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September 2016

August 2016

Holiday Mini Sneak Peak Gift Tag

August 30, 2016

I'm sure you've all peeked inside the new Stampin'Up! Holiday mini catalog and have been wowed by all the great designs in there. I decided to give you a couple of sneak peaks this week while we are waiting to place our first official orders on September 1st!

The first peak is a "cute as a button" gift tag using the Cookie Cutter Christmas stamp set with matching punch: 8-30-16 Cooke Cutter Tag - Eskimo

Isn't that just the cutest? I'm going to give you the step by step directions so you can keep them (or come back when you order the supplies) and be ready to create when you get your products! Here we go:

1. Cut a piece of Marina Mist cardstock 4 3/4 X 2; cut the top with the Scalloped Tag Topper punch--this is your tag base. Cut a piece of silver glitter ribbon about 14"and loop through the hole at the top.

2. Cut a piece of Shimmery white cardstock 3 X 1 3/8; cut V's in both short ends.  

3. Use the embossing buddy on this piece, stamp Warm Wishes in Versamark ink, sprinkle with Silver embossing powder and heat with Heat Tool until shiny. Adhere to bottom of tag base with dimensionals.

4. Stamp the eskimo in Archival Black ink on a piece of shimmery white cardstock. Using Aquapainter color with Marina Mist ink and Real Read ink.  Use the Clear Wink of Stella on the fur trim. Punch out with the Cookie Cutter punch and adhere to the tag using dimensionals.

5. Adhere 3 rhinestones to the tag bags--see the picture for positioning.

Your tag is completed! Isn't that just the cutest!

Here's the supply list--use the Shop Now button at the top of the page to order your supplies: Note: the Holiday mini items are available to order on September 1st. If you want to place your order now--call 410 836 8016 or email [email protected] and I will place it for you on September 1st.

 

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Our last design with Thoughtful Branches

August 26, 2016

Today's card is the last design we'll be doing with that awesome Thoughtful Branches bundle (Stampin'Up) because we only have a couple of days to order it! The bundle is only available right now until the end of the month--if you haven't ordered yours yet, don't delay--order it today--see the Supplies list right after the card directions today.

Today's card is very sinple--it's one of those 10 minute cards but looks like a million bucks! So you might want to keep this one in mind if you need a great design for your Christmas cards this year. What do you think? 8-26-16 Thoughtful Branches Trees

Here are the quick directions:

1. Cut Green Garden cardstock 8 1/2 X 5 1/2, score the long side at 4 1/4 (this is your card base).

2. Cut Gold Glimmer paper 4 X 5 1/4 (to conserve, you may want to cut out the middle of this piece and save for a later project--you only need the outer edge for this card. Adhere this to the card base using multipurpose liquid glue.

3. Cut a piece of Shimmery White cardstock 5 1/8 X 1 1/2. Tear diagonally from one corner to the other 8-26-16 Tearing paper

Then flip one piece over and adhere the bottoms together--this is the look of intersecting snow banks...see the card for how this will look. (Take one piece, turn it over so the wide part is on the left, leaving the other piece with the wide part on the right--if you've done it correctly the rough part of both pieces is on top) Using your fingernail, rough up the torn edges to help accentuate the top of the snow.  Hold this until we stamp the trees.

4. Cut a piece of Shimmery White cardstock 3 7/8 X 5 1/8--we'll stamp on this.  Using the triple tree stamp and Garden Green ink, stamp sets of trees across the card--moving up and down and stamp a couple of sets without reinking to give it some depth. Then add the snow banks we prepared in step 3 above using liquid glue.

5. With Merry Christmas (Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set), stamp in Versamark in the lower left snowbank, sprinkle with Gold embossing powder and heat with Heat Tool until gold and shiny.

Your card is completed! What do you think...very simple but very elegant, right?

Here's the supply list. Use the Shop Now button today to get your supplies and don't forget--the Thoughtful Branches bundle is only available until the end of August!

 

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I just can't stop using this lovely set...

August 23, 2016

Stampin'Up! Thoughtful Branches stamp set and framelits are still available for another week and then...who knows if they'll be back. I have fallen head over heals in love with this set and cannot quit creating new cards with it. This week we'll be creating two more so you'll have tons of samples to create when you get your own Thoughtful Branches bundle.

Here's today's card 8-23-16 Thoughtful Branches - Hydrangea

This is one of those designs that is very versatile--birthday, thinking of you, thank you, get well, congratulations....just because!

I'm going to give you step by step directions and then the supply list will follow:

1. Cut Rich Razzleberry cardstock 8 1/2 X 5 1/2, score the long side at 4 1/4 (card base)

2. Cut Basic Black cardstock 4 X 5 1/4, adhere to card front with multipurpose liquid glue.

3. Cut Shimmery white card stock 3 7/8 X 5 1/8--we'll stamp on this.  Stamp Watercolor Wash in Pink Pirouette ink as your background--it's a very soft color. Stamp the big jar (Jar of Love stamp set) in Archival Black ink, then the flower stem in the same ink.

4. With your aqua painter (#103954) and Pool Party ink, color the "water" in the jar--use horizontal motions and don't try to me too precise--it's water.

5. With the Tree leaves stamp (Thoughtful Branches stamp set), stamp in Sweet Sugarplum ink (#141400) on Sweet Sugarplum cardstock (#141418). Cut out with the matching framelit. Cut another (not stamped) set of leaves with the same framelit from the Sweet Sugarplum cardstock. Adhere the unstamped piece to the top of the jar. Adhere the stamped piece using small bits of dimensionals--try to offset this top piece to minimize the white showing through. Adhere about 5 small rhinestones randomly over the flowers.

6. Using the Stem with 2 leave framelit (Thoughtful Branches) cut 2 pieces from Garden Green cardstock. Cut off 3 of the leaves and adhere the bottom of the leave under the flower with glue dots.

7. Cut three pieces of linen thread about 9 inches each--tie all three in a bow and adhere under the middle of the flower with a glue dot. Adhere this cardstock to the black using liquid glue

Your card is completed! What do you think--isn't this just lovely? Change the colors, use multicolors in the layers--you can just go on and on and on.

Here's the supply list for the above card, use the Shop Now button at the top of the page to order your supplies:

 

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DIY Quick Bag & Tag - 10 minutes max!!

August 19, 2016

 Do you enjoy giving a gift that is thoughtfully wrapped--I love to receive gifts that look fantastic--it makes the gift all the more special! Today I needed to wrap a small gift and I grabbed a plain white bag--I thought it just needed a little something and I needed to get it done in 10 minutes.

I snagged the Stampin'Up! Pop of Pink Washi Tape--oh, yeah--three rows of that and we are looking good--and that only took me a minute---I still have 9 minutes to make this even more fabulous!

I whipped out the Petite Petals punch (this is my favorite go to punch) and some Melan Mambo cardstock--I punched out 7 flowers, added rhinestones in the centers.

I cut a piece of thick white cardstock 4 1/4 X 2; shoved the top into the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch and wrapped 14"Melan Mambo thick bakers twine through the top--added the same rows of washi tape to the bottom. (Now tag and bag coordinate) (I still have 5 minutes left)

I took the For You stamp (Birthday Blooms stamp set) and stamped it in Archival black on the tag above the washi tape. I added the Melan Mambo flowers to the tag and the bag with glue dots. I tied the tag around the bag handle and I am done--and, no, I really didn't use all the 10 minutes--I used the last minute to clean the stamp and put it back in the case.

So here's the final product---awesome, right? 8-19-16 Bag & Tag

Here's the supply list. Use the Shop Now button at the top of the page to order your supplies:

 

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DIY 10 minute Awesome Card

August 16, 2016

Do you find that when you need a card and don't find one in your stash that it always happens when you don't have a lot of time? Me too. Today, needed a cute thank you card and didn't have but 10 minutes to get one stamped but wanted it to be really awesome! So I tapped into the Stampin'Up! Affectionately Yours Designer Series Paper and picked out my favorite design--yes, of course, it had flowers and copper shine--really, could I have selected any other one? And used the new Mixed Borders stamp set which lets you have a wonderful border with a space in the middle to add your greeting--and it comes with a selection that fits right in the opening...here it is 8-16-16 Affectionately Yours DSP

What do you think? I love the way the border matches the design in the paper and how easy it was to pull it all together with the ribbon that matches one of the flowers in the designer paper.

I'm going to give you directions to create this quick cutie and then I'll give you the supply list so you can purchase what you need to re-create it!

1. Cut So Saffron cardstock 8 1/2 X 5 1/2, score the long side at 4 1/4 (this is your card base)

2. Cut your favorite design in the Affectionately Yours DSP 5 1/4 X 2 1/2, adhere this to the top of the card front using multipurpose liquid glue (#110755).

3. Rub the embossing buddy (#103083) over the So Saffron card front bottom.  Stamp the leaf border (Mixed Borders) in Versamark, sprinkle with Copper embossing powder, heat with Heat Tool until shiny copper.

4. Stamp your verse (I used Thank you so very much from the Mixed Border stamp set) in  Versamark in the space provided in the border stamp. Sprinkle with copper embossing powder, heat with Heat Tool until shiny copper.

5. Cut a 16"piece of Mint Macaron 3/8" Satin Ribbon and tie around the base of the DSP--secure the knot to the card with a glue dot.

Your card is completed! What do you think? You can vary the designer paper and the verse to fit your occasion--so here are the supplies.

Here's the supply list, use the Shop Now button at the top of the page to order your supplies:

 

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Let's make a sandwich!

August 12, 2016

Do you get confused  about what kind of sandwich you need when you are using your Big Shot? Does it get confusing when you try to figure out what base to use, what pads to use, do you use one or two or none? 

We were discussing this at one of the classes and I promised to blog a sheet sheet to help when you get ready to use your Big Shot.

Platforms--which one do I use?

The old hinged style and the new Big Shot Platform have the same function except the hinged style has 2 flaps on hinges that you use depending on whether you are using embossing folders or framelits (metal dies).  Since all the new Big Shots are being shipped with the new Big Shot Platform, we'll discuss that one. 142802_Big_Shot_Platform_and_Thin_Dies_Adapter-435

The advantage of the new platform is that it is humped in the center to provide even pressure when going through the Big Shot where the greater pressure is exerted on the edges. With the hump in the center, you no longer need to worry about moving dies to the outer edges since the pressure will be the same in the center and on the edges.

The new Big Shot  Platform is shipped with a shim in case you want to use it with framelits--it needs a bit of extra height to use with framelits.

Magnetic Platform is used with metal dies--framelits & thinlits. It helps hold these die in place (unless they have a gremlin in certain spots and they decide to repel--if this happens--just move to a different area on the platform. ) 130658_magnetic_platform-78

Precision Base Plate is used when doing framelite or thinlits that have intricate designs...the Precision Base Plate is very hard and will provide a very good cutting surface for those tiny cuts. 139684_precision_base_plate-79

Die Brush comes with it's own foam pad and is used to brush out the tiny cut waste pieces when using an intricate thinlet such as the butterflies, hearts, and florals.  One thing to remember is if you put the back side of the glimmer paper up the dies will cut through the backing first and when you use the brush, it will not damage the glimmer. Sometimes this isn't possible--like when you are cutting words--the glimmer needs to be right side up to get it to read correctly. But when you can, you  may want to give it a try. 140603_big_shot_die_brush-80

Sandwiches....I have prepared a sheet with the various options so that you can print it out and place it near your Big Shot for reference. After awhile you'll have it all in your head (or not, LOL) but in the mean time you can have this nearby to refer to. So click here to see the cheat sheet. Download Big Shot Sandwiches  (or if you need a pdf file: Download Big Shot Sandwiches  When the chart indicates Standard Cutting pads--they look like this: 113475_Replacement_Cutting_Pads-269

Here's the list of tools we discussed today. Use the Shop Now button at the top of the page or order the ones you need:

 

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How did I make this awesome sunflower?

August 09, 2016

 As August slugs along sunflowers come to mind--I think it's the deep rich yellow color I associate with the end of summer. Look at this terrific sunflower card--do you know how I created this sunflower? 8-9-16 Thoughtful Branches Sunflower

If you've been following my blog you probably recognize some of the parts, right? It's from the Stampin'Up! Thoughtful Branches Bundle! This little pretty went together rather quickly using one of the stamps and 2 of the dies. I'm going to give you the directions and then I'll provide the supply list so you can create this one too!

If you haven't already purchased the Thoughtful Branches Bundle, you'll want to order it really soon so you don't miss it. It's available during August and August is marching on quickly. (Note: Stampin'Up! may offer this product later but they have not committed to it yet--so why wait and miss out, rght?) Here's the brochure so you can see the entire bundle  Download Thoughtfulbranches_flyer_jul0516_us

Here we go:

1. Cut Very Vanilla cardstock 8 1/2 X 5 1/2, score the long side at 4 1/4 (this is your card base)

2. Cut Soft Suede cardstock at 4 x 5 1/4; adhere to card front using multipurpose liquid glue.

3. Cut Very Vanilla cardstock 3 7/8 X 5 1/8, run through the Big Shot using the Boho Chic embossing folder; adhere over the soft suede layer using liquid glue.

4. Using 1 1/2 circle punch, punch circle from Early Expresson cardstock; run through Big Shot using Softly Falling folder.

5. On Daffodil Delight cardstock stamp the small leave (make 9) in Crushed Curry Classic Ink, cut out with framelit. Adhere in an even circle to the back of the circle using glue dots.

6. Cut leaves/stem unit with die from Garden Green cardstock--adhere to card front with liquid glue. Adhere flower over top of the stem using dimensionals.

7. Stamp "Get Well Wises" (Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set) in Archival Black ink (#140931) on a scrap of Very Vanilla. Punch out using the Classic Label punch. Adhere over the stem using dimensionals--I used the edge around the dimensionals so I don't have to cut them down.

Your  card is completed! Let me know how you did when you created this one!

 Here's the supply list. Use the Shop Now button at the top of the page to order your supplies:

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Let 'em know you stamped it!

August 05, 2016

You love to create those cute and beautiful cards for your friends...and you want to let them know that you created then by hand!  Stampin'Up! has just released a terrific stamp set that will help you convey that message. The stamp set is called "I Stamped This" Here's the brochure for this new set  Download Angel Policy Flyer_US

Aren't those images awesome! You can find the one that fits every occasion. Get your set ordered before the holidays get here--you can let all your created bear the notice that YOU stamped this!

 Here's a picture of one of the stamps in this set the represents the copyright statement that you are required to include on any stamped item that you sell--all Stampin'Up! images are copyright protected--so if you sell something with a SU image on it, you will need to stamp this on the item to indicate the images are copyrighted by Stampin'Up! 8-5-16

 

Order your I Stamped This stamp set today--use the Shop Now button at the top of the page and use the number #137049 (Wood Mount) or #144274 (Clear Mount).

Note: for these types of stamps where placement of the stamp is not critical--I will purchase the Wood Mount so that they are always mounted, I can just grab the one that fits my situation and stamp.

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Thoughtful Branches...quick and easy!

August 02, 2016

It's soooo hot and muggy here in Maryland and so I thought I'd cool off by creating a really "cool" winter card with the new Thoughtful Branches set from Stampin'Up!---I made this into a Christmas card with the greeting--but this could also be an awesome birthday card, thinking of you card, thank you card, sympathy card, or get well card. This could be one of those you put in your stash and stamp the greeting when you need to send it. So take a look.....does this cool you off with the images of snow but heat up your creative juices? 8-2-16 Thoughtful Branches

The reason that we are working with this stamp set (Thoughtful Branches) is that it is currently only available through August while supplies last!  So I'm having a blast with it during August while we can still get it. I'm going to give you step by step directions for this simple to do card and following that I will give you the supply list.

Here's the brochure for you to see up close the gorgeous pieces of the thinlets and the stamp sets--it can make trees, leaves, flowers (see last week's posts for more samples). Download Thoughtfulbranches_flyer_jul0516_us

Here's how to create this card:

1.Cut Night of Navy cardstock 4 1/4 X 11, score the long side at 5 1/2"(this is your card base).

2.Cut Silver Glimmer paper 3 3/4 X 5 (note, to conserve this paper, you can cut out the middle of this and save for another project since you only need about 3/4"of the border). Adhere the glimmer border to the front of the cardbase using glue dots

3. Cut Whisper white 3 1/2 X 4 3/4. Stamp the tree trio and the single tree in versamark, sprinkle with silver embossing powder and heat with Heat Tool until shiny silver.

4. Stamp the "ground" lines in versamark under the tree trio and part of the lines near the single tree (see picture); sprinkle with silver embossing powder and heat with Heat tool until shiny silver. Add some shimmer with the Wink of Stella glitter pen between the "ground"lines.

5. Stamp Tis the Season (Oh What Fun Stamp set) in Night of Navy Classic ink and working quickly sprinkle with 50% Clear embossing powder + 50% Dazzling Diamonds glitter* (have this mixed and ready to sprinkle since the navy ink will dry quickly); heat with Heat Tool until set.

6. Adhere this cardstock to the silver glimmer paper with glue dots. Add 3 rhinestones--see picture for placement.

Your card is completed! Isn't it gorgeous? So while it's hot--stamp a few of these to cool down !

*We've used this mixture in classes since Stampin'Up! discontinued our Iridescent Ice Embossing powder but this may be the first time we've used this in a post.  Just mix equal parts of Clear embossing powder (e.g. 1 teasp0on) plus an equal amount of Dazzling Diamonds glitter). The embossing powder will "glue" the glitter to the cardstock when the mixture is heated.  You cannot just sprinkle the glitter on the Versamark--Versamark is an ink--not a glue--and when the ink dries, the glitter will just brush off unless you have the clear embossing powder in there to glue it when it's melted.

Here's the supply list---don't wait too long to order yours...it is only available this August while supplies last (note: Stampin'Up! indicated that it may be available sometime in the future--but they are not sure at this point in time)

 

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