Today I'm going to tell you The Secret of the Designer Series Paper Quilt Card. I fell in love with the Petal Garden Designer Series Paper and wanted to create a card with it so I created a Designer Series Paper Quilt.  The beauty of this quilt is not only in the designer paper design but the simplicity of creating it and the fact that you can use the same design with many of the designer series papers. Here's today's design:

One of the common complaints for creating a card like this is the even positioning of the squares so that the borders (around the edges and within) remain relatively even.  There's a simple secret to creating and maintaining those even borders...I'll explain that in the directions below. Following the directions I'll give you the list of supplies.

You can order your supplies in my store by hitting the Shop Now button at the right side of the page. Remember you only have 2 more days to cash in those $5 Stampin'Up! coupons you earned in July. Also, remember to use the current month  Hostess Code (2SEBQ4GB) when you place an online order for $50 or more in product (excludes shipping & tax)--for each $50 in Stampin'Up! product you order you'll receive $5 in Stampin'Up! product.

Here's the directions for this card:

1. Cut Sweet Sugarplum cardstock 4 1/4 X 11, score on the long side at 5 1/2 (cardbase).

2. Cut Basic Black cardstock 3 5/8 X 3 5/8; adhere to top of the cardbase with mutipurpose liquid glue (refer to picture for placement).

3. Cut Always Artichoke cardstock 3 1/2 X 3 1/2.  Here's the secret you've been waiting for...using your Stampin'Up! paper trimmer (item #126889), score all four sides at 1/8" from the edge.  This will be how you line up the quilt blocks to create the even borders.

4. Cut five 1 inch squares from small flower print (Petal Garden Designer Series Paper). Cut four 1 inch squares from coordinating Old Olive paper. Now, take one floral square & adhere it to the Always Artichoke square (use liquid glue) by lining up the top & left edges with the score marks in the upper left corner.

5. Repeat this in the other 3 corners using the score marks as your guide. Then adhere the Olive square between the 2 floral squares on all 4 sides.

6. Lastly, adhere the fifth floral square in the middle using the outside square of squares as your guide.

7. Tie a 6" piece of 1/8" Old Olive ribbon in a small bow; adhere to middle of middle square using a glue dot (item # 103683).

8. Stamp Thank You (One Big Meaning stamp set) in Archival Basic Black ink below the quilt squares.

See how easy that was? Using the score lines means you'll have that beautiful even border and then placing the center square is a piece of cake. (Oh my, let's not talk about cake--you know how I am with sweets!)

Here's your supply list, use the Shop Now button at the right side of this blog:

Petal Garden Designer Series Paper Stack
$10.00

One Big Meaning Clear-Mount Stamp Set
$19.00

Old Olive 1/8" Sheer Ribbon
$6.00

Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad
$7.00

Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
$8.00

Always Artichoke 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
$8.00

Sweet Sugarplum 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
$8.00

Multipurpose Liquid Glue
$4.00

 

As you may recall Tuesday we looked at using the new Stampin'Up! Circle Tab Punch--today we're going to look at Another Great New Use of Stampin'Up! Circle Tab Punch.

If you missed the first great new use of the Circle Tab Punch on Tuesday check it out here  http://www.sandilovesstamping.com/2017/08/new-use-for-stampinup-circle-tab-punch.html

If you're like me, you use your catalog a lot and are always looking to see if you have a punch or what colors are offered in a specialty paper....and I had put in some Post-It note tabs to help me get there fast--they look like this

Can't really read them well and wow--what a mess they look...so I whipped out my trusty Circle Tab Punch and inserted some Daffodil Delight cardstock in the front 

and punched several tabs

I used a pen to write on the sections of the Stampin'Up! catalog that I use quite a bit, color families, DSP, specialty paper, embellishments, ribbon, adhesive, punches, Big Shot, etc.

Then I used Scotch Tape on the front and back of the tab base to hold it at the top of each page--this helps give some stability to the catalog page and keeps the bottom well attached to the page

Now look at this--all tabbed, easy to read and wow does it look much nicer!

Try it out on your catalog.. the ordering information for the Circle Tab punch is provided below...you can use the Shop Now button at the right of the page to order through my store.

Remember to use your Stampin'Up! $5 coupon before August 31st. And if you use this month's Host Code (2SEBQ4GB) when you check out, you will receive $5 Stampin'Up! product for each $50 in product that you purchase (excludes shipping & tax)

Ordering information:

Circle Tab Punch
$18.00

 

This weekend I found a great New Use for the Stampin'Up! Circle Tab Punch. When it was introduced in the new annual catalog I thought it was a great little punch that we could use to add some pizzazz to our cards and projects....which we can. But this weekend I held a card buffet and pack all the tools in a case for each card design. Use of sponges comes in handy but I can't always be right there to make sure the correct sponge is on the correct ink pad. So I decided I needed a way to label them. In the past I've tried permanent marker--which is great, except after I wash it--I may want to use it for another color.

That's where the Circle Tab Punch comes in....first, I usually cut my sponges in quarters

Take a piece of cardstock, slip it in the front opening of the circle tab punch and punch

 Now, using a pen, write on the name of the color that you want to sponge

Fold the tab along the top fold mark

Slip the folded tab over the wedge edge of the sponge quarter

Slip the stapler over the tab down to the tab base and staple

Now it's ready for sponging Real Red ink on your project!

If you are using multiple sponging colors this will keep those sponges readily identifiable for each color. There's nothing more upsetting than to contaminate your Daffodil Delight ink pad with Real Red ink!  Been there, Done that--no fun!

Below are the supplies we used for this great new use of the Circle Tab punch.  You can place your order in my store using the Shop Now button at the right side of the page.

Remember, you need to use those  Stampin'Up! $5 coupons you earned last month before August 31st. AND, remember to use this month's HOST code when you check out (2SEBQ4GB). You will receive $5 in Stampin'Up! product from me for each $50 in Stampin'Up! product that you purchase (excludes shipping & tax)

Here are the supplies:

Stamping Sponges
$3.50

Circle Tab Punch
$18.00

 

Today I'm going to show you another Do-It-Yourself Designer PaperI  that you can do in 10 seconds. If you missed the post on Tuesday where we did the first one, you can check it out here http://www.sandilovesstamping.com/2017/08/create-your-own-designer-paper-in-10-seconds.html.

I needed a quick birthday card for a guy and wanted to use that fun technique with the masks we did on Tuesday--I grabbed the cloud mask and here's the result:

One of the fun characteristics of using masks is that I don't have to worry about spacing--that's all built into the mask. Those clouds are evenly spaced just right without me having to worry about it. I used Whisper White craft ink with White Embossing Powder to whiten up the clouds--and really set off that background onto which I  adhere those cool balloons! This card would be great for anyone--guys, kids, teens, office workers. 

I'll give you directions to create the card followed by the supply list. You can order your supplies through my store (use the Shop Now button at the right side of this blog) and remember to use those Stampin'Up! $5 coupons you earned last month and if you also use this month's Host Code (2SEBQ4GB) you will receive $5 in Stampin'Up! product for each $50 in product that you purchase (that's a 10% savings, right!)

Here we go:

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

2. Cut Whisper White cardstock 3 1/4 X 4 1/2; adhere to card base front with multipurpose liquid glue.

3. Cut 3 1/8 X 4 3/8 Soft Sky cardstock; adhere 2 corners of this to scrap paper with removable tape.

4. Stamp Happy Birthday (Balloon Celebration stamp set) in Archival Basic Black ink (see card sample)

5. Overlay the cardstock with the cloud mask and hold tightly; brayer over mask  with Whisper White craft ink; gently lift up the mask. Note: avoid brayering over the greeting.

6. Sprinkle the stamped images with White Embossing Powder; heat with heat tool until shiny white. Adhere this to white layer on card front with liquid glue.

7. Punch a large balloon (Balloon Bouquet punch) from Bermuda Bay cardstock and a small balloon from Silver Glimmer paper. Cut two 6" pieces of Pool Party twine and tie a knot near the end. Adhere the unknotted ends to the back of each balloon with a glue dot.  Adhere the balloons to the card front with dimensionals and glue dot the knot to the card front.

Your card is completed--grab an envelope and mail this to someone who's having a birthday!

Here's the suppy list, use the Shop Now button at the left side and order your supplies now:

Pattern Party Decorative Masks
$6.00

Sponge Brayers
$8.00

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
$9.00

Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad
$7.00

Multipurpose Liquid Glue
$4.00

Soft Sky 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
$8.00

Silver Glimmer Paper
$5.00

Balloon Celebration Photopolymer Stamp Set
$26.00

Balloon Bouquet Punch
$18.00

Stampin' Dimensionals
$4.00

Mini Glue Dots
$5.25

Pool Party Solid Baker’S Twine
$3.00

White Stampin' Emboss Powder
$5.00

Heat Tool (Us And Canada)
$30.00

 

Ever need a Designer Paper for a project and don't have exactly what you need...today I'm going to show you how to Create Your Own Designer Paper in 10 Seconds.

Today I wanted to re-create a card we made at Sandi's Creative Escape a couple of weeks ago but discovered I didn't have the designer paper I wanted in Berry Burst. So I was thinking about what I could substitute and get the same effect...then I remembered the masks we used at the Embossing Paste class...what do you think?

Do you recognize the lattice design that we "pasted" in class--well I didn't have time to break out the embossing paste today so I used the trusty little sponge brayer instead--remember this useful little tool? 

I'm going to give you the quick steps to create this card and then I'll provide the supply list you can use to purchase your products through my store using the Shop Now button at the side of this blog.

Remember to use those Stampin'Up! $5 coupons you earned last month and use the Hostess Code for August (2SEBQ4GB). For each $50 you purchase in product you'll receive $5 in Stampin'Up! product from me! 

Instructions:

1. Cut Berry Burst cardstok 4 1/4 X 11, score the long side at 5 1/2 (card base).

2. Cut Basic Black cardstock 3 1/2 X 4 1/2; adhere to card base with multipurpose liquid glue.

3. Cut Berry Burst cardstock 4 3/8 X 3 3/8 (don't glue down yet)

4. Cut 3 1/4 X 2 3/4 Whisper White cardstock...using removable tape adhere two tips of the cardstock to scrap paper. Lay the lattice design mask over the cardstock and hold firmly. Roll the sponge brayer over the Berry  Burst ink pad---lifting the roller after each pass over the pad to assure the entire roller is inked. Then brayer the cardstock with the mask in place. Brayering lightly will give you a light image and using more ink (multiple passes) will deepen the color).

5. Cut Whisper White cardstoxk 3 1/4 X 1 1/2; adhere to bottom of Berry Burst layer at the bottom leaving 1/16" border; adhere the brayered piece above this using liquid glue.

6. Tie 14" piece of Berry Burst Finely woven ribbon around the above unit at the junction of the 2 white pieces.

7. Adhere this to the black cardstock with liquid glue

8. Stamp "thinking of you" (Feathers Together stamp set) in Archival Basic Black ink on the white piece.

Your card is completed with your own designer paper----you can use any of the masks with any color ink and have a designer paper to match your project. Now send this card to someone and brighten their day! You don't need a reason to send a "thinking of you" card.

Here's the supply list--use the Shop Now button at the side of the base to get into my store where you can purchase your supplies.

Pattern Party Decorative Masks
$6.00

Sponge Brayers
$8.00

Berry Burst Classic Stampin' Pad
$6.50

Berry Burst 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
$8.00

Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
$8.00

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
$9.00

Berry Burst 1/2" Finely Woven Ribbon
$7.00

Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad
$7.00

Multipurpose Liquid Glue
$4.00

Feather Together Photopolymer Stamp Set
$17.00

 

Today we're continuing our stamping tools organization ideas with How to Store Your Punches & Dry Embossing Folders in a way that is easy to use--both finding the right tool and putting it back.

If you have a variety of punches, you know that keeping them organized and knowing what punch is where can be a challenge.  You met Noella Ryan-Paul (one of Sandi's Stampers) last Tuesday as she showed us how to organize our dies (thinlets and framelits). She has also shared with us a fun and easy way to store and identify punches at a glance...check it out

Yes, that is a shoe holder that hooks over the top of a door or solidly bolted rod.  You simply deposit your punch into a pouch and it is stored and you can see through the clear plastic of the pouch to see if it's there or not! Also, Noella has punched a brightly colored cardstock with each punch and paper-clipped it to the pouch for very easy viewing. It is NOT permanently attached because she may want to reorganize her punches---and in that case, she just unclips the sample and relocates it to another pouch--re-clips the punched image to that pouch---Awesome, right!

Now I'm going to show you her system for identifying and organizing her dry embossing folders (the proper name is Textured Impressions Embossing Folders).  First, Noella makes a sample by dry embossing a portion of  a long piece of cardstock, folds the cardstock so that the sample is visible, writes the name of the folder at the top of the "folder" she created to identify it by name ---then slips the embossing folder in the cardstock folder...

She then places this in her folder basket. She can quickly look through her basket to locate just the design she's looking for in her current project...here's what that looks like:

How easy and convenient is that? You can probably get this accomplished with a basket or box you already have at home!

Thanks again to Noella for sharing her wonderful organization secrets!

If you are not already signed up for my blog news emails, sign up today so you won't miss the next one. Here's the link...just complete the short form, look in your email and you'll find an email asking you to confirm you want to receive emails and you'll be getting those notices when a new post  is made: http://forms.aweber.com/form/49/2046706249.htm

And, if you'd like to get news about new products, sales, classes,etc.. sign up for this newsletter also

http://forms.aweber.com/form/96/1626427396.htm

Today I'm going to share with you How to Store Your Framelits & Thinlets for Organization and Easy Retrieval. 

One of Sandi's Stampers, Noella Ryan-Paul and been busily organizing her stamping supplies so they are not only neat and tidy but also, easy to grab and use. If your tools are not in a somewhat organized system--say just tossed in a basket--then often we hesitate to dive into the chaos to find what we want. We are much more inclined to pick up a tool if it is easily located.

Who wants to spend 15 minutes dumpster diving to locate that flower framelit --- we love it, it would look great, but 15 minutes is a long time to take out of our stamping schedule just to locate a die to use. By then our creative juices have dried up, we are frustrated, irritated and have decided that person who was going to receive that beautiful card you have designed in your head--no longer needs to be wished "Happy Birthday!" Am I right?  You know I am...I've been there and I'm sure you have also.

There's lots to be said about keeping your tools organized in a way they are easy to find and easy to put back into that organizational system.

Today, we're going to take a peek inside Noella's craft room (don't you just love looking into someone's craft space and checking it out)? LOL...it's so fun and often you get some great ideas for your own space...and I say space because we don't all have an entire room to devote to our craft. This makes it even more necessary to have a organized system of keeping our crafting stuff easy to locate.

Dies (thinlets and framelits) are fantastic tools--but as you know they can be slippery little devils and not stay where they are put...so Noella has found this wonderful magnetic system (you can find them in local craft stores) that looks like this  Noella takes those plates out of the case and mounts her dies on those--she does not put them back in the case because she doesn't find it easy to look through them to find what she needs.  Here's what her system looks like in her craft space

Isn't that clever and easy to locate your favorite die? Isn't your friend more likely to get that great birthday card from you since it only took  a few seconds instead of half your crafting time to find that framelit?

Noella reports that she is now more likely to use a die since she can locate it so easily.  Noella, thanks so much for your great tip!

Be sure to stop back by on Friday... I have 2 more tips for you then!

If you are not already signed up for my blog news emails, sign up today so you won't miss the next one. Here's the link...just complete the short form, look in your email and you'll find an email asking you to confirm you want to receive emails and you'll be getting those notices when a new post  is made: http://forms.aweber.com/form/49/2046706249.htm

And, if you'd like to get news about new products, sales, classes,etc.. sign up for this newsletter also

http://forms.aweber.com/form/96/1626427396.htm

Last Tuesday we used Just Add Color with a brayer...today we're using Just Add Color...Without Any Color!  If you missed Tuesday's post check it out here http://www.sandilovesstamping.com/2017/08/fastest-coloring-in-the-west.html .

I know someone who is purchasing a new home and when I was looking through the Just Add Color Designer Series Specialty Paper I saw that sheet with the lovely detailed houses and thought this would make a great card for them...but I don't have any time this week for coloring--even the fastest in the west (or east)...so here's the design using that great paper with no coloring at all..

Isn't that a terrific card and speedy too! It would make a great addition to a photo album if they are tracking progress with the building of the home! Since there's minimal color, it will fit into any color scheme.

I'm going to give you directions for creating this card and then I'll give you the supply list.  Use the Shop Now button at the side of the page to order what you need from my store.

Remember to use the current month Hostess Code (2SEBQ4GB) and you will receive $5 in Stampin'Up! product for each $50 in product that you purchase. And remember to use those $5 coupons you received last month from Stampin'Up!

Here's the directions:

1.Cut Berry Burst cardstock 4 1/4 X 11, score the long side at 5 1/2  (cardbase)

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

3.Cut Whisper White cardstock 3 7/8 X 5 1/8

4.Cut row of houses from DSP 3 1/8 X 3 7/8, adhere to bottom of white layer with liquid glue. Cut a 15" piece of black twine, wrap around this layer and tie in a  bow. (Hint: place a glue dot where the first knot will be and that will hold the twine while you finish tying the bow.)  Adhere this unit to the black layer with liquid glue.

5.Stamp "Congratulations" "on your new home"  (Home Life Stamp set) in  Berry Burst Classic ink about the bow. Stamp 3 small bursts in Berry Burst ink about the greeting. Adhere a silver Metallic Enamel Dot in the center of each burst.

Your card is completed! Now send it to someone you know who has just moved into a new home!

Here's the Supply List..use the Shop Now button at the right to order your supplies from my store

Berry Burst 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
$8.00

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
$9.00

Just Add Color Specialty Designer Series Paper
$13.00

Home Life Photopolymer Stamp Set
$35.00

Berry Burst Classic Stampin' Pad
$6.50

Basic Black Solid Baker's Twine
$3.00

Metallic Enamel Shapes
$7.00

Mini Glue Dots
$5.25

Multipurpose Liquid Glue
$4.00

 

Not a happy colorer...well here's the Fastest Coloring in the West...or is that East--I'm directionally challenged! But for coloring, now here's a new direction! Check out this card.

Do you recognize the light green paper on top?  Maybe not...it's the Just Add Color Designer  Series Specialty Paper. Originally, white with black inked designs...but I used the Sponge Brayer to add color--talk about quick--a few swipes and you are done! I used a bit more ink at the top and less at the bottom giving a sort of ombre effect---but you can make it all one shade if you like.

Nice thing about the sponge brayers is that when you are finished you just rinse them in tap water and let them dry--ready for the next use.

I did add a bit of pizzazz by cutting a single leaf from the DSP and coloring with the Lemon Lime Twist marker which adds a pretty focal point.

I'm going to give you step by step directions and then give you the supply list so you can purchase your supplies from  my store using the Shop Now button at the side of the page.

When ordering online, remember to use the current month Hostess code and receive $5 in Stampin'Up! product for each $50 in product that you purchase. The code for August is 2SEBQ4GB.

And, if you received $5 coupons from Stampin'Up! in July, you can spend them now in my store--hit the Shop Now button.

Here are the directions:

1. Cut Lemon Lime Twist cardstock 4 1/4 X 11, score long side at 5 1/2.

2. Cut Just Add Color (sheet with leaves) at 5 1/8 X 3 7/8; using the sponge brayer add Lemon Lime Twist Classic Ink by rolling the sponge over the ink pad and then rolling over the designer paper...cover evenly or ombre style.

3. Cut Tranquil Tide cardstock 4 x 5 1/4; adhere designer paper to this piece using multipurpose liquid glue. 

4. Cut a 20" piece of Lemon Lime Twist ribbon; wrap around above unit and tie in a bow.

5. Cut a single leaf from remaining designer paper, color with Lemon Lime Twist Stampin'Write marker (In Color markers 2017-2019, Item# 144247). Adhere under bow with a dimensional.

6. Add 3 small Metallic Enamel shapes to leaf to add that final professional touch!

Your card is completed--now send it to someone whose day needs a boost!

Here is the supply list--use the Shop Now button to order what you need to create this card:

Lemon Lime Twist 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
$8.00

Tranquil Tide 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
$8.00

Just Add Color Specialty Designer Series Paper
$13.00

Lemon Lime Twist 1/2" Finely Woven Ribbon
$7.00

Lemon Lime Twist Classic Stampin' Pad
$6.50

Metallic Enamel Shapes
$7.00

Stampin' Dimensionals
$4.00

Paper Snips
$10.00

Multipurpose Liquid Glue
$4.00

Sponge Brayers
$8.00