Eggplant, and Old Olive markers. To finish up, I simply tied a polka dotted ribbon ( non-SU) around the front cover. I think the whole process took less than 20 minutes.
Here's a quick list of the products I used:
Stamps
Lovely Letters, 115030
Cottage Garden, 120003
Ink
Melon Mambo, 115656
Old Olive marker, 100079
Melon Mambo marker, 121074
Elegant Eggplant marker, 105110
Paper
Designer Series Paper Stack, Brights Collection, 117155
Whisper White, 101650
Accessories
Top Note Die for the Big Shot, 113463
These would be great fun to make as Christmas gifts. If you start now, you could have a whole stack finished by Christmas! Thanks for stopping by for a visit today. I appreciate it very much! Don't forget to come back on Friday for more stamping fun!
Susan
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Put me in Coach, I'm ready to play!
Hello stampers! Welcome to Wednesday!
Do you remember the song "Centerfield" by John Fogerty? The lyrics went something like this: Put me in coach, I'm ready to play today. Look at me, I could be centerfield." Well, today I'm not talking about baseball, but about another kind of coach... the Stampin'Up! Color Coach. With this tool, your cards will be amazing, and I'm not kidding around when I say that. With the color coach, you will be ready to play... with your stamps, paper, and ink!
The Color Coach (#120148, 14.95) is a great investment. It consists of 50 double sided cards put together with a removable metal fastener so that you can add additional cards as new In-Colors are introduced each year. The front side of the card shows one of the Stampin'Up! colors, but the back side of the card is the best part, as it gives two color combination suggestions, with each combo showing 3 colors. Most of the color suggestions pair up colors I would never have thought to put together. This tool is not only great for stampers, but people who sew... especially quilters... find this a wonderful tool for combining fabric colors.
I often turn to my old friend "the coach" when I'm lacking inspiration. I might have a card layout and stamp set in mind, but sometimes I just can't seem to come up with a color combination that I like. With all of the colors that Stampin'Up! gives us to work with, combining them in a pleasing way can be a challenge. Often, when I'm in the middle of the creative process, I'll get out my color coach and just go through the color chips looking for a color combination that is fresh and new... one I haven't used before.
Sometimes, however, a card calls out for a more predictable color combination, such as today's card, which is a Thanksgiving card featuring fall leaves. In future posts, I'll show you a less conventional color scheme.
Take a look at my card for today.... I hope you'll be inspired to pull out your stamps, ink, and paper and stamp a few Thanksgiving cards to send to family and a few special friends.
This is one of my favorite stamp sets ever! It is called French Foliage (#121166, 14.95). I just love how realistic the leaves look when you stamp them. They almost look like you inked up a real leaf and then pressed it onto your paper. This great set also includes some French script, a Paris postmark, and some spots that add a very vintage look, like spots on the page of a very old book. Check out this set on page 115 of the Idea Book and Catalog.
The elegant saying "Give Thanks" is from a new set in the Holiday Mini called Hand-Penned Holidays(#124312, 16.95). It includes sayings for Thanksgiving, Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine's Day, so it can be used for multiple holidays. If you like the vintage look, this set belongs in your collection!
As I mentioned before, the colors in this card are pretty predictable, as I don't think anyone wants fall leaves in pinks or blues. The base of the card is Very Vanilla, layered with an embossed panel of Early Espresso. The Very Vanilla focal panel is stamped in Cajun Craze, Old Olive, More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Crumb Cake, and Early Espresso. I've sponged around the Very Vanilla panels with Early Espresso, and then tied on some Linen Thread for a rustic accent. I love how this card turned out and I'll be sending some of these out in November for sure!
Thanks for stopping by today! It's a beautiful day out there... enjoy! I'll look forward to seeing you back here tomorrow for more stamping inspiration!
Susan
Do you remember the song "Centerfield" by John Fogerty? The lyrics went something like this: Put me in coach, I'm ready to play today. Look at me, I could be centerfield." Well, today I'm not talking about baseball, but about another kind of coach... the Stampin'Up! Color Coach. With this tool, your cards will be amazing, and I'm not kidding around when I say that. With the color coach, you will be ready to play... with your stamps, paper, and ink!
The Color Coach (#120148, 14.95) is a great investment. It consists of 50 double sided cards put together with a removable metal fastener so that you can add additional cards as new In-Colors are introduced each year. The front side of the card shows one of the Stampin'Up! colors, but the back side of the card is the best part, as it gives two color combination suggestions, with each combo showing 3 colors. Most of the color suggestions pair up colors I would never have thought to put together. This tool is not only great for stampers, but people who sew... especially quilters... find this a wonderful tool for combining fabric colors.
I often turn to my old friend "the coach" when I'm lacking inspiration. I might have a card layout and stamp set in mind, but sometimes I just can't seem to come up with a color combination that I like. With all of the colors that Stampin'Up! gives us to work with, combining them in a pleasing way can be a challenge. Often, when I'm in the middle of the creative process, I'll get out my color coach and just go through the color chips looking for a color combination that is fresh and new... one I haven't used before.
Sometimes, however, a card calls out for a more predictable color combination, such as today's card, which is a Thanksgiving card featuring fall leaves. In future posts, I'll show you a less conventional color scheme.
Take a look at my card for today.... I hope you'll be inspired to pull out your stamps, ink, and paper and stamp a few Thanksgiving cards to send to family and a few special friends.
This is one of my favorite stamp sets ever! It is called French Foliage (#121166, 14.95). I just love how realistic the leaves look when you stamp them. They almost look like you inked up a real leaf and then pressed it onto your paper. This great set also includes some French script, a Paris postmark, and some spots that add a very vintage look, like spots on the page of a very old book. Check out this set on page 115 of the Idea Book and Catalog.
The elegant saying "Give Thanks" is from a new set in the Holiday Mini called Hand-Penned Holidays(#124312, 16.95). It includes sayings for Thanksgiving, Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine's Day, so it can be used for multiple holidays. If you like the vintage look, this set belongs in your collection!
As I mentioned before, the colors in this card are pretty predictable, as I don't think anyone wants fall leaves in pinks or blues. The base of the card is Very Vanilla, layered with an embossed panel of Early Espresso. The Very Vanilla focal panel is stamped in Cajun Craze, Old Olive, More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Crumb Cake, and Early Espresso. I've sponged around the Very Vanilla panels with Early Espresso, and then tied on some Linen Thread for a rustic accent. I love how this card turned out and I'll be sending some of these out in November for sure!
Thanks for stopping by today! It's a beautiful day out there... enjoy! I'll look forward to seeing you back here tomorrow for more stamping inspiration!
Susan
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Stampin' in the Sunshine Again!
Hello Stampin' People!
Wow! It looks like a gorgeous day out there! Nothing makes me happier than a sunny day! Oh, winning big in the lottery might do it, but really, I'll take the sunshine! I think you have to be a native Oregonian to really enjoy the cloudy skies and rain that is Oregon from late September to late June. I don't claim that status. I'm a transplant from the sunshine state and much of the time I feel starved for sunlight. It's a good thing I've found stamping. It keeps my mood up when the weather starts to drag it down.
I wish I had another sunny card to share with you today, in honor of today's sunshine, but I'm moving forward with designs for the upcoming holidays. While we still have plenty of time to create cards for Thanksgiving and Christmas, now would be a good time to start mulling over card designs and colors.
Today I have a simple but beautiful Christmas card that would be easy to create in quantity... a definite plus unless you want to spend tons of time on your cards. Once you have your paper cut and scored, the card will go together quicly since the stamping is fairly minimal and there's no coloring or cutting out involved.
Speaking of scoring... if you don't already own a scoring board, you need one and Stampin'Up!'s board, called Simply Scored is the best on the market. I say that from experience, as I have tried the two other models that are available and neither one is as easy to use as this one. You can see it on page 7 of the Holiday Mini-catalog. This is a paper-crafting tool that you will use every day for everything from making crisp folds on your cards to creating boxes, easel cards, and more. Here's the card...take a look!
This fun design is known as an easel card, since you open it up and tuck the focal point behind the base, so that the card is tilted back. The colors here are Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, and Very Vanilla.
The stamp set is a new one from the Holiday Mini-catalog called The Sounding Joy. You can find it on page 4 of the mini. This card also features the new quilted ribbon in Cherry Cobbler, also available in the Holiday Mini-catalog. The ink is Cherry Cobbler.
If you would like the directions to make an easel card, send a quick email to sjrstamps@gmail.com and I'll send them to you! The easel card is fun to make for every occasion you can think of and it is a little something different for those of us who are bored with the standard 5 1/2 by 4 1/4 card.
Thanks for stopping by today! Please leave me a comment so I know you're one of my readers. I would appreciate it so much!
Happy Stamping!
Susan
Wow! It looks like a gorgeous day out there! Nothing makes me happier than a sunny day! Oh, winning big in the lottery might do it, but really, I'll take the sunshine! I think you have to be a native Oregonian to really enjoy the cloudy skies and rain that is Oregon from late September to late June. I don't claim that status. I'm a transplant from the sunshine state and much of the time I feel starved for sunlight. It's a good thing I've found stamping. It keeps my mood up when the weather starts to drag it down.
I wish I had another sunny card to share with you today, in honor of today's sunshine, but I'm moving forward with designs for the upcoming holidays. While we still have plenty of time to create cards for Thanksgiving and Christmas, now would be a good time to start mulling over card designs and colors.
Today I have a simple but beautiful Christmas card that would be easy to create in quantity... a definite plus unless you want to spend tons of time on your cards. Once you have your paper cut and scored, the card will go together quicly since the stamping is fairly minimal and there's no coloring or cutting out involved.
Speaking of scoring... if you don't already own a scoring board, you need one and Stampin'Up!'s board, called Simply Scored is the best on the market. I say that from experience, as I have tried the two other models that are available and neither one is as easy to use as this one. You can see it on page 7 of the Holiday Mini-catalog. This is a paper-crafting tool that you will use every day for everything from making crisp folds on your cards to creating boxes, easel cards, and more. Here's the card...take a look!
This fun design is known as an easel card, since you open it up and tuck the focal point behind the base, so that the card is tilted back. The colors here are Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, and Very Vanilla.
The stamp set is a new one from the Holiday Mini-catalog called The Sounding Joy. You can find it on page 4 of the mini. This card also features the new quilted ribbon in Cherry Cobbler, also available in the Holiday Mini-catalog. The ink is Cherry Cobbler.
If you would like the directions to make an easel card, send a quick email to sjrstamps@gmail.com and I'll send them to you! The easel card is fun to make for every occasion you can think of and it is a little something different for those of us who are bored with the standard 5 1/2 by 4 1/4 card.
Thanks for stopping by today! Please leave me a comment so I know you're one of my readers. I would appreciate it so much!
Happy Stamping!
Susan
Monday, September 19, 2011
A busy week ahead
Happy Monday, Stampers!
It is going to be one of those weeks around here! Are you facing a busy week too? I'm going to be out of town several days this week, so I will be missing a couple of posts. So sorry about that, but I just don't think I'll be able to post while I'm gone. When things get busy, it seems like life moves at "warp speed..." you know, like in those Star Wars movies where the ship suddenly takes off. I have a feeling that's the way it is going to go, until one morning I look at the calendar and it says December. Do you get that "uh oh" feeling when you think of December? It doesn't have to be that way! If you start on your shopping and cards now, you can face December with a smile on your face and peace in your heart.
So to inspire you to get started early, here's a card for you! Take a look and let me know what you think.
The colors here are Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, and Very Vanilla. The Designer paper is from a Simply Scrappin' Kit called Christmas Lane that is in the Holiday Mini-catalog on page 26. This kit has 8 sheets of 12 x 12 textured card stock and 6 sheets of double sided designer paper. It also includes several sheets of adhesive die cuts that you can add to cards, scrapbook pages, and gift tags. Depending on how you cut the card stock, you can get up to 48 cards out of one package. The gorgeous lodge and sentiment are from a fabulous new stamp set (also in the mini-catalog, p. 29) called Christmas Lodge. I've found that this image looks best simply stamped in a dark color. Here I used Early Espresso. No coloring needed, which is especially good when you are stamping in quantity!
Here's a quick list of the supplies:
Stamps:
Christmas Lodge, 123769
Ink:
Early Espresso, 119670
Paper:
Very Vanilla, 101650
Early Espresso, 119686
Cherry Cobbler, 119685
Designer paper from Christmas Lane kit, 124007 (in Holiday Mini-catalog)
Accessories:
Striped Grosgrain in Cherry Cobbler, 125056
Snow Burst embossing folder, 124096 (in Holiday Mini-catalog)
This card would be quite simple to make... not too much stamping, no coloring or cutting out required! Of course it is prettier IRL ("in real life"). I'm wishing you the kind of Monday where you have time to relax, be creative, and stamp something pretty, but that's probably not going to happen IRL!
Thanks for stopping by today and I'll see you back here tomorrow for a quick post!
Susan
It is going to be one of those weeks around here! Are you facing a busy week too? I'm going to be out of town several days this week, so I will be missing a couple of posts. So sorry about that, but I just don't think I'll be able to post while I'm gone. When things get busy, it seems like life moves at "warp speed..." you know, like in those Star Wars movies where the ship suddenly takes off. I have a feeling that's the way it is going to go, until one morning I look at the calendar and it says December. Do you get that "uh oh" feeling when you think of December? It doesn't have to be that way! If you start on your shopping and cards now, you can face December with a smile on your face and peace in your heart.
So to inspire you to get started early, here's a card for you! Take a look and let me know what you think.
The colors here are Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, and Very Vanilla. The Designer paper is from a Simply Scrappin' Kit called Christmas Lane that is in the Holiday Mini-catalog on page 26. This kit has 8 sheets of 12 x 12 textured card stock and 6 sheets of double sided designer paper. It also includes several sheets of adhesive die cuts that you can add to cards, scrapbook pages, and gift tags. Depending on how you cut the card stock, you can get up to 48 cards out of one package. The gorgeous lodge and sentiment are from a fabulous new stamp set (also in the mini-catalog, p. 29) called Christmas Lodge. I've found that this image looks best simply stamped in a dark color. Here I used Early Espresso. No coloring needed, which is especially good when you are stamping in quantity!
Here's a quick list of the supplies:
Stamps:
Christmas Lodge, 123769
Ink:
Early Espresso, 119670
Paper:
Very Vanilla, 101650
Early Espresso, 119686
Cherry Cobbler, 119685
Designer paper from Christmas Lane kit, 124007 (in Holiday Mini-catalog)
Accessories:
Striped Grosgrain in Cherry Cobbler, 125056
Snow Burst embossing folder, 124096 (in Holiday Mini-catalog)
This card would be quite simple to make... not too much stamping, no coloring or cutting out required! Of course it is prettier IRL ("in real life"). I'm wishing you the kind of Monday where you have time to relax, be creative, and stamp something pretty, but that's probably not going to happen IRL!
Thanks for stopping by today and I'll see you back here tomorrow for a quick post!
Susan
Friday, September 16, 2011
Weekends... time to slow down!
Hello stamping friends and welcome to the weekend!
Wasn't it Monday yesterday? How did Friday get here so quickly? I'm also amazed when I see that we're already halfway through the month of September. That's what I was talking about the other day. We take on too many things and we get so busy that our days go by in a blur. The weekend is a good time to slow things down and I hope you'll take time to do just that. Slow down, sleep late, read the newspaper, drink coffee, take a walk... those sorts of things. We all need a break from our daily race!
And while you are taking a break from all the things that are calling out for your time and attention, I hope you'll also find at least 30 minutes this weekend to be creative and stamp something. Most of the cards I make can be done... start to finish... in 10 minutes, maybe 15 if you don't move quickly. I always have a sketch, or layout, in mind before I start. Sometimes I hate how my card is turning out and I completely change the layout or colors, but that doesn't happen very often. Usually I stick to my sketch pretty closely. So the key to creating a card and not taking all day to do it is having a sketch to follow.
Here's a fun card I sketched out a couple of days ago. I love the way it turned out! Have a look...
This Halloween card definitely falls into the cute category and would be suitable to send to a young child. There's been a trend lately, fuelled by Martha Stewart, toward really creepy, ghoulish, over-the-top gory Halloween decorations and costumes that would scare anyone and probably terrify a child. With this card, you don't have to worry. The cute owl with his little mask and trick-or-treat bag wouldn't scare a flea!
Even though there are several elements that seem to have been cut out, that is not the case. This card is made with punches... 5 of them, to be exact.
Here's a list of "ingredients" for this fun card:
Stamps:
Warmest of Wishes, 122672-- owl ( this is a hostess-only set that you can get for only $10 hostess dollars)
Grateful Greetings, 116511-- sentiment
Ink: Basic Black Craft Ink, 102192 (Craft ink is more opaque. Let it dry or dry with a heat gun before punching).
Tangerine Tango, 111834, for sponging around the moon
Paper: Basic Black, 121045
Rich Razzleberry, 115316
Old Olive, 100702
Tangerine Tango, 111349
Daffodil Delight, 119683
Accessories:
Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, 117335
Owl Builder Punch, 118074
Bird Builder Punch, 117191 (branch)
Circle Punch, 2 1/2 inch, 120906
Large Tag Punch, 119876
Extra-Large Tag Punch, 119866
Hemp Twine (on tag), 100982
Scallop Dots Ribbon, Basic Black, 124145 ( reversed so dots don't show)
Stampin' Sponges, 101610
Dimensionals, 104430
Thanks for stopping by today. Enjoy your weekend, stampers and I'll meet you back here on Monday for more stamping fun and inspiration!
Susan
Wasn't it Monday yesterday? How did Friday get here so quickly? I'm also amazed when I see that we're already halfway through the month of September. That's what I was talking about the other day. We take on too many things and we get so busy that our days go by in a blur. The weekend is a good time to slow things down and I hope you'll take time to do just that. Slow down, sleep late, read the newspaper, drink coffee, take a walk... those sorts of things. We all need a break from our daily race!
And while you are taking a break from all the things that are calling out for your time and attention, I hope you'll also find at least 30 minutes this weekend to be creative and stamp something. Most of the cards I make can be done... start to finish... in 10 minutes, maybe 15 if you don't move quickly. I always have a sketch, or layout, in mind before I start. Sometimes I hate how my card is turning out and I completely change the layout or colors, but that doesn't happen very often. Usually I stick to my sketch pretty closely. So the key to creating a card and not taking all day to do it is having a sketch to follow.
Here's a fun card I sketched out a couple of days ago. I love the way it turned out! Have a look...
This Halloween card definitely falls into the cute category and would be suitable to send to a young child. There's been a trend lately, fuelled by Martha Stewart, toward really creepy, ghoulish, over-the-top gory Halloween decorations and costumes that would scare anyone and probably terrify a child. With this card, you don't have to worry. The cute owl with his little mask and trick-or-treat bag wouldn't scare a flea!
Even though there are several elements that seem to have been cut out, that is not the case. This card is made with punches... 5 of them, to be exact.
Here's a list of "ingredients" for this fun card:
Stamps:
Warmest of Wishes, 122672-- owl ( this is a hostess-only set that you can get for only $10 hostess dollars)
Grateful Greetings, 116511-- sentiment
Ink: Basic Black Craft Ink, 102192 (Craft ink is more opaque. Let it dry or dry with a heat gun before punching).
Tangerine Tango, 111834, for sponging around the moon
Paper: Basic Black, 121045
Rich Razzleberry, 115316
Old Olive, 100702
Tangerine Tango, 111349
Daffodil Delight, 119683
Accessories:
Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, 117335
Owl Builder Punch, 118074
Bird Builder Punch, 117191 (branch)
Circle Punch, 2 1/2 inch, 120906
Large Tag Punch, 119876
Extra-Large Tag Punch, 119866
Hemp Twine (on tag), 100982
Scallop Dots Ribbon, Basic Black, 124145 ( reversed so dots don't show)
Stampin' Sponges, 101610
Dimensionals, 104430
Thanks for stopping by today. Enjoy your weekend, stampers and I'll meet you back here on Monday for more stamping fun and inspiration!
Susan
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Put a Bird on It!
Hello Stampers!
Thanks for stopping by my blog today! I appreciate all of my loyal customers and readers!
Yesterday, after I posted here, I took the day off from stamping and spent the day with my new little granddaughter Allie. She's just a little over 2 weeks old and seems so tiny to me. She's not small for her age... she weighs almost 8 1/2 pounds now... but seems tiny in comparison to my strapping two-year-old twin grandsons. She is such a sweetheart! But today, it is back to stamping, stamping, stamping as I prepare for upcoming stamping parties and classes. I hope I'll see you soon at one of my events!
I'm not much of a television fan, unless you count Home and Garden Television. I don't watch the shows that everyone else watches and really have no idea of what is new this fall on TV. Since I live in the Portland area, I've heard of the show Portlandia (but never watched a single episode) and the now-famous line "Put a bird on it!" Apparently, something is considered "art" if it has a bird on it. So today I have a very "artsy" card for you, because it has a bird on it!
Take a look...
This cute little guy is another one of the a la carte (individual) stamps that you find in that section of the big Stampin'Up! Idea Book and Catalog, beginning on page 17. The name of this stamp is Young Vermillion and he sells for only $7.95. I'm thinking that Vermillions must be reddish in color, but I've decided that for today he's going to be brown. Do we have Vermillions in Oregon? Maybe one of you who is into birds can inform me. Anyway, isn't he cute? I knew the minute I saw him that this young Vermillion and this old stamper were going to become good friends. I can see using him on cards for many different seasons and occasions. Stamped in Early Espresso, like he is here, I can see him on Christmas cards as well.
Although my style is clean and classic, I do like the vintage style as well, as long as it is not too over-the-top with embellishments and torn and wrinkled paper that looks like it was picked out of the wastebasket. I think this card has the best of the vintage style, without the look of recycled trash.
I started with a base card of Crumb Cake cardstock (formerly known as Kraft cardstock). On top of that is a panel of Baja Breeze that I ran throught the Big Shot with the Finial Press embossing folder. Next we have another layer of Crumb Cake and it was put through my Paper Crimper to give the look of corrugated cardboard. Finally, we have Mr. Young Vermillion stamped in Early Espresso on Baja Breeze and punched out with the 2 3/8 inch Scallop Punch.This focal element is popped up from the surface of the card with a few dimensionals (sticky foam dots). Some Very Vanilla seam binding and a tiny tag tied on with some Linen Thread add the perfect finishing touch. Oh, and I mustn't forget to mention the sponging. Sponging around the edges of each layer adds dimension and instantly gives a vintage look
Here's a quick list with item numbers, for ordering ease. When you order $50 or more, either at a party or online, your name will go into a drawing for a $50 gift certificate. One lucky person will have their name drawn when all 50 squares on my 50-50 board are filled.
Stamps: Young Vermillion, 124092
Tiny Tags, 118592
Ink: Early Espresso, 119670
Paper: Crumb Cake, 120953
Baja Breeze, 111352
Accessories:
2 3/8 inch Scallop Punch, 118874
Very Vanilla Seam Binding120999
Jewelry Tag Punch, 117190
Linen Thread, 104199
Paper Crimper, 101618
Finial Press Embossing Folder,115963
I hope you'll be inspired to get out your stamps today and stamp something pretty. Oh, and don't forget to put a bird on it!
Happy Stamping!
Susan
Thanks for stopping by my blog today! I appreciate all of my loyal customers and readers!
Yesterday, after I posted here, I took the day off from stamping and spent the day with my new little granddaughter Allie. She's just a little over 2 weeks old and seems so tiny to me. She's not small for her age... she weighs almost 8 1/2 pounds now... but seems tiny in comparison to my strapping two-year-old twin grandsons. She is such a sweetheart! But today, it is back to stamping, stamping, stamping as I prepare for upcoming stamping parties and classes. I hope I'll see you soon at one of my events!
I'm not much of a television fan, unless you count Home and Garden Television. I don't watch the shows that everyone else watches and really have no idea of what is new this fall on TV. Since I live in the Portland area, I've heard of the show Portlandia (but never watched a single episode) and the now-famous line "Put a bird on it!" Apparently, something is considered "art" if it has a bird on it. So today I have a very "artsy" card for you, because it has a bird on it!
Take a look...
This cute little guy is another one of the a la carte (individual) stamps that you find in that section of the big Stampin'Up! Idea Book and Catalog, beginning on page 17. The name of this stamp is Young Vermillion and he sells for only $7.95. I'm thinking that Vermillions must be reddish in color, but I've decided that for today he's going to be brown. Do we have Vermillions in Oregon? Maybe one of you who is into birds can inform me. Anyway, isn't he cute? I knew the minute I saw him that this young Vermillion and this old stamper were going to become good friends. I can see using him on cards for many different seasons and occasions. Stamped in Early Espresso, like he is here, I can see him on Christmas cards as well.
Although my style is clean and classic, I do like the vintage style as well, as long as it is not too over-the-top with embellishments and torn and wrinkled paper that looks like it was picked out of the wastebasket. I think this card has the best of the vintage style, without the look of recycled trash.
I started with a base card of Crumb Cake cardstock (formerly known as Kraft cardstock). On top of that is a panel of Baja Breeze that I ran throught the Big Shot with the Finial Press embossing folder. Next we have another layer of Crumb Cake and it was put through my Paper Crimper to give the look of corrugated cardboard. Finally, we have Mr. Young Vermillion stamped in Early Espresso on Baja Breeze and punched out with the 2 3/8 inch Scallop Punch.This focal element is popped up from the surface of the card with a few dimensionals (sticky foam dots). Some Very Vanilla seam binding and a tiny tag tied on with some Linen Thread add the perfect finishing touch. Oh, and I mustn't forget to mention the sponging. Sponging around the edges of each layer adds dimension and instantly gives a vintage look
Here's a quick list with item numbers, for ordering ease. When you order $50 or more, either at a party or online, your name will go into a drawing for a $50 gift certificate. One lucky person will have their name drawn when all 50 squares on my 50-50 board are filled.
Stamps: Young Vermillion, 124092
Tiny Tags, 118592
Ink: Early Espresso, 119670
Paper: Crumb Cake, 120953
Baja Breeze, 111352
Accessories:
2 3/8 inch Scallop Punch, 118874
Very Vanilla Seam Binding120999
Jewelry Tag Punch, 117190
Linen Thread, 104199
Paper Crimper, 101618
Finial Press Embossing Folder,115963
I hope you'll be inspired to get out your stamps today and stamp something pretty. Oh, and don't forget to put a bird on it!
Happy Stamping!
Susan
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
What Happened to our Sunshine??
Hello stampers and welcome to Wednesday!
I can't help but be a little disappointed when I see that today is overcast. I was so enjoying the abundant sunshine we've been having. I'm hoping we'll go back to our Indian Summer soon. Don't you just love sunshine coupled with cool breezes? Since today is a little gloomy, I guess we'll have to create our own sunshine and I have just the card to do that! Take a look!
This simple card will add a jolt of sunshine to anyone's day. The triple layered flower is made using a stamp from the a la carte section of the Stampin'Up! "big" catalog. It is called, appropriately, Triple Treat Flower and sells for a mere 8.95. Stampin'Up! makes a punch that matches up with each layer, so all you do is stamp the flower three times in different colors, then punch each layer out with its matching punch and you are finished in less than a minute. No tedious trimming for you!
The flower is adhered to a scalloped square ( Big Shot Die, Scallped Squares Duo) with a strip of Scallop Dots ribbon in Old Olive underneath the flower. That square is then adhered to a larger scalloped square (Big Shot Die, Scallop Square) and then the whole thing is adhered to a white card which measures 4 3/4 by 4 3/4. Yes, it will take a larger envelope to mail this, but as long as your envelope isn't square, it will still go for the usual 44 cents.
Here's the list of supplies, with item numbers, just in case you want to go to my site to order at http://www.susanrodgers.stampinup.net/. Ordering is available 24/7, so you can even shop in your jammies and everything will be sent right to your door. Think of the gasoline you'll save!
Stamps:
Triple Treat Flower, 122909
Ink:
Daffodil Delight,119667
Tangerine Tango, 105216
Old Olive, 102277
Paper:
Whisper White, 100730
Daffodil Delight, 119683
Tangerine Tango, 105117
Extras:
Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder,117335
Scallop Squares Duo, 120903
Scallop Square, 115950
Scallop Dots ribbon, Old Olive, 124139
Help add sunshine to someone's day. Get out your favorite bright colors and re-create this card, then send it off to a friend or relative. You can be the sunshine on a cloudy day!
Sunny stamping!
Susan
I can't help but be a little disappointed when I see that today is overcast. I was so enjoying the abundant sunshine we've been having. I'm hoping we'll go back to our Indian Summer soon. Don't you just love sunshine coupled with cool breezes? Since today is a little gloomy, I guess we'll have to create our own sunshine and I have just the card to do that! Take a look!
This simple card will add a jolt of sunshine to anyone's day. The triple layered flower is made using a stamp from the a la carte section of the Stampin'Up! "big" catalog. It is called, appropriately, Triple Treat Flower and sells for a mere 8.95. Stampin'Up! makes a punch that matches up with each layer, so all you do is stamp the flower three times in different colors, then punch each layer out with its matching punch and you are finished in less than a minute. No tedious trimming for you!
The flower is adhered to a scalloped square ( Big Shot Die, Scallped Squares Duo) with a strip of Scallop Dots ribbon in Old Olive underneath the flower. That square is then adhered to a larger scalloped square (Big Shot Die, Scallop Square) and then the whole thing is adhered to a white card which measures 4 3/4 by 4 3/4. Yes, it will take a larger envelope to mail this, but as long as your envelope isn't square, it will still go for the usual 44 cents.
Here's the list of supplies, with item numbers, just in case you want to go to my site to order at http://www.susanrodgers.stampinup.net/. Ordering is available 24/7, so you can even shop in your jammies and everything will be sent right to your door. Think of the gasoline you'll save!
Stamps:
Triple Treat Flower, 122909
Ink:
Daffodil Delight,119667
Tangerine Tango, 105216
Old Olive, 102277
Paper:
Whisper White, 100730
Daffodil Delight, 119683
Tangerine Tango, 105117
Extras:
Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder,117335
Scallop Squares Duo, 120903
Scallop Square, 115950
Scallop Dots ribbon, Old Olive, 124139
Help add sunshine to someone's day. Get out your favorite bright colors and re-create this card, then send it off to a friend or relative. You can be the sunshine on a cloudy day!
Sunny stamping!
Susan
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Quoting Mr. Dickens
Hello Stamping Friends! Happy Tuesday!
Are you a quote collector like me? I keep a notebook of my favorite quotations and I love to go back through it and re-read them from time to time. Charles Dickens, considered by many to be the greatest writer of the Victorian period, is one of the most quotable of writers. As our weather turns toward fall, here is a quotation to keep in mind.
"Nature gives to every time and season, some beauties of its own."
So to remind us of the beauty of fall that is on its way, here's a card for you!
Sorry the photo is a little washed-out. My photos will get better... I promise.... but I think you can see the most important elements of this card just fine.
The focal panel is stamped using the new Gently Fallling set that it in the Holiday Mini-catalog. I used the "rock and roll" technique, first stamping in More Mustard and then rolling the edge of the stamp in either Cajun Craze or Old Olive. Some of the leaves have the colors reversed by first stamping in Old Olive and then rolling the edges in More Mustard. Experiment and see which color combinations you like best. I sponged the edges of the panel in Soft Suede and then lightly sponged over the whole thing to give a softer aged look. The panel is adhered to a strip of Cajun Craze and a panel of More Mustard, then it is adhered to a Soft Suede panel that has been embossed with the Finial Press embossing folder.
The button in the upper right of the card was cut using the Buttons #5 sizzlet. I love the paper buttons, and so does the US Postal Service. You still have the fun of a button embellishment, but without the headaches of lumps and bumps, ripped envelopes, and extra postage. I used my paper-piercing tool to pierce two holes and then threaded some linen thread through them and tied it in a knot. Pop the button up on a dimensional.
And finally we get to the sentiment. It is another quotation from Charles Dickens..."There's always something for which to be thankful." This saying can be found in the new stamp set Always Thankful, which you'll find in the Holiday Mini-catalog. The sentiment is stamped in Soft Suede on Very Vanilla and then punched out with the Decorative Label punch. Punch another label in Cajun Craze, cut it in half and adhere to the ends of the sentiment. Pop the sentiment panel up on some dimensionals, then adhere the whole card front to a Very Vanilla card and you're done.
Here's the list of supplies I used to make this card. Don't forget that you can order 24/7 and get the lowest price by ordering on my Stampin'Up! site at http://www.susanrodgers.stampinup.net/. (Hint... there might be a little surprise for the first 10 people to place an online order). Something to keep in mind... the minimum shipping charge of 6.95 applies to online orders as well as orders you place through me by phone.
Stamps
Gently Falling, 123804
Always Thankful, 123789
Ink:
More Mustard, 103162
Cajun Craze, 119671
Old Olive, 102277
Soft Suede, 115657
Paper:
Very Vanilla, 101560
More Mustard, 100946
Cajun Craze, 119671
Soft Suede, 115318
Big Shot:
Finial Press embossing folder, 115963
Buttons #5 sizzlit, 113440
Extras:
Linen Thread, 104119
Paper-Piercing Tool, 116631
Dimensionals, 104430
Thanks for stopping by today! I hope you'll enjoy the cooler weather. Don't forget to come back tomorrow for more stamping inspiration.
Susan
Are you a quote collector like me? I keep a notebook of my favorite quotations and I love to go back through it and re-read them from time to time. Charles Dickens, considered by many to be the greatest writer of the Victorian period, is one of the most quotable of writers. As our weather turns toward fall, here is a quotation to keep in mind.
"Nature gives to every time and season, some beauties of its own."
So to remind us of the beauty of fall that is on its way, here's a card for you!
The focal panel is stamped using the new Gently Fallling set that it in the Holiday Mini-catalog. I used the "rock and roll" technique, first stamping in More Mustard and then rolling the edge of the stamp in either Cajun Craze or Old Olive. Some of the leaves have the colors reversed by first stamping in Old Olive and then rolling the edges in More Mustard. Experiment and see which color combinations you like best. I sponged the edges of the panel in Soft Suede and then lightly sponged over the whole thing to give a softer aged look. The panel is adhered to a strip of Cajun Craze and a panel of More Mustard, then it is adhered to a Soft Suede panel that has been embossed with the Finial Press embossing folder.
The button in the upper right of the card was cut using the Buttons #5 sizzlet. I love the paper buttons, and so does the US Postal Service. You still have the fun of a button embellishment, but without the headaches of lumps and bumps, ripped envelopes, and extra postage. I used my paper-piercing tool to pierce two holes and then threaded some linen thread through them and tied it in a knot. Pop the button up on a dimensional.
And finally we get to the sentiment. It is another quotation from Charles Dickens..."There's always something for which to be thankful." This saying can be found in the new stamp set Always Thankful, which you'll find in the Holiday Mini-catalog. The sentiment is stamped in Soft Suede on Very Vanilla and then punched out with the Decorative Label punch. Punch another label in Cajun Craze, cut it in half and adhere to the ends of the sentiment. Pop the sentiment panel up on some dimensionals, then adhere the whole card front to a Very Vanilla card and you're done.
Here's the list of supplies I used to make this card. Don't forget that you can order 24/7 and get the lowest price by ordering on my Stampin'Up! site at http://www.susanrodgers.stampinup.net/. (Hint... there might be a little surprise for the first 10 people to place an online order). Something to keep in mind... the minimum shipping charge of 6.95 applies to online orders as well as orders you place through me by phone.
Stamps
Gently Falling, 123804
Always Thankful, 123789
Ink:
More Mustard, 103162
Cajun Craze, 119671
Old Olive, 102277
Soft Suede, 115657
Paper:
Very Vanilla, 101560
More Mustard, 100946
Cajun Craze, 119671
Soft Suede, 115318
Big Shot:
Finial Press embossing folder, 115963
Buttons #5 sizzlit, 113440
Extras:
Linen Thread, 104119
Paper-Piercing Tool, 116631
Dimensionals, 104430
Thanks for stopping by today! I hope you'll enjoy the cooler weather. Don't forget to come back tomorrow for more stamping inspiration.
Susan
Monday, September 12, 2011
How Bright is your Corner?
Happy Monday, Stampers!
I hope all of you enjoyed the warm and sunny weekend and that you had a bit of time to stamp something pretty! My weekend was filled with stamping, but also with reflection on the events of September 11, 2001. As I watched coverage of the various memorials last night, I wondered to myself... what can an ordinary, everyday, non-heroic person like me do in the face of such evil, sorrow, and despair? As I thought about it, this song that is sung in Sunday schools and churches of many denominations came to mind. The idea it conveys is very simple... we can all make a difference wherever we are. Not a very profound thought, but one we need to be reminded of every once in a while. The words to this song "Brighten the Corner Where You Are" were written in 1913 by Ina Duley Ogden, a teacher. These are two of the verses:
Do not wait until some deed of greatness you may do
Do not wait to shed your light afar
To the many duties ever near you now be true
Brighten the corner where you are.
Just above are clouded skies that you may help to clear
Let not narrow self your way debar
Though into one heart alone may fall your song of cheer
Brighten the corner where you are.
We who love stamping and card-making already know that our stamped creations are terrific day-brighteners, so I challenge you today to think of one or two friends who could use a lift. Then take a few minutes to stamp and send a card to them. Will this change the world? Will it make the world a safer place? Sadly, no. But think of the impact this can have as many, many people join together to lift up their friends and relatives. The world will definitely be a happier place! This will happen again this year on World Card-Making Day, which I'm celebrating on Sunday, October 2nd. Check your email inbox for an evite coming soon!
Now, to brighten your corner, here's a card for you!
This is a card we made at one of the stamping parties this past weekend. It is a simple card that is quick to put together with the new Beau Chateau designer paper, the new Designer Frames embossing folders, and some Pink Pirouette Taffeta ribbon. The rooster is stamped in Soft Suede on Very Vanilla. It is all built on a base of Soft Suede and Very Vanilla card stock. You can add any sentiment you like to the inside and send it off to brighten someone's day.
Here's a list of the "ingredients:"
the rooster stamp is from the Countryside stamp set, 120495
Beau Chateau designer paper, 122357
Pink Pirouette taffeta ribbon. 122981
Designer Frames embossing folders, 123130 (set if two, one oval and one rectangle)
Soft Suede card stock,115318
Very Vanilla card stock, 101650
Thanks for stopping in today, stampers! Don't forget to come back tomorrow for more stamping inspiration. Now I'm off to get a couple of cards ready for the mail. I know they'll bring some smiles!
Susan
I hope all of you enjoyed the warm and sunny weekend and that you had a bit of time to stamp something pretty! My weekend was filled with stamping, but also with reflection on the events of September 11, 2001. As I watched coverage of the various memorials last night, I wondered to myself... what can an ordinary, everyday, non-heroic person like me do in the face of such evil, sorrow, and despair? As I thought about it, this song that is sung in Sunday schools and churches of many denominations came to mind. The idea it conveys is very simple... we can all make a difference wherever we are. Not a very profound thought, but one we need to be reminded of every once in a while. The words to this song "Brighten the Corner Where You Are" were written in 1913 by Ina Duley Ogden, a teacher. These are two of the verses:
Do not wait until some deed of greatness you may do
Do not wait to shed your light afar
To the many duties ever near you now be true
Brighten the corner where you are.
Just above are clouded skies that you may help to clear
Let not narrow self your way debar
Though into one heart alone may fall your song of cheer
Brighten the corner where you are.
We who love stamping and card-making already know that our stamped creations are terrific day-brighteners, so I challenge you today to think of one or two friends who could use a lift. Then take a few minutes to stamp and send a card to them. Will this change the world? Will it make the world a safer place? Sadly, no. But think of the impact this can have as many, many people join together to lift up their friends and relatives. The world will definitely be a happier place! This will happen again this year on World Card-Making Day, which I'm celebrating on Sunday, October 2nd. Check your email inbox for an evite coming soon!
Now, to brighten your corner, here's a card for you!
This is a card we made at one of the stamping parties this past weekend. It is a simple card that is quick to put together with the new Beau Chateau designer paper, the new Designer Frames embossing folders, and some Pink Pirouette Taffeta ribbon. The rooster is stamped in Soft Suede on Very Vanilla. It is all built on a base of Soft Suede and Very Vanilla card stock. You can add any sentiment you like to the inside and send it off to brighten someone's day.
Here's a list of the "ingredients:"
the rooster stamp is from the Countryside stamp set, 120495
Beau Chateau designer paper, 122357
Pink Pirouette taffeta ribbon. 122981
Designer Frames embossing folders, 123130 (set if two, one oval and one rectangle)
Soft Suede card stock,115318
Very Vanilla card stock, 101650
Thanks for stopping in today, stampers! Don't forget to come back tomorrow for more stamping inspiration. Now I'm off to get a couple of cards ready for the mail. I know they'll bring some smiles!
Susan
Friday, September 9, 2011
Is it a Mocha Morning?
Good Morning Stampers!
Is it a mocha morning for you? Or perhaps you had a latte. I'm partial to decaf sugar-free hazelnut lattes myself. I know... what is the point when it is both caffeine free and sugar free?? It would be a lot cheaper to just drink a glass of water and be done with it!
Well, the Mocha Morning I'm talking about is not a drink, but a beautiful collection of double-sided designer papers that is featured on page 183 of the new Stampin'Up! Idea Book and Catalog... also known as the "big catalog." This collection is in the "specialty" category, meaning that some of the papers have special features. In this particular collection, you get 4 single-sided sheets that are flocked. Are you old enough to remember flocked wallpaper? If so, you know what I mean. These 4 sheets have a raised velvety design printed on them in black, making for a very elegant and classic look. The other 8 sheets are double-sided and feature gold metallic ink. Again, very elegant!
Check out the card I made with the gorgeous flocked paper:
I started with a Crumb Cake base for my card, then added a black panel that is embossed with the Elegant Lines Embossing Folder. I'm sorry the embossing doesn't show up well in this photo. You can just catch a glimpse of it in the lower corner of the card. The top portion of the card is the flocked Mocha Morning designer paper. I used the Top Note Die for the focal panel. It is cut out of Crumb Cake and the swirl, from the Precious Butterflies hostess set, is stamped with Crumb Cake, then overstamped with the "thanks" in black. Some beautiful Crumb Cake Taffeta ribbon adds the perfect finishing touch.
Here's a quick rundown of the supplies for this card:
Card Stock:
120953, Crumb Cake Card Stock 6.95
121045, Basic Black Card Stock 6.95
122366, Mocha Morning Specialty Paper, 12.95
Ink:
121030 Crumb Cake Classic Ink Pad, 5.95
102192 Basic Black Craft Ink Pad , 7.50
Stamps:
122517 Precious Butterflies (hostess only stamp set)
111700 Thank You Kindly, 13.95
Accessories:
122966 Crumb Cake Taffeta Ribbon, 6.95
119277 Elegant Lines Embossing Folder 7.95
Well, all this talk of crumb cake and mochas is making me hungry. I guess it is time to put the coffee on and have breakfast...although it certainly won't be crumb cake! Hope you'll enjoy this gorgeous Friday and that you'll make time for some stamping this weekend! Thanks so much for stopping by today and I'll see you back here on Monday for some more stamping inspiration.
Happy Stamping!
Susan
Is it a mocha morning for you? Or perhaps you had a latte. I'm partial to decaf sugar-free hazelnut lattes myself. I know... what is the point when it is both caffeine free and sugar free?? It would be a lot cheaper to just drink a glass of water and be done with it!
Well, the Mocha Morning I'm talking about is not a drink, but a beautiful collection of double-sided designer papers that is featured on page 183 of the new Stampin'Up! Idea Book and Catalog... also known as the "big catalog." This collection is in the "specialty" category, meaning that some of the papers have special features. In this particular collection, you get 4 single-sided sheets that are flocked. Are you old enough to remember flocked wallpaper? If so, you know what I mean. These 4 sheets have a raised velvety design printed on them in black, making for a very elegant and classic look. The other 8 sheets are double-sided and feature gold metallic ink. Again, very elegant!
Check out the card I made with the gorgeous flocked paper:
I started with a Crumb Cake base for my card, then added a black panel that is embossed with the Elegant Lines Embossing Folder. I'm sorry the embossing doesn't show up well in this photo. You can just catch a glimpse of it in the lower corner of the card. The top portion of the card is the flocked Mocha Morning designer paper. I used the Top Note Die for the focal panel. It is cut out of Crumb Cake and the swirl, from the Precious Butterflies hostess set, is stamped with Crumb Cake, then overstamped with the "thanks" in black. Some beautiful Crumb Cake Taffeta ribbon adds the perfect finishing touch.
Here's a quick rundown of the supplies for this card:
Card Stock:
120953, Crumb Cake Card Stock 6.95
121045, Basic Black Card Stock 6.95
122366, Mocha Morning Specialty Paper, 12.95
Ink:
121030 Crumb Cake Classic Ink Pad, 5.95
102192 Basic Black Craft Ink Pad , 7.50
Stamps:
122517 Precious Butterflies (hostess only stamp set)
111700 Thank You Kindly, 13.95
Accessories:
122966 Crumb Cake Taffeta Ribbon, 6.95
119277 Elegant Lines Embossing Folder 7.95
Well, all this talk of crumb cake and mochas is making me hungry. I guess it is time to put the coffee on and have breakfast...although it certainly won't be crumb cake! Hope you'll enjoy this gorgeous Friday and that you'll make time for some stamping this weekend! Thanks so much for stopping by today and I'll see you back here on Monday for some more stamping inspiration.
Happy Stamping!
Susan
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Keeping it Simple
Hello Stampers!
Today I want to talk about simplicity. Doesn't everything today just seem more complex than ever? Our technology speeds up our lives, we tend to get caught up in too many activities, and our days can start to go by in a blur without us even noticing. In cardmaking, as in life, sometimes things just get to be too much.
I'm sure you know what I'm talking about if you look at Splitcoast Stampers or other stamping sites. The cards just seem to get more and more embellished with all sorts of ribbons, buttons, pins, beads, wire, embossing, and of course the trend of layer upon layer of cardstock. Sometimes these creations remind me of a woman with too much makeup. Sometimes more is not better.
So for today, I pulled the plug and took cardmaking back to its most basic form--- stamping on cardstock. There are no layers, no ribbons, buttons, or other embellishments. There's no texturing and no punches either. The stamping IS the embellishment. While I promise I won't continue with one-layer cards (you might find that awfully boring after a few days), every once in a while I'll throw one in just to remind us that sometimes simple is good too.
Take a look!
This ultra-simple note card uses my "go to" stamp set for fall... Gently Falling. I have used the "rock and roll" technique to ink the stamps. First, ink the stamp with the lighter color (in this case, More Mustard), then roll the edges of the inked stamp on the darker color (here I've used Cajun Craze and Old Olive). After rolling the edges, stamp on your project. The acorns were colored with markers (Soft Suede and Old Olive).
You can see in the left-hand corner that I decorated the envelope as well. It's always fun to give an envelope a bit of decoration and it is fun to hint at what's inside. The "Thank You" is from a great new set in the big catalog called Perfectly Penned, which you can find on page 154.
Here's the list of what I used to make this note card:
107311 Note Cards and Envelopes, 5.95 for 20
123804 Gently Falling stamp set, 28.95 in clear-mount
122892 Perfectly Penned stamp set, 12.95 in clear-mount
Stamp Pads, 5.95 each
103162 More Mustard
102277 Old Olive
119671 Cajun Craze
119670 Early Espresso (used for "Thank You")
Markers for coloring acorns, 3.50 each
100079 Old Olive
120973 Soft Suede
So that's it for today stampers! I hope you are inspired to go stamp something simple. Thanks for stopping by and I'll look forward to seeing you tomorrow!
Keep it simple!
Susan
Today I want to talk about simplicity. Doesn't everything today just seem more complex than ever? Our technology speeds up our lives, we tend to get caught up in too many activities, and our days can start to go by in a blur without us even noticing. In cardmaking, as in life, sometimes things just get to be too much.
I'm sure you know what I'm talking about if you look at Splitcoast Stampers or other stamping sites. The cards just seem to get more and more embellished with all sorts of ribbons, buttons, pins, beads, wire, embossing, and of course the trend of layer upon layer of cardstock. Sometimes these creations remind me of a woman with too much makeup. Sometimes more is not better.
So for today, I pulled the plug and took cardmaking back to its most basic form--- stamping on cardstock. There are no layers, no ribbons, buttons, or other embellishments. There's no texturing and no punches either. The stamping IS the embellishment. While I promise I won't continue with one-layer cards (you might find that awfully boring after a few days), every once in a while I'll throw one in just to remind us that sometimes simple is good too.
Take a look!
This ultra-simple note card uses my "go to" stamp set for fall... Gently Falling. I have used the "rock and roll" technique to ink the stamps. First, ink the stamp with the lighter color (in this case, More Mustard), then roll the edges of the inked stamp on the darker color (here I've used Cajun Craze and Old Olive). After rolling the edges, stamp on your project. The acorns were colored with markers (Soft Suede and Old Olive).
You can see in the left-hand corner that I decorated the envelope as well. It's always fun to give an envelope a bit of decoration and it is fun to hint at what's inside. The "Thank You" is from a great new set in the big catalog called Perfectly Penned, which you can find on page 154.
Here's the list of what I used to make this note card:
107311 Note Cards and Envelopes, 5.95 for 20
123804 Gently Falling stamp set, 28.95 in clear-mount
122892 Perfectly Penned stamp set, 12.95 in clear-mount
Stamp Pads, 5.95 each
103162 More Mustard
102277 Old Olive
119671 Cajun Craze
119670 Early Espresso (used for "Thank You")
Markers for coloring acorns, 3.50 each
100079 Old Olive
120973 Soft Suede
So that's it for today stampers! I hope you are inspired to go stamp something simple. Thanks for stopping by and I'll look forward to seeing you tomorrow!
Keep it simple!
Susan
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Do You Have the Gift?
Good Morning Stampin' People!
Do you have "the gift" when it comes to gift-giving? What I mean by that is, are you one of those creative and super-thoughtful people who always seem to give the perfect gift? I try to be that person, but sometimes I just can't think of a thing. And, of course, some people are more difficult to buy for than others... the elderly, people who have everything, people who are trying to down-size, teenagers whose taste changes daily... I could go on and on.
Thank goodness for gift cards! They have saved me many a time. The key to giving a gift card and making it seem like a warm and personal gift is all in the presentation. Today I have just the perfect solution for all of the gift card givers out there... the new Petite Pocket Big Shot die. It is sized especially for gift cards! With this little gem in your Big Shot arsenal, you'll be ready for any gift-giving occasion that may arise.
Here is one that I made for the Holiday Mini-catalog swap that I'm in tonight.
The great thing about this cool little envelope is that you don't even have to glue it together. There are little tabs along the side that fold in, so that the gift card is fully enclosed. Just fold it on the score lines and add a "belly band" (paper-crafting term for the strip that is wrapped around the middle).
I've decorated the belly band with a leaf and acorn stamped using the new set "Gently Falling" from the Holiday Mini. The colors here are More Mustard for the pocket and Soft Suede for the belly band. I embossed the front of the pocket with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder for a bit of beautiful texture.
The tiny tag is tied on with Early Espresso Baker's Twine (love that stuff!).
Just imagine yourself taking a few minutes to cut a bunch of these. And then imagine how organized and prepared you'll feel, knowing that you have a beautiful, cute, or handsome (depending on how you embellish it) presentation for any gift cards you'll be giving. And with the holidays right around the corner, you'll have a ready-made solution for gifts for co-workers, holiday hostesses, and all those other little gifts. Of course these can be made in a variety of colors appropriate for any holiday or gifting occasion, which makes this very versatile die a great investment.
Here is the supply list, in case you'd like to visit my Stampin'Up! web site
http://www.susanrodgers.stampinup.net/ and place an order :)
Petite Pocket Big Shot Die, (#123131, 42.95)
Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, (#120175, 7.95)
More Mustard Card Stock, ( #100946, 6.95 for 24 sheets)
Soft Suede Card Stock (#115318, 6.95 for 24 sheets)
Gently Falling stamp set (#123804, 28.95 in clear-mount)
Leaf is stamped in More Mustard and Cajun Craze, acorn is stamped in Old Olive and Soft Suede
Tiny Tag stamp set (#118592, 16.95 in clear-mount)
Jewelry Tag Punch, (#117190, 10.95)
Early Espresso Baker's Twine, (#123124, 2.95 for 25 yards)
Don't let this warm weather fool you, stampers! While we are lounging in the sun, Christmas is sneaking up on us. It is time to start thinking about the upcoming holiday season. I'll be inspiring you with some fun Christmas cards and gift packaging ideas in future posts. But right now, I see sunshine out my window and I hear the breeze calling to me! Hope you'll have a chance to get outside and enjoy it too!
Thanks for stopping by today! Meet me back here tomorrow for another dose of stampin' inspiration!
Susan
Do you have "the gift" when it comes to gift-giving? What I mean by that is, are you one of those creative and super-thoughtful people who always seem to give the perfect gift? I try to be that person, but sometimes I just can't think of a thing. And, of course, some people are more difficult to buy for than others... the elderly, people who have everything, people who are trying to down-size, teenagers whose taste changes daily... I could go on and on.
Thank goodness for gift cards! They have saved me many a time. The key to giving a gift card and making it seem like a warm and personal gift is all in the presentation. Today I have just the perfect solution for all of the gift card givers out there... the new Petite Pocket Big Shot die. It is sized especially for gift cards! With this little gem in your Big Shot arsenal, you'll be ready for any gift-giving occasion that may arise.
Here is one that I made for the Holiday Mini-catalog swap that I'm in tonight.
I've decorated the belly band with a leaf and acorn stamped using the new set "Gently Falling" from the Holiday Mini. The colors here are More Mustard for the pocket and Soft Suede for the belly band. I embossed the front of the pocket with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder for a bit of beautiful texture.
The tiny tag is tied on with Early Espresso Baker's Twine (love that stuff!).
Just imagine yourself taking a few minutes to cut a bunch of these. And then imagine how organized and prepared you'll feel, knowing that you have a beautiful, cute, or handsome (depending on how you embellish it) presentation for any gift cards you'll be giving. And with the holidays right around the corner, you'll have a ready-made solution for gifts for co-workers, holiday hostesses, and all those other little gifts. Of course these can be made in a variety of colors appropriate for any holiday or gifting occasion, which makes this very versatile die a great investment.
Here is the supply list, in case you'd like to visit my Stampin'Up! web site
http://www.susanrodgers.stampinup.net/ and place an order :)
Petite Pocket Big Shot Die, (#123131, 42.95)
Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, (#120175, 7.95)
More Mustard Card Stock, ( #100946, 6.95 for 24 sheets)
Soft Suede Card Stock (#115318, 6.95 for 24 sheets)
Gently Falling stamp set (#123804, 28.95 in clear-mount)
Leaf is stamped in More Mustard and Cajun Craze, acorn is stamped in Old Olive and Soft Suede
Tiny Tag stamp set (#118592, 16.95 in clear-mount)
Jewelry Tag Punch, (#117190, 10.95)
Early Espresso Baker's Twine, (#123124, 2.95 for 25 yards)
Don't let this warm weather fool you, stampers! While we are lounging in the sun, Christmas is sneaking up on us. It is time to start thinking about the upcoming holiday season. I'll be inspiring you with some fun Christmas cards and gift packaging ideas in future posts. But right now, I see sunshine out my window and I hear the breeze calling to me! Hope you'll have a chance to get outside and enjoy it too!
Thanks for stopping by today! Meet me back here tomorrow for another dose of stampin' inspiration!
Susan
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Welcome to a New Stamping Season!
Hello Stampers!
Welcome to a new season of stamping! Although the weather is still saying "summer," in my mind it is now fall, since school started today for most students. I guess that comes from working in schools for so many years. Even if you aren't connected to the school calendar in any way, fall is the time when everyone seems to get back into a more structured schedule. While many people find the predictability of routine comforting, others dislike the "daily grind." Like most of life, our attitude determines our happiness level. One thing on which we can all agree is that creativity (like stamping) and community (being with our friends) enhances our lives. When we are being creative and enjoying other people, happiness sneaks up on us and taps us on the shoulder when we are least expecting it. Let this fall be the time when you break out of your routine every so often and find creativity and community through the enjoyable art of stamping. I've got many stamping parties and classes on the calendar and you are welcome to join in anytime! I'll be sending out emails and evites to let you know dates and times, so watch your inbox and pencil in some fun just for you!
I'm participating in a Holiday Mini-catalog swap this week with 18 other demonstrators. Each of us is making two items with our chosen stamp set. My stamp set is the gorgeous "Gently Falling," found on pages 16 and 17 of the Holiday Mini. It is a two step stamp set, but you can use either image (the line-art or the solid) separately or together so you can get three different looks out of this one set! While this card is similar to one I posted earlier, this is the final project that I made for this event.
Welcome to a new season of stamping! Although the weather is still saying "summer," in my mind it is now fall, since school started today for most students. I guess that comes from working in schools for so many years. Even if you aren't connected to the school calendar in any way, fall is the time when everyone seems to get back into a more structured schedule. While many people find the predictability of routine comforting, others dislike the "daily grind." Like most of life, our attitude determines our happiness level. One thing on which we can all agree is that creativity (like stamping) and community (being with our friends) enhances our lives. When we are being creative and enjoying other people, happiness sneaks up on us and taps us on the shoulder when we are least expecting it. Let this fall be the time when you break out of your routine every so often and find creativity and community through the enjoyable art of stamping. I've got many stamping parties and classes on the calendar and you are welcome to join in anytime! I'll be sending out emails and evites to let you know dates and times, so watch your inbox and pencil in some fun just for you!
I'm participating in a Holiday Mini-catalog swap this week with 18 other demonstrators. Each of us is making two items with our chosen stamp set. My stamp set is the gorgeous "Gently Falling," found on pages 16 and 17 of the Holiday Mini. It is a two step stamp set, but you can use either image (the line-art or the solid) separately or together so you can get three different looks out of this one set! While this card is similar to one I posted earlier, this is the final project that I made for this event.
And here's a quick rundown of the supplies:
Stamps: Gently Falling (#123804, 28.95 in clear-mount)
Woodgrain (#117100, 17.95) hard to see, but used as a background on the mustard panel
Day of Gratitude (#121148, 18.95 in clear-mount), for the sentiment
Ink: More Mustard, Soft Suede, Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla
Paper: More Mustard, Soft Suede, Spice Cake Designer Paper ( #124003, 10.95 for 12 double-sided sheets)
Accessories: Square Lattice Embossing Folder (#119976. 7.95)
Paper Snips (#103579, 9.95)
Tasteful Trim Big Shot Die (#120893, 42.95) for the decorative strip of designer paper
1 1/4 inch Square Punch (#119865, 15.95) for easily punching the squares of designer paper
Decorative Label Punch (#120907, 16.95)
Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430, 3.95 for 300)
I'll be back every day this week with new stamping fun and inspiration for you, so be sure to meet me back here tomorrow at The Classic Card.
Thanks for stopping by!
Susan
I'll be back every day this week with new stamping fun and inspiration for you, so be sure to meet me back here tomorrow at The Classic Card.
Thanks for stopping by!
Susan
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Almost back to normal
Hello stampers and happy first day of September!
I have a sign in my laundry room that says "Around here, normal is just a setting on the dryer." And I'm beginning to think that may be true. Katie and Tim's baby arrived on Saturday, August 27th and on the 28th Tim's parents arrived from Tahoe to spend a few days with us. They no sooner left, than my daughter Amy and family arrived to spend a few days, since their house was being packed up for their move to Seattle on Friday the 2nd. So my fairly calm and well-ordered existence is now being shaken up by my three extremely energetic grandchildren. While we are sorry to see them go after a year here in the Portland area, my ears and nerves can definitely use a rest from their antics.
I'm hoping that on Saturday I will be able to sit down and stamp up some new cards for your stamping pleasure. But for now, I'm needed on the front lines as Amy's helper, since Eli is in Seattle trying to get the basics set up and unpacked.
Look for some new stamping inspiration soon! Meanwhile, enjoy the next week or so of sunny weather that the weather man is promising!
Sunny stamping!
Susan
I have a sign in my laundry room that says "Around here, normal is just a setting on the dryer." And I'm beginning to think that may be true. Katie and Tim's baby arrived on Saturday, August 27th and on the 28th Tim's parents arrived from Tahoe to spend a few days with us. They no sooner left, than my daughter Amy and family arrived to spend a few days, since their house was being packed up for their move to Seattle on Friday the 2nd. So my fairly calm and well-ordered existence is now being shaken up by my three extremely energetic grandchildren. While we are sorry to see them go after a year here in the Portland area, my ears and nerves can definitely use a rest from their antics.
I'm hoping that on Saturday I will be able to sit down and stamp up some new cards for your stamping pleasure. But for now, I'm needed on the front lines as Amy's helper, since Eli is in Seattle trying to get the basics set up and unpacked.
Look for some new stamping inspiration soon! Meanwhile, enjoy the next week or so of sunny weather that the weather man is promising!
Sunny stamping!
Susan