Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Faux Steampunk for Mojo Monday Tall and Skinny

I can't begin to tell you how much fun I had with today's card.  I sat down to create for MOJO Monday's Challenge #343 and the next thing I knew I was right in the middle of a steampunk heaven!

The last Mondays of the month used to be round or square weeks where you would create a card that had either of those shapes.  I rarely liked doing them, because there was too much symmetry for me.  I'm loving that they've changed it up so that the last Monday of the month is Tall and Skinny week!  Tall and skinny is much more appealing to me than round or square.  So I approached this challenge with a GOOD attitude!

The design said masculine to me and the steampunk wheels started turning.  This is the result:



  • To be honest, this isn't true steampunk.  The genuine article would have real metal cogs and Victorian images.  This is more a grunge/faux steampunk look.  But I like it a lot and grunge marries well with steampunk elements.
  • Last week, I learned a trick from Nicky Dexter, a demonstrator in the UK, about using a combination of the Starburst Framelits with the Circles Framelits to make cogs or gears.  I was SO excited about that.  Here's a photo of how that worked on this project:
  • I used the Epic Day This and That Designer Series Paper for all the back panels.  It is such awesome grungy paper and the colours are great for masculine cards.
  • The exception is the one matted with Pool Party cardstock.  I created that design using images from Clockworks and Gorgeous Grunge.  This is kind of a swan song for Clockworks as it is retiring this year.  I am mega-depressed about that, but I'll get over it as soon as I see the awesome NEW sets in the coming catalogue.  I will get a sneak peek at it tonight and I am so excited to be able to preorder starting tomorrow!
  • The sentiment is from Chalk Talk and it's perfect for this masculine card.  I added a bit of Gorgeous Grunge as well.
If you would like to learn how to create this card, you have two options:
  1. If you live in my neck of the woods, register for my technique night classes May 5 & May 6.
  2. If you don't live in my area, but are a resident of Canada, sign up for my Stamp of the Month club.  Everyone who signs up will receive a photo tutorial for this card FREE.

My Stamp of the Month On-Line club will be getting started in June 2014.  Each month, I will feature a different stamp set from the brand new Stampin' Up! Annual Catalogue.  Every member will receive, in addition to the featured clear stamp set (or their choice of another of equal price if they already have the featured set or don't like it), three completed hand stamped cards using that stamp set, and three photo tutorials, complete with a list of materials used and measurements so that you can duplicate these cards.  

It's a great way to build up your supply of stamp sets plus get inspiration for making your own cards. You will also have private access to a special video tutorial channel for the occasional video tutorial using that set and access to a private Facebook group so that you can interact with other club members and myself.           
You may start or stop at anytime, BUT if you commit to a term of 6 months, you will receive the hostess benefits from all the other Stamp of the Month Club orders during one of those 6 months.  The cost for all these benefits, plus a free Annual Catalogue and any other catalogues that come out during your term, is $35 a month.  You will also earn a Papercraft Cat Customer Reward point each month.

If you sign up, you will receive the tutorial for the card above FREE to download.  What a great way to get stamps AND the inspiration to use them! To get more information and indicate your interest, please go to the Stamp of the Month On Line Club page and fill out the information in the form.


Tuesday, April 29, 2014

So Long Dynamic Duos!

I'm a little sad because one of my favourite challenge blogs, Dynamic Duos, is shutting down after this last 100th challenge.  I really enjoyed their colour challenges because they usually used only two colours, sometimes three plus neutrals.  That's right up my alley!  And their last challenge is a gorgeous one:

I also wanted to enter the Pals Paper Arts sketch challenge because I've been itching to do a hidden tag design with it.  


I decided that I wanted to use one of my newer Bigz dies before it is retired, the Blossom Party Originals die. (Why do I do that to myself?  Buy dies just before a new catalogue comes out!  Not too bright!)

Here's the result:


  •  The I Am Me Designer Series Paper has some great So Saffron and Pool Party designs in it and I chose three of them to use here.  This series is retiring as well, like all the DSP usually does, so don't wait too long to get some of it for yourself.  It will only be available while supplies last.
  • It was so much fun putting together those blossoms.  I sponged the edges of the So Saffron and the Pool Party flowers and it really gives them definition.  What a variety of floral shapes here!



  • And here's that little hidden tag, stamped with an image and a sentiment from Fabulous Florets, another set that is retiring.  The clear mount set is already sold out, so don't wait to order the wood mount version!  I was able to create a little slot for the tag by finding the center of the Pool Party/So Saffron panel and measuring one inch to the right and to the left of center.  On each of those lines I added several Stampin' Dimensionals to lift up the panel and create the slot for the tag.  
  • The tag has been formed using the Scallop Tag Topper Punch, so is 2 inches wide.  Some Pool Party 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon adorns the end of the  tag!
Weekly Deals For the Week of April 29 - May 5:


  

Click on the links below to take you to my On-Line Store, where you can read about, look at, and purchase if you wish, the products used to make this card today!

Product List
128574s
123027s
130138s
131202s
105118s
122924s
126982s
126957s
125582s
115971s
133324s
104430s

Monday, April 28, 2014

The Skinny on Adhesives

What do you need to put a card together?  Adhesive of course!  But, what kind of adhesive?  Stampin' Up sells no less than 11 different kinds!  Which one do I need and when would I use it and why?  Here to answer those questions for you is Crafty Clues by Heather:  The Skinny on Adhesives for Movie Monday.

                       

I hope you learned something and if you already knew all that, share this with someone who is just starting out with papercrafting.  Maybe it will help them.

I wanted to show you the results of a play session I had with the new photopolymer stamp sets, Sweetie Pies and Sweetie Pies frames.



I had a lot of fun making thank you cards for my customers using this adorable new set!  Normally, I don't like the cutesy card designs (though I admire the skills of those who are able to use copics to colour them in), but these are cute without being over the top and you can colour them in or not. I really like the frames and flourishes that comes in the coordinating frames set as well.  The little faces will work as stamped or you can do a little bit of colouring with Stampin' Write Markers, or ink and blender pen or aqua painter.


It won't be long though until, Stampin' Up finally brings out it's own Blendabilities, alcohol based markers with each of the 12 colours available as a set of three - light, medium and dark - easily blended like copics.  I will be able to preorder 6 colour sets on May 1 (although release date to customers is still unknown), but I know I'm going to need some training to use them to best advantage!  I'm up for it - always liked learning something new!

My colour scheme for these thank you cards was Bermuda, Day, Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo and Whisper White.  I used some of the Kaleidoscope DSP series papers as the background panel.

I hope you enjoyed Movie Monday and I'll see you tomorrow with another challenge entry.  Leave me a comment about what you think you'll see in the new catalogue.


Click on the links below to take you to my On-Line Store, where you can read about, look at, and purchase if you wish, the products used to make this card today!


Product List
136849s
137121s
132995s
131197s
100730s
126948s
131171s
131173s
130931s

Friday, April 25, 2014

Last Day for Free Shipping

This is my second post today.  It's been quite a week!  Retiring Stamp Sets have been flying off the shelves like crazy and will be gone for good!  I hope you haven't missed out on your favourites!  But today is the last day you can order and take advantage of FREE SHIPPING!!




"WHATTT!!!  Today is the last day for FREE SHIPPING? I'll get my order to you PRONTO!!"




I will be submitting an order this evening around 8 pm so make sure all your orders are in to me by then or place an order yourself at my On-Line Store before 11 pm.

Here are the stamp sets that have already sold out:
Baby Prints clear (pg. 56)                                                    Backyard Basics wood and clear (pg.79)
Blast Off clear (pg.49)                                                         Blessing from Heaven wood and clear (pg.76)
Create a Cupcake clear (pg.13)                                          Creative Elements clear (pg.105)
Delicate Doilies clear (pg.122)                                            Delightful Dozen clear (pg. 27)
En Francais wood (pg. 100)                                               Fabulous Florets clear (pg. 93)
Field Flowers clear (pg. 67)                                               Fine Feathers clear (pg 75)
Fishin' Around wood (pg.58)                                             Five-Way Flower wood (pg. 85)
Forever with You clear (pg. 113)                                       Harvest Blessings wood and clear (pg. 73)
Horse Frontier clear (pg. 72)                                              Love & Laughter clear (pg. 40)
Lovely Little Labels clear (pg. 108)                                    Mr. & Mrs. wood (pg.38)                              
My Friend clear (pg. 118)                                                  Rev Up the Fun wood and clear (pg. 51)
Secret Garden wood (pg. 94)                                            Simply Stars clear and wood (pg. 124)
So Sorry clear and wood (pg. 68)                                     Storybook Friends clear and wood (pg. 52)
Sunflower wood and clear (pg. 71)                                   Take Care clear (pg.92)
Tag It clear (pg. 45)                                                         Woodgrain wood and clear (pg. 75)
World Treasures clear (pg. 88)                                         Zoo Review clear (pg. 74)

I hope none of these are on your wishlist!!  But there are still lots of other sets left (as of 4 pm yesterday), so get your orders to me soon!  I will be submitting an order at 8 pm today.

Oh, Hello for As You See It Challenges

One of the retiring stamp sets I'm really going to miss is Oh, Hello!


I feel as though I'd let it down, by not promoting it enough.  It's a beautiful set with the chevron oval and the single flower on the stem and I love the font of the sentiments!  I can't imagine why it's going but I feel partly responsible.  Oh, the guilt!  So I'm going to have to promote it now, so maybe at least it will go out with a bang!

Amanda has come up with a beautiful colour challenge for As You See It Challenge #034 this week:



Here's my Design Team sample:


  • I cut a piece of Whisper White cardstock 5 1/4" x 4" and used the Ovals Collection Framelits to remove an oval shape from the middle of it.  I then used the Fancy Fan embossing folder to give it some texture.
  • I tried estimating and even measuring where the same size oval chevron stamp should be located on the card base to align with the cut out oval in the top panel, but after several unsuccessful tries, I got smart.  I stamped the chevron oval (in soft sky) on a separate piece of Whisper White and added the sentiment in Rich Razzleberry.  I placed the top layer in place and used a pencil to mark where the oval underneath should be located.  Then I cut out the oval and positioned it on the card base and it aligned perfectly with the die cut negative space.

  • I then had some fun with the Petite Petals stamp set and punch, one of the Itty Bitty Punch Pack punches and coloured cardstock and some Pearl Basic Jewels!  I stamped 4 flowers in each of the three colours, Daffodil Delight, Soft Sky and Rich Razzleberry and punched them out with the Petite Petals Punch.  I punched four of the little shapes in each of the three colours as well and added them to the punched flowers, using Multipurpose Glue.  Then I added a small pearl to the center of each. Using the same glue I added each one in a pleasing arrangement around the cut-out oval.
  • Finally, I tied a bow in some Daffodil Delight 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon and added it using glue dots.
Give this challenge a try!  The colours are beautiful, and you could find a layout to use at many of the other challenge sites.  Try Mojo Monday this week.  I didn't get a chance to do that one, but it's a lovely layout.


Well, that's a wrap for this eventful week.   Don't forget that Free Shipping is still on until tonight, so if you've been putting off getting your order in, best do it now! It's not too late!  Keep your eye on that retiring products list so you don't miss out on anything you really wanted!

Have a great weekend!  Leave me a comment about which stamp sets you're going to miss the most!


Click on the links below to take you to my On-Line Store, where you can read about, look at, and purchase if you wish, the products used to make this card today!

Product List
131931s
130733s
133152s
133155s
100730s
115316s
119683s
131203s
131181s
126944s
126950s
125583s
119247s
129381s
127751s
133322s
118309s