January 26, 2011

Hi everyone!  I hope you are all having a great day so far.  It just started snowing here (again) and we are supposed to be receiving a few inches of snow, not much but enough to make the roads messy.

As I promised yesterday I made a card using my Stampin Up I (Heart) Hearts stamp set.  I saw a few cards floating around in the splitcoast gallery that had hearts coming out of an envelope and I thought, I can do that and so I decided to give it a try.

It took me a few tries to get my envelope just right and this was the best measuremetn that worked for me.  I made my envelope by first cutting a square 3" x 3" piece of white card stock.  Then I scored three corners and 1 1/8" and the last corner I scored at 1 1/4" (this will be the bottom of your envelope).  Next, all I had to do was to fold up the scored 1 1/4" side (again this is the bottom) and then fold over the two sides which were scored at 1 1/8".  I simply used a glue dot to hold all three sides together.

My next step was to start filling my envelope with lots of hearts.  I used the trio heart stamp from the I (Heart) Hearts stamp set and I stamped the image and then punched out the hearts using my heart to heart punch.  I played around with the arrangement of the hearts until I got it to a point that I was happy with it and then I started gluing them in place.

My real red layer was cut at 3 3/8" x 3 3/8" square and I used my scallop trim corner and border punches to punch all along the border.  To achieve this look you first need to punch the corners and then use your border punch to punch in-between the corners.  It's easier to achieve this if you turn your card stock and punch over to line them up.

The rest of my card was easy.  My pretty in pink was embossed using my square lattice embossing folder and then I decided to add a small strip of lavender lace card stock which I punched using the same border punch. 

I have to start working on a few more Valentine's Day cards and I think I'll make another one to post tomorrow so be sure to come back and check it out.  Make it a great day!

Stamps: I (Heart) Hearts
Card Stock: White, Pretty in Pink, Real Red, Lavender Lace
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Real Red, Lavender Lace
Supplies: Ribbon, Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Scallop Trim Corner Punch, Heart to Heart Punch, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Cuttlebug, Score-pal
Technique: Dry Embossing

January 25, 2011

Good morning!  I'm posting early today so that I'll have some time later to stamp a few more cards.  I figure I'd better stamp while I can because it looks like the kids might have another snow day on Thursday or at least that's what the weather forecast is at the moment, you know how that always changes!

This card I made for my clean & simple CASE card swap that I am currently hosting.  For my swap we were to CASE (copy and share everything) any clean & simple card we found in the card gallery (on splitcoast stampers) and I decided to case this card made by Crystal.

I kept the same layout and I used the same technique as she did, but I changed the colors, I used a different sentiment, and I used a different color ribbon.  Over all my card looks almost exactly like hers, but I really didn't want to make a lot of changes because I liked it so much.

First, I stamped the flower stems using certainly celery ink.  Next, using my stamp-a-ma-jig, I stamped the flowers using a technique called rock n' roll. 

I used my scallop border punch for the punched border along the top of the card.  I really like how the border punch was used along the top portion of the card rather than on the bottom.

I decided to use this sentiment (found in the same stamp set) because I thought it would make a really nice Mother's day card.  I simply stamped my sentiment, punched it using my circle punch, and then I placed it onto my card using dimensionals.  Lastly, I tied my ribbon in a knot and then I placed it just above my sentiment using a glue dot- what a great ribbon treatment!  Plus it's a great way to use of some of those ribbon scraps I always save!

Have a great day!  Tomorrow I'm planning on posting a card I made using my I Heart (Hearts) stamp set.

Stamps: For All You Do
Card Stock: White, Lavender Lace, Certainly Celery, Black
Ink: Lavender Lace, Perfect Plum, Certainly Celery, Black Stazon
Supplies: Ribbon, Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Scallop Border Punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig, 1 3/8" Circle Punch
Technique: Rock N' Roll, 2 Step Stampin'

January 24, 2011

Hi everyone!  I spent the day getting lots of things done around the house; it was a busy day, but a good kind of busy.  The weather here in Pennsylvania has been so cold and snowy lately and so I thought I would have some fun with this cute image and make a snow themed card.

I stamped the image and then I colored it using my SU water color crayons and a blender pen.  I love the soft look you can achieve using the water color crayons especially with this image.  I decided to add some dd glitter for the snowy bottom portion of the image.

On my certainly celery layer I decided to add two rows of faux stitching using my SU mat pack and paper piercing tool.  My dp is a retired pattern from SU.

Thanks so much for stopping by and be sure to check back tomorrow.  I have another card that I made for my clean & simple swap that I will be posting.  Stay warm and have a great rest of the day!

Stamps: Merry Crittermas
Card Stock: White, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, SU DP
Ink: Black Stazon
Supplies: Ribbon, SU Mat Pack, Paper Piercing Tool, SU Water Color Crayons, Blender Pen, 2 Way Glue Pen, DD Glitter, White Gel Pen
Technique: Paper Piercing, Water Coloring

January 12, 2011

Hi everyone! As I mentioned the other day I'm currently hosting a card swap in which we were to case and CAS card in the Splitcoast gallery and I decided to create a card for my swap. This is the card that I decided to case.

I really like the way Deb incorporated the punched hearts into the stamped image. Mine didn't turn out as nicely as hers did, but I'm still happy with my results. I stamped the image and then I colored it using my SU markers. Next, I punched a few small hearts using my SU heart to heart punch and then I glued the hearts over the flower image and in the center of the O.

I added my background decorative paper. Next, I layered a piece of white ribbon onto my wider pink ribbon and then I placed that on the background of my card. I sort of liked that my card doesn't have a knot or bow; it makes for easier mailing with less postage.

And finally just along the bottom of my card I've added a few rows of paper piercing using my SU mat pack and paper piercing tool.

Thanks to you all for being so patient with me these past few weeks while I've been MIA! Have a great rest of the day!
Stamps: Love You Much
Card Stock: White, Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Pixie Pink, DP- from Target's $ spot
Ink: Brown Stazon
Supplies: Ribbon, Heart to Heart Punch, SU Mat Pack, Paper Piercing Tool, SU Markers, 2 Way Glue Pen
Technique: Paper Piercing, Ribbon Stacking

January 9, 2011

Hi everyone!  I know it's been awhile since I've posted, but I'm still here and planning on getting back into my regular updates.  I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year holiday!  Mine was perfect and now that the kids are back in school, I will have some more stamping time.  Well, they did go back to school last week, but they missed two days of school due to bad weather and a water main break.

I have one quick thing to mention.  I have a card swap that is still open if anyone would like to join.  Here is the link for more information.  Cards are due to me by Feb 1st and it's an easy CAS card swap.

Have a great night and I'll be back again tomorrow afternoon.  I have some new punches I got for Christmas and I wanted to try them out.

December 10, 2010

I just can't seem to get enough of snowmen lately, maybe it has something to do with the snow that we've receive here so far. It hasn't been a lot, but enough to keep the ground so pretty and white.

My card is also for today's free for all challenge on splitcoast in which we were to create a holiday card in 15 minutes or less.  This was a real easy challenge for me because honestly with three kids I really don't have a lot of time to spend making my cards.  Aside of my coloring the rest of my card was easy and quick to makek.

This snowmen image is from one of my very first stamp sets I ever purchases. It's from an older SU stamp set called Best Borders. This set was perfect for one of my first sets because back then I didn't have a lot of tool or supplies so basically all I needed was to color in the snowmen, which is what I did here. I colored in their scarves and hats and then I added a little bit of glitter along the ground beneath them.

My background was embossed using my cuttlebug snow dots embossing folder- I don't use this folder nearly enough! My snowflake border punch is another item that I've hardly used and I thought it would be a perfect addition on my card. I punched some white card stock using the snowflake punch and then I layered it over my decorative paper. Next, I placed my finished image (layered onto the light blue card stock) over top of my white snowflake border card stock.

All I needed to do next was to add my silver elastic cording and my card was complete.  I'm sorry that my photo didn't turn out as nicely as I would have liked, for some reason the snowmen seemed a bit blurry, but you get the idea of my card (I hope).

Well, I have to run.  My son turns 6 years old today and I have to make him his birthday cake and get ready for his party!  I'll be sure to share a photo of him with you next week!  Have a great weekend! 

Stamps: Best Borders
Card Stock: White, Light Blue- (not sure where this card stock came from, sorry), DP is from DCWV Sweet Glitter Stack
Ink: Black Stazon
Supplies: Silver Elastic Cording, Cuttlebug, Snowflake Dots Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, 2 Way Glue Pen, DD Glitter, SU Markers, EK Success Snowflake Border Punch, Glue Dots
Technique: Dry Embossing

December 9, 2010

I keep seeing several threads where people are commenting about the stamp sets that they hardly ever use or sets that they've never used, and so that got me to thinking that I should start inking up my unloved stamps as well.

This snowman image is from an older SU stamp set called Stitched Santa.  I'm glad I kept this set because I was going to trade it on one of the PIF (pay it forward) threads a few years ago, but then I didn't.

I stamped my image using black stazon ink and then I colored it using my SU markers. It was my daughter's idea to make the birds red and I think she was right.  It really gives my card that sort of 'pop' that it needed.

My background was embossed using my cuttlebug snowflakes embossing folder (from the Winter Wonderland set).  I decided to add some SU light blue decorative paper that I found in my scrap bin and then I finished my card off with some sliver cording along the top and a little bit of glitter just along the bottom of the snowman.

Tomorrow I plan on sharing another snowman card I made from an even older SU stamp set that I have so be sure to stop on by!  Make it a great day!

Stamps: Stitched Snowman
Card Stock: White, Bashful Blue, Brocade Blue, SU DP
Ink: Black Stazon
Supplies: Silver Cording, Cuttlebug, Snowflakes Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, 2 Way Glue Pen, DD Glitter, SU Markers
Technique: Dry Embossing

December 8, 2010

I haven't played along with a splitcoast sketch challenge in a long time, so today I decided that's what I would do. I needed to make a thank you card and this is a new stamp set that I haven't used yet.

Like I normally do, I try to keep my cards clean and simple. After stamping the image I simply colored it using my SU markers and then in the centers of the flowers I added white dots using my white gel pen. After I finished coloring my image I decided to add a bit of glitter using my 2 way glue pen and SU's DD glitter. Glitter is such a quick and easy way to add that bit of pizzazz!

My background card stock is dry embossed using my SU Square Lattice embossing folder. Following the posted sketch I needed to add three smaller type additions to my card, so I decided to use the small flower that comes along with this set. I stamped the flowers, colored them, and punched them using my circle punches.

My sentiment was also stamped and then punched using my SU punches. Then just along the bottom of my card I added two rows of paper piercing- it seems as though I'm always adding some sort of paper piercing to my cards, but I really like that little bit of 'extra' on my cards without going overboard.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great rest of the day!

Stamps: Because I Care
Card Stock: White, Bashful Blue, Brocade Blue
Ink: Black Stazon
Supplies: Ribbon, Cuttlebug, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, 2 Way Glue Pen, DD Glitter, SU Markers, Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Small Oval Punch, 1/2" & 3/4" Circle Punches, SU Mat Pack, Paper Piercing Tool
Technique: Dry Embossing, Paper Piercing

December 6, 2010

Hi everyone!  What a busy weekend I had, but I did manage to set aside some time and make this card for this week's Designed2Delight progressive digi image challenge.

I also made my card for this week's Double Delight Challenge which is a 2-2-2 recipe challenge.  We were to use 2 card stocks, 2 designer papers, and 2 embellishments.  My 2 card stock colors are real red and old olive.  I have 2 designer papers on my card- one is from SU and the other is from the dollar spot at Target, and my 2 embellishements are:  the brads in the center of the poinsettia and my gold elastic cording.  This was a challenge for me because I rarely ever use two designer papers on my card, but I like the way it turned out.

After printing the digi image I colored it using my SU markers and then I cut the poinsettia image and my real red card stock layer using my circle nesties and scallop circle nesties.  I decided that I wanted the center of the poinsettia to be gold and I figured a few gold brads would do the trick.  I used my paper piercing tool to punch the holes through the center of the poinsettia for my brads and once my image was complete I used dimensionals to place it on my card.

My sentiment was stamped and layered onto old olive and real red card stock using my circle punches.  My gold elastic cording is from Offray.  And finally, I decided to use my EK Success Fleur De Lis border punch along the bottom of my real red and old olive card stock.  I first punched along the edge of my card stock pieces and then I staggered them and placed the old olive layer on top of my red layer (then I trimmed the edges- I just use my paper snips for this).  I love the look you can achieve from staggering border punches.  I often do this using my scallop border punch, but this is the first time I've done it using this border punch.

Well, I'm off to bed!  Thanks so much for visiting and have a great day!

Stamps:  Designed2Delight Digi Image Poinsettia, SU's To You & Yours- for my sentiment
Card Stock: White, Real Red, Old Olive, SU DP, and my other DP is from the $ spot at Target
Ink: Black Stazon
Supplies: Gold Elastic Cording, Scallop Nesties, Circle Nesties, EK Success Fleur De Lis Border Punch, SU Markers, Paper Piercing Tool, Gold Brads, 1", 1 1/4", and 1 3/8" Circle Punches, Dimensionals

December 3, 2010

I happened to see a thread on splitcoast about what cute reindeer stamps were available and of course right away I thought of my Dasher stamp that has hardly seen ink.  So that was the inspiration for my card.

I stamped my dasher image using chocolate chip ink and then I cut it in a circle shape using my nesties.  Here's a tip for getting the stamp to stamp a solid and 'not so blotchy' image.  I inked up my stamp really well using my SU chocolate chip ink pad and then using my SU chocolate chip marker I color over it again.  This helps to sort of spread around the ink a little better and I always get a nicely stamped image when I do this.  Don't forget to 'huff' on the stamp before stamping onto your card stock.  You can also stamp over the image twice (using your stamp-a-ma-jig of course, but that technique didn't work very well with this image because of the antlers).

My background is embossed using the swirly embossing folder from the Cuttlebug winter wonderland set.  The bottom edge of my chocolate chip layer was punched using my EK Success wavy border punch.

And finally, I decided to add a bit of glitter on dasher's antlers.  The glitter is there, but it's just hard to see it in my photo- one day I'm going to learn how to photograph glitter although I did start making my photos larger, did anyone notice?  I'm hoping it's better this way.

Well, that's about it for today.  Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great weekend!

Stamps: Dasher, To You & Yours- for my sentiment
Card Stock: White, Real Red, Chocolate Chip
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Supplies: Ribbon, Cuttlebug, Winter Wonderland Embossing Folder, Scallop Nesties, Circle Nesties, 2 Way Glue Pen, DD Glitter, Stamp-a-ma-jig, EK Success Wavy Border Punch, SU Marker- for the dots
Technique:  Dry Embossing

December 2, 2010

This is a stamp set that I don't use very often, but I think it's so cute.  I'd really love to find the other SU polar bear stamp set, Polar Express, but I know that's a more rare set.  Someday I'll find one at a good price.  I haven't really been looking lately with Christmas being just around the corner.

Anyway, today's card is another clean & simple card.  I stamped my image and colored the scarves using my SU markers.  I added a few white dots on the turquoise scarf using my white gel pen in hopes that it would match my turquoise decorative paper.

The star that the polar bears are looking at is actually the negative part I got from punching my so saffron card stock using my EK Success snowflake border punch.  I placed the two snowflakes on top of each other and then on my card using a SU 2 way glue pen.

My certainly celery layer is punched using my scallop trim border punch.  My scallop oval punch and large oval punches were used for my sentiment and my ribbon is from Offray.

Once my card was finished I decided that it still needed a little something and so I decided to add a little bit of doodling using my black SU marker.  It turned out to be just the right touch and I really like the way this card turned out.

I hope you had a great day and you are staying warm.  Here in PA we are starting to receive our cold winter weather, which I'm so not ready for!

Stamps: Polar Bears, To You & Yours- for my sentiment
Card Stock: White, Tempting Turquoise, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, DP- from DCWV Christmas Paper Stack
Ink: Black Stazon
Supplies: Ribbon, EK Success Snowflake Border Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Scallop Trim Border Punch, SU Markers

December 1, 2010

It was snowing here earlier today and I thought it might be a good time to change my blog a little bit.  I've been in the wintery mood lately especially with making lots of Christmas cards lately and so today I have yet another Christmas card.  I didn't realize how many Christmas stamps I had!

I had this layout in my mind and I thought this snowman stamp would be perfect.  I simply stamped the snowmen and colored the hats and scarves using my SU markers.  I decided to add a little bit of glitter to the scarves - well it was my daughter's idea.

The snowmen are layered onto real red and glorious green card stock- this is a great way to use up some scraps!  My dp is from a DCWV Christmas paper stack that I picked up from Joann's last year.

Just along the bottom of my card I added two rows of paper piercing, I love paper piercing, can you tell?

Have a great day and I'll be back again tomorrow with yet another Christmas card!

Stamps: Merry & Bright
Card Stock: White, Real Red, Glorious Green, DP- from DCWV Christmas Paper Stack
Ink: Black Stazon
Supplies: Ribbon, SU Markers, 2 Way Glue Pen, DD Glitter, 1", 1 1/4", and 1 3/8" Circle Punches, Scalloped Border Punch, SU Mat Pack, Paper Piercing Tool
Technique:  Paper Piercing