Full Moon

There was a lot of tension in the air today, everywhere I went. "Must be a full moon," I thought to myself and I wasn't far off!

I'm a retired teacher and I can testify that there really is something to full moon theories in terms of it affecting human behaviour.  I would face a classroom full of emotional students, acting out more than usual, and come home saying, "It must be a full moon!"  and somewhere within a 2 day window, I'd be right every time!  So if you're having a "full moon" kind of week, hopefully we can cheer you up a bit today.

One of my fellow demonstrators just had a her first baby, a little boy, so I made this card to give to her.

                                                                                                                                                                                              I used the Baby Boutique Stamp set for the first time and really had some fun with it.  I love the little boy colours and the diagonal ribbon behind the image panel.  The sentiment is from the One in a Million set and the sentiment on the inside says "a little word filled with a lot of HAPPINESS".

The colours I used were Marina Mist, Bashful Blue, So Saffron and Certainly Celery, with a panel of Sahara Sand behind the images.  I added some texture with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.

This was my last project completed at our Papercrafter's Paradise Retreat last weekend.  There's nothing like a new baby to bring a smile to faces and little bit of new hope to the world!

Stamps:  Baby Boutique (w126350; c126352); One in a Million (w126380; c126382)

Paper:  Marina Mist (119682), Bashful Blue (105120), So Saffron (105118), Certainly Celery (105125), Sahara Sand (121043) and Very Vanilla (101650) card stock

Ink: Classic Stampin' Pads in Marina Mist (126962), Certainly Celery (126958), So Saffron (126957)

Accessories: 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon in Certainly Celery (119963)

Tools:  Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (117335); Extra Large Tag punch (119866) (trimmed down)

 Extra Large Tag

 Baby Boutique Stamp Set

One in a Million Stamp Set

I Must Remember Everything!

I'm excited to be offering a monthly stamping class in a small town about an hour and a half south of me!  It's the first out-of-town class I've done so I will need to be super diligent about remembering to take everything with me!  Does anyone else have that problem?  No matter how hard I try to remember every tool or accessory I need for a class, I always seem to have to run down to my craft room about 3 times to get something!  I think I'm slowly improving though.  Tonight I only had to get 1 thing and I was running one class plus helping another customer catch up on a big class she missed, so 1 missing item was pretty good, considering!

I'm hoping my out-of-town customers will enjoy this card that I designed while on my retreat at Gardom Lake:

I really love the colour scheme and the playful design.  Of course, the Feel Goods Stamp Set has some awesome sentiments.  To get the two colours on the one stamp, I used Stampin' Write Markers in Basic Gray and Daffodil Delight. The background stamp is called Distressed Dots and it is inked up in Daffodil Delight ink, the same colour as the card stock.  And I'm sure you've seen enough of the Honeycomb Embossing folder to recognize it anywhere and here it is in Basic Gray.  I love the look of the Naturals 7/16" Trim Ribbon with this design!

The little flower embellishing the sentiment was created using the Boho Blossoms punch twice, once on Basic Gray card stock and once on Daffodil Delight, then mixing the colours and adding a Rhinestone Basic Jewel and a little bow of linen thread.  

On another note, I wanted to let you know that Stampin' Up is offering a basic On-Line Stamping class that you can access here.

It is $17.95 and you can download it to your own computer and go through it at your leisure.  Here is the product description:

Learn innovative ways to get the most out of your supplies (from stamps to the Big Shot) with clever tips and all the techniques you need to start creating with success. 
Divided into six sections focused on a variety of topics, this class includes videos, step outs, and supply lists for 30+ projects. Join the fun!

Doesn't that sound perfect?  And it is just right for beginners or seasoned stampers.  I have just downloaded it myself and I will show you a peek or two at some of the projects you can do in the days to come!

Happy Stampin'!

Stamps:  Feel Goods (w129681;c129684); Distressed Dots (w122815)
Paper:  Basic Gray (121044), Daffodil Delight (119683) and Whisper White (100730) card stock
Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pad in Daffodil Delight (126944); Stampin' Write Marker in Daffodil Delight (119677) and Basic Gray (119703) in a set of 8 Neutrals
Accessories:  Natural 7/16" Trim Ribbon (129287); Rhinestone Basic Jewels (119246); Linen Thread (104199)
Tools:  Honeycomb Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (129378); Big Shot (113439); Window Frames Collection Framelits (129021); Boho Blossoms punch (119858)  

Arrr! Matey - a Masculine Birthday Card

Sailing ships have such romance attached to them!  Adventure, disaster, exploration, treasure, exotic ports!  I just wish I had the same experience to be nostalgic about.  One of my first dates with my hubby was aboard a friend's sailboat.  I was thrilled to be going on such an adventure, with such a handsome guy, but, as luck would have it, the seas were not too accommodating that day!  We experienced a following sea, which basically means that the boat was tossed in every direction at once!  I don't have the strongest stomach for motion anyway, and this was too much for me to handle.  I spent the bulk of the trip hanging over the edge of the boat, first afraid I would die, then afraid I wouldn't die!  I realized that I did not look in the least attractive hanging over the edge of the boat for hours and, furthermore, I was not great company during the whole episode.  But I had seriously underestimated my future spouse and he stuck around despite the whole incident!

This is a gate fold card that I cased from one of Julie Davison's cards here.  I thought the whole design of Julie's card was very masculine, except for the stamped image and so I changed that and the DSP used from Print Poetry Designer Series Paper Stack to Comfort Cafe DSP.  The sailing ship image from The Open Sea stamp set is very suited to a masculine card as is the sentiment which is from the From My Heart stamp set.

Here's what is meant by a gate fold card:

It's the same size as a standard card, just folded a little differently with the ends coming together in the middle, after scoring the 41/4" by 11" Crumb Cake card stock at 2 3/4" and 8 1/4".  The main Very Vanilla image panel was stamped with the ledger image first, stamped off in Crumb Cake.  The the globe stamp was used with full strength Crumb Cake and the ship and sentiment added with Midnight Muse.  I was so happy because the Midnight Muse dried right away and didn't smear at all!  Some linen thread was added to the bottom and a Top Note panel stamped with an anchor was placed inside.

Give the gate fold a try!  It's a way of making a simple card simply terrific!

Avast, landlubbers!  See you tomorrow with something new from Stampin' Up!

Stamps:  The Open Sea (w123030; c123032); From My Heart (w126555; c126557)

Paper:  Crumb Cake (120953), Very Vanilla (101650) and Midnight Muse (126843) card stock; Comfort Cafe DSP (126898)

Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pads in Crumb Cake (126975) and Midnight Muse (126860)

Accessories:  Linen Thread (104199)

Tools:  Top Note Bigz Die (113463); Big Shot (113439)

From My Heart Stamp Set

The Open Sea Stamp Set

Linen Thread

Retreat in the Snow

This weekend I went to my first ever papercrafting retreat, Papercrafter's Paradise.  Hard to believe, I know.  I've been papercrafting for somewhere close to 10 years and this is the first one I've done.  Now I'm asking myself, why did I wait so long?  It was fantastic!  Sooo relaxing and fun, being in a big room full of papercrafters, each working on their own projects, but everyone interested in what everyone else was creating; sharing ideas and supplies; getting to know people much better!  I'm booking the next one as soon as it is announced, that's for sure!

We went to a beautiful camp, Gardom Lake, and it was still very snowy, so really pretty outside!  We had camp style accommodation, but it was very comfortable and being the age I am, I don't say that lightly!
We demonstrators shared the cooking and there was no shortage of delicious food!

I accomplished a LOT!  I was surprised, since I didn't have much of a plan when I went.  I didn't take along a ton of gear, and it was probably a good thing this time as there wouldn't have been room for it in the car, as I drove the organizer up and she had a great deal of supplies with her.  I really only missed my embellishments and ribbons, and they don't take up much room, so will make sure they come with me next time.  Here's a quick shot of some of the cards I made:

One of my biggest projects was a PHD (project half-done) as my upline would say and I can't show you the photos for awhile since they are gifts for my 3 daughters and I want to keep it a surprise.  But one of the cards that I am proudest of was created for a colour challenge on Saturday using Baja Breeze, Perfect Plum and Wild Wasabi!  It was a kind of random colour palette and two of the colours are not ones I use regularly, but I embraced the challenge and used a layout from the new Paper Players Challenge #134:

It's a simple but versatile layout and it worked with how I was imagining the card I wanted to create.

Here's the card:

I stamp-a-ma-jigged (yes, it's a verb according to Brian Pilling down there at Stampin' Up headquarters)  the main image using Stippled Blossoms in Baja Breeze and Perfect Plum and who knew they could work together so perfectly? (For instructions on how to do this, go here.) The sentiment is from a stamp set that we got at Convention 2012 called "I Am...".  (Unfortunately, it is not available in the catalogue.)  The linen-like flag of Natural 7/16" Trim Ribbon completes the soft look of the whole card.

 I loved how it turned out!  It tied for first in the retreat challenge  and I won a free stamp set! (Just the prize to make a stamper's heart beat a little faster!)

Anyway, you've got to come along to the next retreat!  Contact me if you're interested.  I think it will be in the early fall sometime!

Stamps:  Stippled Blossoms (w126745; c126747); I Am (unavailable)
Paper:  Sahara Sand (121043), Perfect Plum (101889), Wild Wasabi (108641), Baja Breeze (111352) and Very Vanilla (101650) card stock
Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pads in Baja Breeze (126960), Perfect Plum (126963) and Wild Wasabi (126959)
Accessories:  Natural 7/16" Trim Ribbon (129287); Pearl Basic Jewels (119247)
Tools:  3" Circle Originals die (122125); 2 1/2" Circle Punch (120906); Word Window Punch (119857); Modern Label Punch (119849); Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049)

Stippled Blossoms Two-Step Stamp Set

Stamp-a-ma-jig

Modern Label Punch

Natural 7/16" Trim Ribbon

2 1/2" Circle Punch

Organize Your Greeting Cards

Well, despite myself, I seem to be on an organizational trip these days, and I was so excited for my Birthday Stampers' Dozen last night because one of the projects we completed was an organizer for your greeting cards - you know, the hundreds that you're making after being inspired by my blog!  Ha, ha, ha!  But seriously, as a Stampin' Up demonstrator, the cards I create and don't have a chance to send are starting to build up.  I have a couple of 3 drawer trolleys that I have them organized in, but what is happening is that a family birthday will occur, and instead of looking through my already made cards for just the right one, I just make one instead and sometimes only in the nick of time!

I had an idea to create a greeting card organizer and feature it at my Birthday Stampers' Dozen so that my customers would be able to file a card right away in the month that the birthday occurs and each month they would have all the cards they need for that month's birthdays, and they would just have to pop them in the mail.  Here's what it looks like from the outside:

It consists of a 1" binder with Fan Fare DSP adhered with sticky strip to the back and front covers and a separate strip of DSP down the spine.  The front is decorated with some First Edition Specialty DSP and a label cut from 2 different Apothecary Accents framelits and stamped with the greeting from You're Amazing. The Feel Goods stamps decorated the First Edition DSP.

Here's the inside:

I punched some twin pocket folders (which I just happened to find in some coordinating colours) with a 3 hole punch and then I adhered the back of one cover to the front of another cover to make 12 pages, each with a pocket.  I tried Snail for this, but there is quite a bit of stress on the pages, so redid them using Sticky Strip and they held together well.

With MDS2, I created and printed a calendar month for each page and these were attached with Snail.  This way you can mark birthday dates on each month so you don't forget what you need!  And you can store the cards you need for that month in the pockets.  If you have a large extended family or a great deal of friends you might want to use a 2" binder for this.  I also attached a self-stick folder tab with the month name written on it for each of finding the month you need.

If you want full details with dimensions, email me.  Hope this idea helps you with your card organization. 

Happy Stampin' and enjoy your weekend!

Stamps:  You're Amazing (w126720; c126722); Feel Goods (w129681; c129684)
Paper: Cajun Craze (119684) and Whisper White (100730) card stock; Fan Fare DSP (126918); First Edition Specialty DSP (121878)
Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pad in Island Indigo (126986)
Accessories:  3/8" Ruffled Ribbon in Island Indigo (122974); Antique Brads (117273)
Tools:  Apothecary Accents Framelits (127003)

Get Yourself Organized

Are you ready to start Spring Cleaning?  I am allergic to Spring Cleaning and by the time I get around to it, it's usually summer or fall.

 But if you are gung ho to start, My Digital Studio has some great organizational downloads you should take a look at:

Label this Craft Room (133266)

Label This Kitchen (133022)

Label this Closet (133268)

Label this Laundry Room (133264)

Label this Play Room (133269)

Label this Garage (133270)

To use these, of course, you need to get My Digital Studio for your computer.  Did you know that you can try it free for 30 days?  Click here for more information!

See you tomorrow with a great way to organize your greeting cards and never get stuck for one at the last minute!!  Here's a couple of sneak peaks:

                                      

A Little More Black and Blue

No, I didn't slip in the snow and bump my head, or walk into the door frame ( though I have done that many times - I'm the original klutz, remember?)  I just really, really liked the Dynamic Duo's Colour challenge this week and wanted to do more. My first post was on Monday, but it was just a little appetizer.  Now comes the main course.

The colours for the challenge again are Tempting Turquoise and Basic Black.  I used the beautiful stamp set Elements of Style for this card and a sentiment from Bring On the Cake.  This card is very simple to make because you stamp twice, adhere all the layers and you're good to go, after adding some ribbon and pearls.  I wanted a simple, but striking card for my Birthday Stampers' Dozen this week.  The background panel is from the Neutrals Designer Series Paper Stack. 

And now for dessert!  The Dessert Option for the challenge this week was to add clouds, and finally, here they are in this fun little birthday card:

The clouds in the background here are made with the Cloudy Day embossing folder from the Spring Catalogue.  And my penguins are created with the help of the Owl Builder Punch (with the ears trimmed off the owl).  Some torn Whisper White card stock sponged with Tempting Turquoise forms the ice and snow of Antarctica, while the birthday cake with ALL the candles and the sentiment are from Bring On the Cake.  See that little penguin on the right is afraid that all those candles are going to melt the ice on which he is standing.  But really, he has nothing to worry about because underneath all the ice and snow, Antarctica is a continent, not an ocean like the Arctic, so there is solid ground!

Did you enjoy your meal?  If so, why not leave a comment?  I love getting to know my readers better!

Hummingbird Card:
Stamps:  Elements of Style (w118611; c120045); Bring On the Cake (w121899; c121958)
Paper:  Tempting Turquoise (102067), Basic Black (121045) and Whisper White (100730) card stock; Neutrals Designer Series Paper Stack (117157
Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pad in Tempting Turquoise (126952), StazOn Jet Black (101406)
Accessories:  Pearl Basic Jewels (119247); 1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon in Marina Mist (122986), 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon in Basic Black (119261)

Penguin Card:
Stamps:  Bring on the Cake (w121899; c121958)
Paper:  Tempting Turquoise (102067), Basic Black (121045) and Whisper White (100730) card stock
Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pad in Tempting Turquoise (126952), StazOn Jet Black (101406)
Tools:  Stampin' Sponge (101610); Cloudy Day TIEF(textured impressions embossing folder) (127022)
Owl Builder Punch (118074)

Bring on the Cake Stamp set

Owl Builder Punch

Neutrals Designer Series Paper Stack

Elements of Style

Creative Chaos

Whew!  That was a day, I tell you!  Look, here is the debris left over:

And I'm too tired to clean up before I go to bed.  Today was a creating day.  When I get into these designing frenzies, everything flies and caution hits the wind.  And I end up with chaos like you see here!  I had several cards to design, four of which were to be for the Birthday Stamper's Dozen this week.  I wanted eye-catching designs, but ones that were simple to make and I'll show you what I came up with as the week progresses.  I do have one of the designs that I want to show you today, because it follows the sketch for the MOJO Monday Challenge #281, designed by Mary Fish, one of my favourite bloggers.

I really like the overlapping circle concept and I decided to use the Tea for Two Designer Series Paper and its colour palette for my design.  It's an unusual palette.  I don't know if I would have thought to use these colours together, but it works for a vintage look.  

I incorporated several new things in this card:  the Feeling Sentimental set bicycle image, an image from Bring On the Cake, a stamp set that I just received free from Stampin' Up for blogging about Leadership 2013, and the clock from Tea Time Trinkets, which I have been dying to use, but never found the right spot until now.

That Calypso Coral, really makes itself known doesn't it!  It's not shy about coming to the forefront!  It makes that old bicycle look like it's going to travel for miles, and any minute now!  Anyway, there you have one of the fruits of my labours today.  And I have enough project photos to keep me blogging for a few days, not to mention enough cards to keep my Birthday Stampers busy.

What does your workspace look like when you are in the midst of a creative frenzy?

Stamps:  Feeling Sentimental (w129627; c129630)*; Bring On the Cake (w121899; c121958)
Paper: Island Indigo (122923), Bashful Blue (105120), Calypso Coral (122925), Early Espresso (119686) and Very Vanilla (101650) card stock; Tea For Two Designer Series Paper (129311)
Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pads in Early Espresso (126974) and Soft Suede (126978)
Accessories:  Tea Time Trinkets (129326), 3/8" Ruffled in Calypso Coral (122976); 5/8" Victoria Crochet Trim (118481), Linen Thread (104199)
Tools:  3" Circle Originals die (122125); 2 1/2" Circle Punch (120906); Honeycomb Embossing Folder (129378)

Bring on the Cake Stamp Set

Feeling Sentimental

 Tea for Two DSP

Tea Time Trinkets

Calypso Coral Ruffled Ribbon