Do You Have the Gift?

Greetings, stampers!  Welcome to The Classic Card... so glad you stopped by today! 

So I'm wondering... do you have the gift?  "Gift, what gift?" you might ask.  Well, I'm pretty sure all of you have the gift of creativity, but do you have the gift of making others feel special and loved?  With Valentine's Day coming up, we should all be thinking of ways that we can make those we love feel special on this day that is devoted to love.  And I'm not just talking romance here!  Why not spread a little love around to mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, and our friends that are sometimes even closer than family? 
I've got a fun project for you today that you can customize for anyone and give as an extra-special gift on Valentines's Day.  Check it out...

This is a sweet mini-album that is so very easy to create.  While the one I'm showing here isn't done in a Valentine-y color scheme, you could certainly make this in Real Red and several shades of pink to give it the look of a Valentine.  Another great Valentine's Day color scheme, especially for a man, is Real Red, Basic Black, and Whisper White.  One of my favorite color schemes for Valentines' Day is Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso and Very Vanilla.  The album I'm showing here uses the FREE Sale-a-bration Designer Paper, Everyday Elegance.  I love the colors in this collection: Lucky Limeaid, Pool Party, Peach Parfait, Calypso Coral, Poppy Parade, Very Vanilla, and Soft Suede.   The front cover features a new stamp set in the Occasions Mini called Apothecary Art, and I've also used the new Label Framelits(also in the Occasions Mini-catalog) to cut out both the focal image and the mat behind it.  The pretty organdy ribbon that ties the album closed is also a  FREE Sale-a-bration item (You get two rolls of ribbon plus 30 printed brads!)  You earn one free Sale-a-bration item for each $50 you spend from now through March 31st! 

Here are some ideas you could use to make this into a special Valentine that anyone... male or female... would treasure.  First and most obviously, you could make this a mini-photo album with photos of you and your spouse (or mom, sister, friend).  But I think it would be more fun to list a quality that you love about that person on each panel.  Who wouldn't enjoy reading about their good qualities??  Let's face it... we're all well acquainted with our faults and many of us remind ourselves of them daily.  How refreshing to see what others appreciate about us!  Another fun thing to do would be to add a small strip of card stock along the bottom of some of the panels, then tuck in a little certificate or coupon for things like a home-baked pie, a favorite dinner, or whatever treats you can dream up.
You could also put in a gift card for a manicure, pedicure, movie tickets,  or gift card for a restaurant or Starbucks.  This is a gift that is only limited by your imagination (and perhaps your pocketbook). But it doesn't take a lot of money to show your love and appreciation, so this Valentine's Day, let's go for it! 
If you'd like the directions for creating this mini-album, please email me sjrstamps@gmail.com and I'll send them along.  I hope I've inspired you to start working on some special gifts!
Don't forget to come back tomorrow for another classic card!
Happy creating!
Susan

Pretty Pocket

Hello Stamping Friends and Happy Monday to you all!

It was quite a weekend, I must say.  First the big Sale-a-bration Open House at New Hope Community Church on Saturday, then a stamping party at my house on Sunday.  I'm glad it's Monday so I can take a deep breath!  Don't get me wrong... I have plenty to do.  One thing I'm working on is dreaming up great cards for the Fun Folds Card Class on Saturday February 18th at 10:30am at my house.  You'll make 4 cards, each with an unusual fold.  I've sent out an evite, so please check your inbox (and perhaps your spam box)  if you haven't received the evite.  I'm going to feed you some yummy brunch food and there will be some good door prizes to win.  I guarantee that you'll learn some great new card ideas, you'll go home with 4 beautiful cards, AND you'll have fun too! 

I've got a card for you today that I think you'll love.  It was part of my presentation at the Sale-a-bration Open House and features the Apothecary Art stamp set and the new Label Framelit dies.
Check it out...

This pretty pocket card might be just the thing for you to try, especially if you are bored with "the ususal."  Being in the card-making business, I must admit that I get pretty bored with cards that have the fold on the left.  For this card I started with a sheet of 8   1/2 by 11 card stock in the lovely Pool Party color and cut it down the middle vertically at 4 1/4.  I scored the card stock strip at 5 inches, then folded on the score line.  I rounded the corners, embossed the front of the pocket with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder and glued the edges together with Sticky Strip.  The insert to slide into the pocket is 3 1/4 by 5 inches.
Now let's talk about the pretty focal image on the front of the pocket.  I used the new Apothecary Art stamp set that you'll see on pages 24 and 25 of the Occasions Mini-catalog.  I first inked the entire stamp with Crumb Cake, then colored the leaves and flowers with Poppy Parade and Lucky Limeaid markers.  After breathing on the stamp to re-moisten the ink, I stamped the image on Very Vanilla card stock.  Then I used one of the new Label Framelit dies to cut it out.  I used the next largest size framelit to cut the Poppy Parade mat behind the stamped image... so simple to do, but so stunning!
The pretty printed brad at the top of the insert card is from the free Sale-a-bration Ribbon and Brad bundle and that's Baja Breeze seam binding tied around the brad.  The sentiment on the insert is found in the On Your Birthday stamp set (page 163 of the big catalog).
I encourage you to try making a pocket card... they are fun to make and fun to receive.  You can tuck all sorts of things inside, along with your greeting... a flat piece of candy, such as a Ghirardelli Square, cash, a gift card, a gift certificate, movie tickets... you get the idea!  I know you're probably busy today, but take a few minutes to make a pocket card for someone.  Even though it is Monday and you've got a lot on your "to-do"list, you deserve a few minutes of fun!
Thanks for stopping by and be sure and come back tomorrow for another classic card!
Happy Stamping!
Susan


 

The Bluebird of Happiness

Happy Friday, Stampers!  Welcome to the Classic Card!

For me, Friday is always a happy day.  I guess it comes from working all those years and being happy about the upcoming weekend.  Even though I'm retired and have been for several years, there's something about Friday that just makes me happy and full of anticipation for what the weekend will bring. 
Today I've got a pretty card for you featuring lots of free Sale-abration goodies you can get when you make a $50 purchase.  I'm not sure where the expression "bluebird of happiness" comes from.  Was it in a song or a poem?  I guess I'll have to "google" it and find out.  But for now, let's get to the card, where you'll find a little bluebird of happiness perched right in the middle.

Let me give you a quick list of what I used to put this card together.
Stamps:  Language of Friendship ( a free Sale-a-bration set).
               Fresh Vintage (a free Sale-a-bration set)
               Teeny Tiny Wishes (for the sentiment)
Paper:   Everyday Elegance Designer Paper ( a free Sale-a-bration item)
               Lucky Limeaid card stock
              Pool Party card stock
              Very Vanilla card stock
Ink:      Pool Party
              Lucky Limeaid
Accessories:
            Bird Builder punch
            Label Framelit (in Occasions Mini-catalog, page 6)
            Scallop Circle punch
            Five Petal Flower punch
            Boho Blossom punch
            Printed Brad (a free Sale-a-bration item)
            Dimensionals
            Pool Party 3/8 inch Ruffled ribbon
If you have any questions about this card, please email me at sjrstamp@gmail.com.  I'd love to help you place an order so that you can make this card too!

May you have a very happy weekend and may the bluebird of happiness come and perch on your shoulder!  Thanks for stopping by today and be sure to come back on Monday, when I'll have another classic card for your viewing pleasure!
Susan

A Happy Card

Hello my friends!  Welcome to Wednesday and another post at The Classic Card.

I'm calling today's card a happy card, not for the sentiment, but for the colors used.  You'll see it in a minute, but first a few thoughts about happiness.  Happiness, for many, is elusive.  Happiness is not a place you can travel to, unfortunately.  If that were possible, we'd all be buying a ticket to get there. You can't own it, you can't earn it, and it cannot be worn or consumed.  Happiness sometimes sneaks up on you when you least expect it... like when you're stamping,  or doing some other activity where you are "in the flow" and not really noticing the passage of time.  Where does happiness come from?  Well, my very favorite set in the big catalog Pursuit of Happiness (p. 157) has a sentiment that I like.  It says "A grateful heart is the mainspring of happiness."  So this year I'm working on being a more grateful person each day.  It's all about noticing what's right in our lives, what's positive, and then concentrating on being thankful for those blessings.  And if we're honest, most of us have more positives than negatives in our lives.  It's only when we insist on dwelling on the negatives that they loom larger than they really are.  
As I look out my stamp room window, I see gray, so I'm thinking this card might be just what you need to add a bit of brightness to what could be a bit gloomy.  Check it out...

The colors of this card remind me of a tropical drink with a lime wedge on the edge of the glass... maybe something peachy or mango-y. While we're imagining, this yummy drink would taste extra special on a warm day, under an umbrella on a sunny beach!  The colors of the card stock are Calypso Coral and Lucky Limeaid, with the focal panel in Very Vanilla.  Check out the edges of this Z-fold card.  They've been stamped with the flowered border stamp in the Bordering On Romance stamp set (p. 11 of the Occasions Mini-catalog) and then cut with the new scalloped edgelit on page 7 of the mini.  Lastly, the edge has been embossed with the new Adorning Accents embossing folder, also on page 7 of the Occasions Mini-catalog.  Isn't it great how Stampin'Up! coordinates so many products for us, so that our projects turn out looking awesome?
The flowers on the focal panel are from the new Sale-a-bration set Fresh Vintage.  You can get this set free with a $50 purchase. I colored directly on the stamp with my Calypso Coral and Lucky Limeaid markers, then stamped.  I chose to make this a Mother's Day card, but there are lots of sentiments in the Teeny Tiny Wishes set (p. 157) that would fit.  The printed brad and the narrow organdy ribbon  are another free Sale-a-bration item that you can choose when you spend $50.  You get a package of 30 brads and 2 rolls of ribbon (10 yards each).

Thanks for stopping by today!  Please share my blog with your stamping friends... I'm always looking for more readers.  Make today a happy one!  I'll be back on Friday with another classic card, again featuring NEW products from the Occasions Mini.
Happy stamping!
Susan

Sale-a-bration is finally here!

Hello again stampers!  Welcome to The Classic Card!

Well, the long-awaited Sale-a-bration is finally here!  I know that some of my customers save up all year, just to purchase items during Sale-a-bration, because they know that they can receive free goodies just for ordering.  How fun is that??

Yesterday I promised a card made with some of the Sale-a-bration freebies so here it is:

Today's card features some warmer tones, just perfect for a day like today.  I don't know about you, but I'm planning to spend most of my day inside, out of the wind and the rain.  I'm busy dreaming up some beautiful new cards for my upcoming workshops.  What a great job I have! 

Let me give you a quick run through of the items I used to create this:

Stamps:  Friendly Phrases (p. 162)
               Bordering on Romance (p. 11, Occasions Mini--- I used the dotted line stamp)
Ink:  Early Espresso
         Soft Suede
Paper:  Everyday Elegance Designer Paper (Free Sale-a-bration item)
            Peach Parfait card stock
            Soft Suede card stock
            Very Vanilla card stock
Accessories:
            Blossom Punch ( p. 17 of the Occasions Mini-catalog)
            Fancy Flower Punch
            Scallop Circle Punch
            Boho Blossom Punch
            (punches are found on pages 209-213 of the big catalog
            Printed Brad (free Sale-a-bration item... comes with 2 rolls of coordinating ribbon)
            Edgelit Die (for cutting the curved edge, p. 7 of the Occasions Mini)
            Adorning Accents embossing folder (for embossing the curved cut edge, p. 7, Occasions Mini)
            Soft Suede taffeta Ribbon (p. 195)

Hope you've enjoyed today's card!  I'll be demonstrating the use of the new Edgelits and Framelits at the big Stampin'Up! Open House on Saturday January 28th at New Hope Community Church just off I-205 in the Clackamas Town Center area. This is a free event for my customers, so please let me know if you'd like to attend. 
Happy Tuesday!
Susan
          

Tomorrow is the BIG DAY!

Hello Stampers and happy Monday to you all!

Tomorrow, January 24th, is the beginning of Sale-a-bration, Stampin'Up!'s biggest promotion of the year!  When you make a purchase of $50, you receive a free item of your choice from the Sale-a-bration brochure.  This year's Sale-a-bration items are fabulous... I think you'll love them! I hope to have a copy of the Sale-a-bration brochure posted here for you in the next couple of days.  You can always go to www.stampinup.com to see a copy as well.  Everyone who comes to the Sale-a-bration Open House next Saturday, January 28th at New Hope Community Church will receive a copy to take home.  If you aren't attending the open house and would like a brochure, please email me at sjrstamps@gmail.com and I'll send you one. 

Sale-a-bration is the best time of year to purchase stamps, paper, and accessories because you are rewarded for every $50 you spend and there is no limit to the number of free items you can earn! So it just makes sense to stock up now, while you'll get some fun new stamp sets, paper, and accessories FREE!

Sale-a-bration is also the best time of year to be a hostess, as you'll earn some wonderful extra freebies.  This year, if your party reaches $400, you'll get a fabulous hostess bundle which includes a stamp set, designer paper, 2 rolls of ribbon, and some cute printed brads.  Of course, all of these products coordinate beautifully-- that's the Stampin'Up! way!  Everyone who hosts a party of $150 or more will also get a pretty flowered tote bag.  And all that is in addition to the regular hostess benefits, which are very generous as well.  The bottom line is this.... you can't afford to miss these wonderful freebies, just for hosting a party.  To  make it even easier for you, you can have your party at my house.  Just bring your friends, some cookies or brownies and enjoy a morning or afternoon of stamping.  When it is all over, you 'll be amazed at the amount of free goodies you'll receive.  I have just 5 dates left, so give me a call to save one of them for yourself--- 503-925-1929.

Now that we have all that out of the way, let's get to something cute, as I know you came here for inspiration!  Today I'm going to show you a non-card item, but it is something that you can make.
Check this out...

Isn't this a cute card display piece?  It is an open wooden frame with wire stapled to the back.  The wire has been curled, but I'm pretty sure that wouldn't be hard to do with some needle-nosed pliers.  There's a little wooden heart decorating the lower left-hand corner, which didn't show up very well in this photo. If you don't want to be bending wire into decorative swirls, I think you could also just staple some chicken wire to a frame, which would also be cute.  In fact, you could use a frame like this to display photos, invitations, lists, etc. above your desk.  It doesn't have to be just for cards.
My daughter Katie found this at a craft show and I just love it! 

OK, stamping friends, I think I've come to the end of today's post.   Please join me back here at The Classic Card tomorrow, when I'll show you a great card made with some of the freebies you can earn during Sale-a-bration!
Have a great Monday!
Susan

Sweet and Petite

Hello Stampers!

Yay... it's Friday!  I'm excited about the weekend because I get to re-connect with some of my favorite people, my customers!  It has been quite a while since I've had a Stampin'Up! event, but I'm having one tomorrow at my house.  We're making Valentines, one of my favorite types of cards to make.  I've loved Valentine's Day ever since my elementary school days, when we made Valentine boxes and decorated them for the school Valentine's Day party.  Anybody "old" out there like me?  Remember the shoe box that was magically transformed by construction paper, crepe paper, lots of glue, and maybe some glitter for good measure?  I wonder if children still make those. I guess I'll have to check with my granddaughter Emma.  I always thought mine was the most beautiful!

Today I've got a cute 3 " by 3" card for you.  In Stampin'Up! parlance, these are called Love Notes.  In fact they were sold a few years back under that name.  But a 3 by 3 card is so easy to make that now we make our own and just purchase the Mini Envelopes, sold on page 182 of the big catalog to go with them.  These little cards make a perfect accompaniment to a birthday gift, shower gift, hostess gift, or really any gift you're giving.  You don't need a big card when you are giving someone a present.  I save the larger cards for the times when I'm not giving a gift.  Oh, that reminds me...  if you write your message on a post-it note and place that inside of the card, then your card becomes a gift, as the recipient now has a lovely card to send on to someone else.

OK... let's get to the card...

This little 3" by 3" inch cutie starts out with a piece of Whisper White card stock, cut at 3" wide by 6 " long, then folded to make a 3 by 3 card.  Then I just started layering on the other card stock, for a total of 6 different layers.  The red is Riding Hood Red, and the printed paper, or DSP (Designer Series Paper) is from the Twitterpated Collection in the Occasions Mini-catalog, (p. 13). As you can see, I punched one layer with the Pinking Hearts Border Punch (p. 211).  The focal image is from the Bordering on Romance stamp set (p. 11 of the Occasions Mini) and was stamped in Basic Black and then colored with my Riding Hood Red and Always Artichoke markers. A tiny heart, punched with the Heart to Heart punch (p. 210) was popped up with a tiny piece of a dimensional (foam dot) and I added a tiny Basic Rhinestone (p. 198) to the center of the flower for a bit of bling. The focal panel was punched out with the Postage Stamp punch (p. 212) and the scalloped layer behind that is punched from Riding Hood Red card stock with the Scallop Square punch (p. 210). Wouldn't this little card be a perfect addition to a Valentine's Day gift for your special someone?   It would also be a sweet addition to a small gift of candy or a special cookie that you slide into your co-workers' mailboxes on Valentine's Day. 

Well, stampers, I think I've come to the end of this post. Thanks for stopping by today.  Please tell all of your stamping friends about this blog.  I'm always looking for new readers!  I'll be busy this weekend with 2 stamping events, but I'll be back on Monday with another card to inspire you to stamp, stamp, stamp! Meanwhile, enjoy the weekend!  As I've mentioned in an earlier post, it looks like "stamping weather" (i. e., cold, rainy, gray, and dreary) is here to stay for quite a while.   Don't let it get you down! Turn on the lights, make some coffee or tea, and stamp something pretty!
Happy Friday and Happy Weekend!
Susan