Winter Post

I'm still in Christmas card mode! This in one of my favorite Christmas sets called "Winter Post".  The image of the skaters is pretty, but it also has a variety of other images as well. I am going through some of last years card to use as inspiration for the upcoming 'Christmas in July' class.  I am certainly not going to be inspired by my surroundings, its supposed to get to 94 degrees today.  I made this card for a Christmas card swap I was in last year.  I had to make 25 of them. That was a lot of coloring and embossing but I was happy with the results.  I cut a piece of very vanilla cardstock into a tag and stamped the skaters image on it.  Next I used blender pens to softly color the image.  I randomly embossed snowflakes snowflakes onto the real red card base.  I wanted it to have a vintage feel, so I sponged ink on all the pieces, and tore the base layers and added a piece of  Newsprint DSP for an added layer.   It doesn't show up in the picture but there is a very small amount of dazzling diamonds glitter on the ice, and a bit on the woman's hat and gloves.   Hope you like it : )

Very Versatile Box!

I was looking though some photos and found a picture of a 2-5-7-10 box I made about 4 years ago, and one I made just last month.  This is the same template as the cardinal birdhouse from yesterday.   The ladybug box was a project for a summer time class in 2007, it might have even been 2006!  I thought it was really cute, I love using punches so this was a great project for me.  The shirt box was made just last month as a way to give a Father's Day gift to my dad.  I put a gift card to one of his favorite restaurants inside.

Cardinal Bird House

I'm still making Christmas cards this week.  I am trying to get ready for my 'Christmas in July' class.  I think its been fun making snowmen and Christmas cards in the middle of this heat wave!  Today's project is actually a gift box.  It is one of my favorite box templates because it is so simple to make, and only uses one sheet of paper. Ive made it in many styles, but this is my first birdhouse.  I really wanted to do something with a cardinal, they are so pretty against the white snow.  The perfect Christmas bird!  The box base is made with Crumb Cake paper, and stamped with the "Woodgrain" background stamp.  I then made strips of scalloped paper in Early Espresso and used them as shingles on the roof.  The cardinal is made with the Bird Builder Punch, I punched out an extra wing to make the pointed cardinal head.  When I was this far along, I realized it didn't look like a Christmas project and so I added the snow to the top of the roof, and a wreath decoration.  Now it is a Christmas project!  But, it is also now a cumbersome project for a class (you know who you are, you who don't like all that gluing and sticky fingers, actually that's most of you ).   So, I'm not sure that this project will be done at class.  Ill have to see if I hear any feed back from people who plan to attend : )     The box is simple to do.  Its called a 2-5-7-10 box.  Score a sheet of cardstock along the 11 inch side at 2 inches, 5 inches, 7 inches, and 10 inches.  Turn the paper to the 8 1/2 inch side and score at 2 inches and 7 inches.    Cut the paper along the score lines like this.

note that the smaller flaps go on the bottom, the larger one is for the lid flap. The rest of the top gets cut off.  You can use ribbon or Velcro or magnets to secure the front flap in place.  I used Velcro on my bird house.  I use sticky strip to adhere my box, it is the strongest and I use it for all box/bag type things. 

Christmas in July

This month my class is Christmas in July, so I'm playing around with Christmas cards.  I think Ill just make a dozen or so and then narrow it down from there. This was my first attempt at a new set called "Snow Much Fun".   I thought I would see if I could make a "fun" card by making a rolling snowball.  When you tilt the card, the snowball rolls from side to side.   My biggest problem with this card was photographing it!  I need to find a better place to take pictures.  I cant seem to get it right.  It is either too bright with the flash on, or too dark with the flash off.  This is something I will be working on as I figure out this whole blogging thing :) 

So, all this month check back and see what other Christmas projects I'm working on, and if my photography improves!

At least something is organized!

Look at what my husband made for me! I just love it!  I used to have all my punches stored in bins, but I had to dig through the bin and take half the punches out to find the one I wanted.  This is SO much better!! Everything right at my fingertips!! Thanks Ben!!

Garage Sale time!

Who doesn't love a garage sale?  Especially one where everything there is something you love! Stamps, paper, ink, ribbons!  My garage sale is this Sat, and I've been busily sorting and pricing my things all day. I even have quite a bit of supplies from my friend Charlotte, who is also a Stampin' Up demo.  Its a lot of work but also a lot of fun!  I will have a free make-n-take, free shipping on new orders from the new Idea book and catalog, a drawing for a free stamp set, and buy one get one half off on all sale priced stamp sets!  Come on by if you are in the area!  And, sign up to be one my mailing list and ill let you know about upcoming classes, promotions and events!

Look at all that paper! and ink and stamps and wheels and.............!!!!  And this is our make-n-take!

King of the Grill

I made this card for my brother who truly is the King of the Grill.  Then, I lost it!  This weekend I'm having my big retired Stampin' Up! garage sale and while going through items for that, I can across this card I made back in March!  In my defense I was moving all my craft supplies and things to my new craft space and it got lost in the shuffle.   This was a really fun card to make.  I saw some similar grills at my favorite web site (www.splitcoaststampers.com)  and I knew I just had to make one for Pat.  It was really simple to put together.  I used many sizes of circle punches, as well as the word window punch as the legs, and the ornament punch for the handle.  The velum "steam" is from a die cut called "swirl scribbles" for the big shot.    

Anchor's Away!

July 4th is almost here and I just put out my USN Flag.  My husband is retired Navy and I like to put out the flag at patriotic holidays.  With that in mind I thought I would post a project that looks like it was inspired by the Navy.  This card was created with a stamp set from the summer mini called "The Open Sea".   I made 30 of these for a card swap I was in.  All that sewing was a bit nuts, but I really liked how it turned out.  This card uses Basic Grey for its base, with Not Quite Navy and Cherry Cobbler around the main image.  I stamped the ship in Basic Grey, then added a bit of Not Quite Navy in the water and Bashful Blue in the sky with an aqua painter.  The background images are embossed with clear embossing powder.  The "net" was made with some bakers twine.  Hope you like it!  

Today's the Day!

When ever I hear someone say "todays the day" my mind automatically finishes with " the sun is shining, the tank is clean" from Finding Nemo.  But, what Im happy about is that the brand new catalog goes into effect today! I also wish the fish tank was clean, but I'll have do that later :)    The new catalog is just beautiful, I love the cover, and all the pretty new samples.  New ribbon, new stamps, new colors! So much to try.  If you would like a copy, contact me today!    

I love pennants!

I just love this new petite pennant builder punch! So cute! Ive used it a few times now and I am going to use it this week on a scrapbook page of Zachary's Birthday.  Last night I was at another Stampin' Up demos house, we get together once a month.  We each bring a project for everyone to make, so we go home with lots of new ideas.  Last night two of us brought projects with the new pennant punch.  Here is the project I brought...

 I uses both sizes of the pennants on the punch.  I made this card for a challenge over at my favorite stamping website splitcoaststampers.  This website has all sorts of paper craft challenges each day, as well as a gallery filled with inspiration and templates.  If you haven't checked them out, you should.
This card was for the color combo challenge, using poppy parade, apricot appeal, pear pizzazz, and daffodil delight.