Friday, October 30, 2015

Thankful Pumpkin

 We are on the final card this week, featuring the note cards and this simple layout.  Did you also notice a theme to all the cards???  They're all Thank You or Thankful cards.  I wanted to feature some fun Thank You cards because my upcoming class in just over a week will feature them.  I'm excited about this class!!!  The details on the class are below.  There's still a couple days to sign up :)  While we won't be making this cute pumpkin card the cards we will make will be equally adorable!  
This card is just super cute!!  Probably my favorite!  I love the little pumpkin and the simple greeting!  I used the Sparkly Season stamp set for this card.  What a great gift this would be for a hostess on Thanksgiving, make a set of these cute pumpkin cards, who wouldn't want to receive these?  What about making this pumpkin into a tag then everyone write something they're thankful for on the back, then by the end of dinner you have a whole pumpkin patch of thanks!  Super cute!!!   

Here's all the class details.
November 7, 2015 9:30am St. John's Cathedral 318 Silver SW, Albuquerque
Thankful Card Class
Tis the season to be thankful!  Please join me at this class to make 6 wonderful thank you cards!  These cards will be perfect to send a note of thanks to anyone!  This class is $20 or FREE with a $35 class order.  Last day to register for this class is November 1.   

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!!

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Endless Flower Thanks

 After a couple of pretty masculine cards let's go super girly :)  This card is pretty much a one layer card, the flowers are stamped on the base of the card, of course except the ones popped up on the vellum and white circles.  I used a color that up until a few weeks ago I disliked greatly.  I'm not sure what the sudden turn around is but suddenly Calypso Coral is a keeper!!!  I think until recently I've used it maybe only a handful of times since it came out.....I really didn't like it, but now, I'm not sure what happened--I LOVE IT!!!  So pretty!!! 
This card is very soft, and elegant.  The three flowers on the circle are cut out and popped up on dimensionals.  I also added some rhinestones to them for extra bling.  To 'fill in' some of the extra space I added some Soft Sky flowers.  So pretty!!!  I just love this card!!!!  Check back tomorrow for what I think is my favorite of the 4 cards this week :)

Thanks for looking, see you soon!

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Thankful Fox

 I shared my first of 4 note cards yesterday, today's card is another sweet one, also a little on the masculine side like yesterdays.....though there is a splash of glimmer paper so maybe not :)  I just love this little fox.  I tried a few things with him, nothing seemed to look right, so finally I decided to try stamping him in white on Crumb Cake, I loved it!!!  So soft, simple and sweet!!!  The greeting is stamped on vellum, I used markers to just stamp 'thanks' from one of the greetings in the Thankful Forest Friends set. 
The background gave me tons of problems, I didn't want anything super distracting but leaving it plain wasn't an option, on the Crumb Cake card the fox was lost, on the white cardstock the fox didn't stand out enough.  Finally after a couple other tries I decided to used my Dots For Days Background stamp, but instead of inking the whole thing I used my sponge dauber and randomly inked up parts of it.  I love the look of it!  I'll file that little tip away for another day!  Finally I added a banner and a tiny strip of Champagne Glimmer Paper. (NOTE: we don't sell the champagne color anymore, gold would also look great!)  Really a fun card!!!

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!!

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

World Of Thanks

One of my all time favorite products that we carry are the note cards and envelopes.  I keep stashes of both the Whisper White and Crumb Cake.  I love them because they're perfect for quick cards, they come with envelopes and for only $6 you get 20 cards and envelopes (that's only 30 cents each!).  Just a huge favorite of mine!  Yesterday, with the help of the note cards, I sat down and made 4 cards.  None of them were planned out ahead of time, there was a lot of time spent wondering which set to use.  There were many mistakes, but in the end I had 4 cards all made with either the White or Crumb Cake envelopes and all basically the same layout.  So today through Friday I'll share all 4 :)  Today's is very rustic, very masculine :)     
I used the Farmers Market DSP for the back of the card.  I cut it the same size as the front of my note card. The greeting was stamped from the World Of Thanks Background stamp.  I love this stamp, there's tons of greetings and you can just use our Stampin' Write Markers to color the greeting you want, which is what I did here.  So quick and easy!  To finish the card I took some Gold Thread and Linen Thread (by the way I LOVE these two together!) I stuck them on 2" punch circle and added my greeting.  LOVE IT!!!!  Check back to see the rest of my quick note cards following this same fun layout!  

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!!

Monday, October 26, 2015

Painted Pumpkins

Megan and I were invited to a pumpkin decorating playdate with some friends from school. We had a great time. While I don't have a stamping project to share I do have our pumpkins. Megan more or less dictated what she wanted while playing, 'put some eyes on that one' 'glue some spiders there' etc. It was so fun all around!  I am busy busy creating.....just can't share anything...yet! I'll have a stamped project tomorrow though! 

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!!

Friday, October 23, 2015

Paper Pumpkin Alternate Project Plus Magnetic Tape Questions Answered!

This months Paper Pumpkin has some cute watercolor cards in it, but to be honest I was quite taken with the stamp set more than the projects.  Also I need another floral set like I need a hole in the head but you know you can never have too many!!!  I think the flowers and leafs in the this set are really cute and so pretty!!!  This is a one layer card. I used one of the notecards too, this is quick and easy stamping!  I used some washi tape to mask off a diagonal area on my card then stamped over it.  When you're done stamping, remove the washi tape and you have the perfect masked area for your greeting.   
There's no mind blowing coloring technique going on here.  Just coloring with our Stampin' Write Markers.  I started with Pear Pizzaz, Daffodil Delight, and Rich Razzleberry.  I thought they needed some highlights so I added some Crushed Curry to the yellow, Old Olive to the green and Blackberry Bliss and a white gel pen to the purple.  I just dotted the darker color over the lighter color, it gives a fun look to it.  I wanted to add some color around the flowers too so I went in and added some more speckled dots with Bermuda Bay and Tempting Turquoise.  Fun and simple and super cute!!!!
Now onto really important stuff.  I had a few emails, texts, and/or comments on my blog about more info on the magnetic tape I used on the Santa boxes from this post.  I don't blame you, it's a really cool product, and boy did you guys have questions from where I got it to is it actually tape or just a big roll!  I will try to answer them all, if I do miss a question comment, text or email me again :)  Where did I get it?  I mentioned that I got it at a big box craft store, because of blog guidelines from Stampin' Up! I didn't specifically name the store but since I wasn't there buying competing products with Stampin' Up! I think it's ok to mention it (I hope).  I got it at Hobby Lobby, I found it in the section with the rest of the magnets.  That might be a different section from store to store, I would ask someone where they sell the craft magnets.  If you don't have a HL in your area or if you check and yours doesn't carry it check Amazon, they have everything!  What brand name was it?  Honestly I was so excited to try it out and to use it, I ripped it out of it's package and didn't look back, so I can't give you a specific brand and it's not on the actual dispenser so ummm marketing failure on their part.  Is it really tape? YES!!!!!  It comes in a tape dispenser just like your scotch tape, it tears off easily (I would say a little tougher than scotch tape but pretty easy considering its a magnet.). It's sticky on one side just like tape, there's no backing, just tear and stick!  Is it a strong hold (in terms of the magnet strength)?  The thing that surprised me the most was it actually worked!  Some craft magnets just don't seem to work, especially the ones that come in the giant roll, I have never had success with those.  This stuck well, it held all the boxes closed and there was definite pull from both sides of the magnet like there should be with magnets.  That said, I don't think it's going to stick to a fridge or hold papers on a magnetic board or anything like that, BUT I also haven't tried that!  I think I got all the questions, if not let me know.  This was an amazing find and I'm glad you guys are excited about it just like I was am.  I'm that dork that skips out of the store when I find something cool, even if that cool thing is a magnet :)

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!!  

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Peace and Wonderland

I saw this card on Pinterest and loved the trees in non traditional colors.  I don't even own this set.  My sister bought this set and I just played with it before I gave it to her :)  I made 2 of each of these cards.  I don't know which one I love more, they're all so pretty!!!!  I think I want the Wonderland stamp set now I just want to keep making colorful trees! 
The first one is done with Hello Honey, Calypso Coral and Mint Macaron.  I just used my Stampin' Write Markers and colored directly on the stamp.  Start with your lightest color first and work to your darkest.  If you're in a drier climate like me, make sure to 'huff' or breath on your stamp after you color them to re-moisten the ink. 
The next one is Tempting Turquoise, Rich Razzleberry and Melon Mambo.  So pretty!!!!  For the greeting I used the Holly Jolly Greetings set and the Christmas Greetings Thinlits.  I cut the peace out with none other than Black Glimmer Paper!  Add the sparkle to your cards, it will make all the difference! 
The final card is Rose Red, Night of Navy and Garden Green.  I could have come up with a million other color combos for these trees and who knows with stamp sets at 15% off maybe I'll get the set and make as many trees as I want :)  To finish the cards I added some sequins and rounded the bottom corners.  Super simple card but so so so stunning and beautiful!

Thanks for looking, see you soon!

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Santa Boxes

 I have one last project to share from my Christmas card stamp a stack.  I love to give gifts to my guest who attend.  Normally it's chocolate in a fun box. But I hope that I can give ideas and inspire everyone to make their own boxes.  These boxes came out sooooooo cute. There's no stamping at all.  Once you make one box you can make 25 (I know from experience!). 
The boxes were inspired from this box from Sam here.  I love the box.  It was so easy to put together.  I used a couple of colors Real Red and Pool Party, I went with what coordinated with the DSP.  The Santa's are mounted on the alternate cardstock, so the Real Red box has Santa on a Pool Party circle, the Pool Party box has Santa on a Real Red circle.  Both mounted on some Mossy Meadow.     
The punches I used were the 1 3/4" 2", and 2 1/2".  The Santa's are from the Home For Christmas DSP.  This DSP is one of my all time favorites, between these adorable little Santa's and those stinkin' cute deer this one is a keeper!  The boxes are held closed by something I came across in a big box craft store and my life will never be the same.....Magnetic Tape!!!!!  It's on a tape dispenser just like scotch tape!  I put one piece on the box and one on the back of the Mossy Meadow circle.  It's amazing!!  It's a good magnet, it holds!  There's no glue or paper backings to deal with just tear and stick!!!!!!  I don't even know how I've lived without this tape!!!  Can't wait to use it more!!!!!

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

More Christmas Cards

I have the final two cards from my stamp a stack to share today.  The first card was so much fun and with so many amazing designs of DSP in the Holiday Catalog this card if so versatile and so cute!!!  It's super simple and super fun.  This is another card you could assemble 100 in no time!  The little pop of black glimmer paper is the perfect addition too!
Our final card was the most time consuming, because of all the coloring.  But fun and simple to assemble.   The design of this card has always been a favorite of mine.  I did a card swap years ago and got a card with this design and I loved it so much. I've made lots of cards with it.  It's a really fun alternative to your traditional card.  It's kind of a card in a card.  The front piece is 3x8.5 scored down the middle at 4.25.  The back of this piece gets adhered to the back of the inside piece so you can open the front panel to the next part of the card. 
This Pool Party piece is 7x5.5 score down the middle on the 7" side at 3.5.  It's two small cards that are assembled together to make one super fun card.  I don't know who the original creator of this card is.  I'm not even sure I still have the original card from the swap.  But I love this layout!!! 
When you open the second card, there's plenty of room for a greeting and a personal message.  This card was my favorite, even though it took a little longer then the others I think it was a big hit with my guests too!!!

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!! 

Monday, October 19, 2015

Christmas Stamp A Stack

Saturday was my Christmas card stamp a stack.  I know I've said it before but this class is by far the biggest class I prep for.  All my guests get to make 20 cards each, at 25 guests.....that's A LOT of cards (500 if you're doing the math).  My prep starts in September, I spend about 4 weeks cutting, then a week assembling packets and getting supplies ready and then it's all over in a couple hours!  Obviously I love this class!  Plan to attend next October!!  All the cards have to have a few guidelines: 1) They must be post office friendly, there is nothing more frustrating then making a bunch of cards only to find out you'll need extra postage to get them where they're going. 2) They must be fairly simple, you're making 20 cards as much fun as crazy new techniques are this is not the class for them.  3) Add glitter when you can!  Obviously!  All but one of the cards had glitter!  There's 4 designs, they made 5 of each of them. I love this sweet, simple cardinal card.  The embossing adds so much and that one small strip of black glimmer paper adds just the right amount of Christmas sparkle!  
    
I love this card and the colors, Pool Party and Blackberry Bliss with some Gold Foil and Glimmer Papers, and really there's minimal stamping.  You could make 100 of these cards in no time!  The Gold Glimmer Paper and the gold print from the Winter Wonderland Vellum work so well together and really make this card a WOW card with minimal effort!  I'll have the other 2 cards tomorrow!

Thanks for looking, see you soon!! 

Friday, October 16, 2015

Acorn Spinner

 It's been years since I've made a spinner card. They're really so adorable and so simple I'm not sure why I haven't made one in so long.  I came across this card and loved that the acorn was used as a spinner and I wanted to make it so bad!  I love it too!!!  This card is super simple, even the spinner element is simple!  You can do it, I promise!  We'll get to the spinner element in a minute.  The acorn is stamped in some Tangelo Twist to coordinate with the Into The Woods DSP.  A little linen thread on top and that's basically the card.
Now for the spinner.  There's a couple of ways to do it.  I used the penny spinner method, I think it's pretty easy and you can make 100 for only $1 :)  If you're using DSP and cardstock like I did on this card, make sure to attach the DSP to the cardstock first.  I wouldn't recommend just using DSP, it's needs to be stronger cardstock so it doesn't tear.  Once you have your DSP attached, use your Word Window punch (this is the perfect size punch for this!!!)  I pushed it up as far as it would go on my cardstock, you're going to punch it at least twice if it's pushed up as far as it will go you'll ensure that you'll get perfect alignment.  I punched one side, moved it over and punched the other side, if you need to punch the center too go back and do that.  You should end up with a really long word window shape.  Now take your stamped image and a small piece of a dimensional, a whole dimensional is too big and won't spin as well, unless you make the punched area slightly larger. I find it's easier to trim a dimensional. I usually use a piece of the edge for this.  I use about a third of a dimensional.  Don't worry it will be strong enough to hold everything I promise!  Take your dimensional and stick it on the back of your stamped image.  Place your stamped image with the dimensional in the punched window area and stick the penny on the back of that dimensional. The penny is heavy enough that when you tilt the card back and forth your acorn will spin.  Super super cute!  That's it!!!  Make sure to add the panel to your card base with dimensionals so that it has room to spin in the back. Have fun making these!

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Sparkling Season

 Of course I had to make a card that was full of glitter, it wouldn't be a party if none of the cards have glitter!  I saw this card on Pintrest and used it for inspiration.  I love the punched stars and the glitter!  I love the pop of Real Red with the greeting, though I was really unsure about it at first.  I think it's really grown on me.  The gold sleigh is clearly the focus of this card though.  
I used my precision plate to cut out the sleigh and it pops right out, I love the precision plate.  I haven't said too much about it.  Really I haven't used it as much as I have hoped too, busy with other stuff I suppose.  Every time I use it though I'm amazed how well it cuts and how easily the images come out.  It's definately a must have if you have a Big Shot.

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!! 

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Loved Bakers Box

Last night I had so much fun.  My stamping friend Carmelita moved away last year.  I've so missed stamping and crafting with her.  Well she's been in town visiting and I decided that we needed to get all our stamping friends/demonstrators together and have a fun night of catching up with everyone and stamping.  I planned 3 projects for us to make the rest of the night we munched on yummy food and had a great time laughing, talking and hanging out.  I've been trying to remember but I think this is the first time I've used the Bakers Box.....I've had it since June :(   
The box is pretty simple, stamped with the dots background and a simple tag on the front.  This project was quick and simple.  The other 2 were a little more time consuming but so worth it!  Make sure to check back tomorrow and Friday to see them!!

Thanks for looking, see you soon!!!!!