Like No Udder

I'm supposed to be packing right now since we're heading out of town tomorrow after work, but I wanted to post one more time before we go. We're heading to the lake for a few days so I won't be posting probably until Tuesday. In the mean time here's a little something for you to see. I made this card for a coworker's birthday. She loves pigs so I knew I had to use the retired Very Punny set. I've seen some variations on this on SCS and I thought it was very fitting. I used the masking technique on this and if I wasn't in such a hurry making it last night it would have been a great card to use to make a masking tutorial. I'll work on one when I get back from the lake.

Recipe
Stamps: Very Punny
Ink: Jet Black StazOn, Pixie Pink, Basic Black
Paper: Pixie Pink, Basic Black, Whisper White
Accessories: Black Gingham ribbon, Blender Pens
Technique: Masking, Watercoloring

Slit Punch Scalloped Border Tutorial

The slit punch is a great tool. I love the look of a picture or a stamped image accented with the slit punch. See Gator Wishes from earlier this week to see what I mean. But, the slit punch is also great for making a scalloped border.

First start out with a strip of cardstock. It's best to start out with a strip that is wider than the punch is.




With the underside of the punch facing you, line up the edge of the punch with the edge of the strip of cardstock, as in picture 2. Punch.






You'll be left with what you see in picture 3.









Then line your punch up next to the edge of the first scallop.
See picture 4.
Continue all the way across your strip of cardstock.







You'll end up with a scalloped strip. See picture 5. Use this piece
as an accent on a card or scrapbook page. The scallop looks great as a trim on a picture.





Here's my finished project. I used my scallop piece as a trim on the layers of my stamped image.

Recipe:
Stamps: Season of Joy
Ink: Old Olive, So Saffron
Paper: Old Olive, So Saffron, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Vanilla grosgrain ribbon, Slit punch

Gator Wishes

Ain't this the cutest little gator you've ever seen? He's just so happy! I used my much neglected slit punch on this one. I just never find myself reaching for the punch, but I'm trying to spread the love. This was also my first attempt at the chalkboard technique. I haven't had my white craft pad for very long, so I'd never tried it before. Basically it's poppin' pastels, but on dark cardstock.

Ink up your stamp with white craft ink and stamp it on your dark cardstock. Then take your cotton ball or dauber and pick up some chalk, then dab on your stamped image.

I also used my new favorite punch, the Photo Corners punch. I'm so tempted to put a corner on everything.

Recipe
Stamps: Wild About You, Hugs & Wishes
Ink: Old Olive, White Craft
Paper: Barely Banana, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Whisper White
Accessories: Slit punch, Photo Corners punch, Stampin' Pastels
Technique: Chalkboard

I have some new projects that I really want to share with you, but they're a secret right now. Hopefully I can share them with you soon.

Scrapbooked Starfish

This is a page I did for the SCS scrapbook sketch challenge, SBSC103, which was posted on Aug. 17. These are pictures from our trip to Sea World in San Diego back in January. I have a lot of pictures from the trip, but finding four pictures to fit the sketch was tricky. I don't print my pictures at home, I just have them printed at a local store in the standard 4x6 format. So finding four coordinating pictures that I could cut down to 4x4 squares without loosing important parts of the picture was a challenge. I actually had 5 pictures of the starfish, so one got left out. Maybe it'll get it's own page eventually.

I love my new Photo Corners punch and I thought it was a nice simple touch for a nice simple page. The "starfish" on the background page is actually one of the flowers from the three flower stamp from Looks Like Spring. I'm so glad that I got the pictures scrapped because these are one of my favorite group of pictures from that trip. Time to get scrapping the rest.

Recipe:
Stamps: Short Order Alphabet, Looks Like Spring
Paper: Cameo Coral, Very Vanilla
Ink: Basic Black Classic, Versamark
Accessories: Photo Corners Punch
Splitcoast Stampers Scrapbook Sketch Challenge 103

Wild About You!

Look! It's not a Christmas card. Yay! I got my new goodies on Monday night and this is my first creation with the new stuff. I've been wanting this set for so long, but I just kept putting off. I have some scrapbooking to do of a trip to San Diego Zoo, so I finally made this set a priority. This elephant is just so darn cute and he's so sweet, too, offering you a flower. And I love my Photo Corner Punch. It adds a quick accent. I did use some retired ribbon on this one, but it coordinated so well. I had a little fight with the glue dots getting the ribbon lined up, but I wouldn't let them ruin a perfectly good card. I love this little elephant. He's so cute. And I'm sure you'll see plenty more of him around here.

Recipe
Stamps: Wild About You
Ink: Almost Amethyst, Rose Red
Paper: So Saffron, Almost Amethyst, Rose Red, Whisper White
Accessories: Photo Corners Punch, Sweet Shop Ribbon Originals (retired)

Christmas in August Reminder

Just a reminder that my Christmas in August class is this Sunday. For the details please see my earlier post found here. Please RSVP 24 hours in advance.

Stickles

This is very unlike me, but I used a non-SU! product. I went to Stampaway, which is a stamping convention that was being held in Cincinnati on Saturday. I couldn't resist the Stickles. I wanted glitter!!!!!!!!! I couldn't believe how many colors Stickles comes in. I'm chicken, though, so I only bought Diamond and Platinum. On this card I used the Diamond Stickles. I was so excited to use it, but I couldn't get the cap off. After tearing up my hand trying to get the cap off I brought it upstairs and tried to use the grippy thing in the kitchen. I still couldn't get it off. So I went a floor higher and asked hubby to get the cap off. He couldn't either. So down to the garage. Hubby took a wrench to get the cap off. He cracked it, but it still works and it opens and closes easily now.

So, again, another winter themed project. I promise I'll get over it soon.

I promise you'll see some wild animals soon. Hopefully I'll still be able to get some posts up using hubby's computer. Mine laptop is being sent to the manufacturer for repair as the screen won't stand up on it's own. It's currently being held up with a heavy box propped up behind it. Who knows how long it will take to repair, but I promise I'll try to still get some pics uploaded and some blogs posted.

Recipe
Stamps: A Tree for All Seasons
Ink: Jet Black StazOn, Tempting Turquoise, Creamy Caramel
Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Whisper White
Accessories: Black Gingham ribbon, Slit punch, Double Circle punch, Stickles glitter

Oscar's Christmas page

OK, I know I said I was done with Christmas and snowflakes for a while, but I've been working on this scrapbook page and I wanted to share. Oscar is an only child in our house so he is spoiled rotten and often scrapbooked. This is his Christmas 2006 page. I made this Santa outfit for him so we took his picture under the tree and sent it out with our Christmas cards last year. The colors for the layout were taken from the presents under the tree. I like the way the page title came out. I don't have a large bold alphabet, but I think the small one works here. It made it easy to have a long title, too.

Recipe
Stamps: The Snowflake Spot, Short Order Alphabet
Ink: Brilliant Blue, Orchid Opulence
Paper: Ballet Blue, Orchid Opulence
Accessories: Round Tab punch, 1 1/4" Circle punch

Just announced

Stampin' Up! has announced a new promotion for new recruits.

Purchase the Starter Kit between August 10 and September 14, and you'll get to pick the family of your choice-color family, that is-of Classic Stampin' Pads® FREE. That's a $57.95 value! And we've designed our exclusive coordinating color families (including our In Color collection) so that every color fits in. After all, it's all in the family!

Contact me if you are interested in this offer.

More Snowflakes

I know, I know. It's August. What's with all the snowflakes? I just love this set and it's new to me so I got a little happy. But I promise next week I'll be over the snowflakes when my new goodies arrive. I cannot guarantee that there won't be Christmas, though.

I have a bunch of these candles that I got really cheap last year that have just been sitting in a drawer. They have a nice sweet smell to them and are a great substrate for stamping.

To stamp "on" a candle, first stamp onto white tissue paper. I stamped the snowflake in Night of Navy onto
the tissue paper and trimmed around the image. Then lay your image on your candle and wrap it with a piece of wax paper. Use your heat tool to melt the tissue paper into the candle. DO NOT OVERHEAT. Your candle will warp. Then repeat with any other images. On this candle I put the word "Joy" underneath this snowflake and I also put a snowflake on the backside of the candle.

Quick, easy, and cute.

Recipe
Stamps: The Snowflake Spot
Ink: Night of Navy
Paper: Tissue paper
Accessories: Wax paper, heat tool
Technique: Stamping on candles

Cut out flowers

First of all let me apologize for the horrible picture. My husband was out of town and took the good camera.

This card was made for another one of those fabulous SCS challenges. The challenge was to do a cut out card. I took my piece of Whisper White and lightly traced a rectangle onto the center of it. I then stamped my flower images, making sure I went into the rectangle in a few spots. I then used my X-acto knife to cut along the straight lines and also around my flowers. I then erased the pencil lines. I watercolored the flowers and then mounted it on the piece of Old Olive, which I cut slightly larger than the Whisper White to also give it a matted feel. I stamped the sentiment into the middle of the Old Olive piece and mounted it on the card. I then stamped the little swirl along the bottom in Pretty in Pink.


Recipe
Stamps: Delight in Life (retired)
Ink: Jet Black StazOn, Pretty in Pink
Paper: Whisper White, Old Olive, Pretty in Pink

Christmas in August

Well it's about that time to let you know about Christmas in August. This is one of the cards we will be making. This month features the set Flaky Friends and we will focus on watercoloring.

Class details
Christmas in August
When: August 19 @ 2:00
Where: My house
What: 6 cards (3 each of 2 designs) for $12 (envelopes not included)
RSVP: 24 hours in advance
Glue sticks will be provided. If you'd prefer a different type of adhesive, please bring it along with you.

Card details
Stamps: Flaky Friends
Ink: Jet Black StazOn, Old Olive, So Saffron, Bravo Burgundy, Night of Navy
Paper: So Saffron, Bravo Burgundy, Whisper White
Accessories: Stamp-a-ma-jig, Blender Pens
Technique: Watercoloring.

Punch a Bunch Promo

August 1-31, 2007

Purchase the Three for You Punch Box for $45.95, and you will receive an exclusive assortment of textured Love Notes for free (a $12.95 value)!

• You won't find this package of Love Notes anywhere else; they're only available during this promotion. The 3" x 3" folded size makes creating and giving a little note easy-they're just the right size for a quick hello.
• Each package contains 30 pre-scored textured cards with 30 Very Vanilla envelopes so you're ready to create and go!
• With 10 each of Wild Wasabi, Purely Pomegranate, and So Saffron Love Notes, you'll get to sample two of the new In Color selections-and see for yourself how well they coordinate with our color families-at the same time as the Three for You Punch Box!

Tent Topper Card

This was a fun card to make. It was my first attempt at a Tent Topper Card. It was also very easy for such an eye catching card. You want to start with a base of 4.25" x 8.5" so that when you fold the card it measures 4.25" x 4.25". Then you want to make your tent topper. You can make it any shape or size you want. Once you're done with it and you're ready to attach it you want to figure out where you need to adhere it so that the height of the card measures 5.5". This will make the final size of the card 4.25" x 5.5", a standard card. You want to embellish the rest of your card however you want.

Recipe:
Stamps: Blooming with Happiness (retired)
Paper: Pixie Pink, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink: Pixie Pink, Jet Black StazOn
Accessories: White grosgrain ribbon, paperclip, Large Oval Punch
Techniques: Tent Topper Card, Watercoloring

Scrapbook Challenge

On SCS there is a weekly Scrapbook Sketch Challenge. This week was the 100th Challenge, so it was extra special. We had a great sketch by Becky Fleck. If you haven't seen her sketches you should check them out. This is my take on the sketch. These pictures are from Jan. 2004 at our first attempt at cooking a turkey. The turkey turned out really good and it was quite a memorable meal. I think the page turned out good, too.

Recipe
Stamps: Short Order Alphabet, Itty Bitty Backgrounds
Ink: White Craft Ink
Paper: Garden Green, Creamy Caramel, Night of Navy, So Saffron
Accessories: Pewter HPH, Hemp Twine

More Christmas

Here's the other card we made at yesterday's Christmas in July. We used the Magic Snowflake Technique. These were a lot of fun to make. To do the Magic Snowflake Technique start with a piece of Glossy White cardstock. Stamp the snowflake using White Craft Ink and sprinkle on white or clear embossing powder. Shake off the excess and heat the image with a heat tool. Once your image is completely embossed take a cotton ball and apply some rubbing alcohol (cotton ball does not need to be soaked). Use two colors of reinkers and apply two drops of each onto your cotton ball (two drops of one color on the right and two of the other on the left so you have 4 separate dots of color). Clear as mud, right? Dab the cotton ball all over your piece of cardstock. Once again, heat your image and the ink will evaporate from your embossed image.

Recipe
Stamps: The Snowflake Spot
Ink: White Craft Ink, Night of Navy reinker, Not Quite Navy reinker
Cardstock: Whisper White, Glossy White, Night of Navy, Not Quite Navy
Accessories: Embossing Powder
Technique: Magic Snowflake

I hope to see you at Christmas in August.

Quick Card

I made this for the Ways to Use It Challenge on SCS this week. The challenge was to do something to your corners. It's kind of hard to tell in the photo, but I used my ruler and white Signo Gel Pen to make some accents in the corners of the Pale Plum layer. I thought about doing something to the Perfect Plum layer, but I thought it might be too overwhelming. I watercolored the car image and used my favorite embellishment, white grosgrain ribbon.

That's all the time I have for today. I'm going to be MIA for a few days until I finish reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Oh, but I'll see a few of you at my Christmas Card Class tomorrow.

Christmas Card Class Update

Change of plans....the Christmas card class for tomorrow is rescheduled for Sunday at 2:00. Please let me know if you plan on attending 24 hours in advance. Thanks!

Poor Timing

It seems like Stampin' Up! always posts the new and exciting things on the demo side of the site on days I have to work. Then I don't get to obsess over it all day!! They need to start posting stuff on Mondays or Fridays. Just kidding!!!! I'm just happy to get the sneak peeks. Today's sneak peek is the upcoming Holiday Mini. It will be available Sept. 1. In the meantime I'll let you in on a few secrets.

First: The one I'm really excited about....Supersize Snowflake.........I think the name says it all.

Lots of snowflakes in the sets

A Christmas set that looks a lot like Priceless

Cute tag sets

Cute chipboard for making ornaments and garlands

A set that coordinates with the Boho West Collection

Mini Library Clips

Satin ribbon

Wrapping paper

Cute pumpkin set

and of course more Designer Series Paper

Oh, and did I mention that all the stamps in the Mini are coming die cut? No trimming required.


If you're not on my mailing list and would like to be to receive sneak peeks and the latest Stampin' Up! news send me an email and I'll add yo to the list.

Are you in the Christmas spirit?

Well why would you be? It's July. But come Thursday you can come on over and get into the Christmas spirit at my Christmas in July class. You'll get a head start on your Christmas cards and enjoy the company of fellow stampers.

Here's a sample of what we'll be making at the Christmas in July class. We will make 6 cards, 3 each of 2 designs. The other card will feature the Magic Snowflake technique. To learn more about the class see my earlier post, here.

Recipe
Stamps: The Snowflake Spot
Ink: Real Red, Old Olive
Paper: Real Red, Old Olive, Whisper White
Accessories: Whisper White grosgrain ribbon