Friday, August 29, 2014

Timed Stamping for As You See It Challenges

Arggggh!  Another timed stamping challenge for As You See It Challenges!  Do. Not. Like.  But it does challenge me and that's what challenges are all about.  This one turned out not half bad!


Here's the challenge:


When I saw Shades of Yellow, I immediately thought Sunflowers!  I went looking for a sunflower image among my stamp sets and many were close, but I didn't see a good one until I opened up Bloom with Hope! I feel I must apologize for featuring this set so much, but versatility and usability, along with great design are the marks of a classic stamp set.  I'm sad that it is a Hostess set because they always retire at the end of the year and so your time is limited.  Make sure you don't miss it!  You must be a Hostess in order to have access to this set.  Contact me and we can set up a date for your own workshop.  

Speaking of which:  If you book a workshop and hold it before October 31, you will win a free stamp set called Good Greetings!




  • We had 10 minutes to complete the card from start to finish.  I finished just under the wire in 9 minutes, 45 seconds.
  • After a couple of false starts with the stem and some Pear Pizzazz, I decided to do without the stem and just stamped the sunflower-like bloom in Crushed Curry and added some So Saffron splotches from Gorgeous Grunge.
  • The sentiment is also from Bloom with Hope and I really like the script for all the sentiments in the set. 
  • I used almost all the yellow shades I have in stock:  Crushed Curry, Daffodil Delight and So Saffron.  I didn't use Hello Honey because it has some grayness in that shade that didn't mix well with the warm feel of the other yellows.
  • The burlap ribbon with the Crushed Curry Candy Dots is a perfect finish.
Have some fun yourself with this challenge.  Don't be intimidated by the time, just do your best and if you go over the 10 minute mark, just say so on your entry.  And let me know if you want to schedule your own workshop.  You can earn fabulous hostess rewards, plus win a free stamp set!

                                                                                                                                   
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!                 

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Hooray! The 2014 Holiday Catalogue is Here!

It's time to get your Christmas Mojo on! And Thanksgiving! And Halloween! And just plain Fall and Winter! Shake off the dust of Summer and get your imagination primed, because the Stampin' Up! 2014 Holiday catalogue is here! Are you excited? You should be! Here's the link: (Click on the photo)


I have already mailed out copies to my active customers, but if you didn't receive one in the mail, email me or call me and I will see that you get one.  If you want to be on my catalogue mailing list, all you need to do is to be an active customer in the 2 months preceding the catalogue's premiere.

And here's a bonus for you:
Any orders that come in from today, August 28 until Sunday, August 31, I will be paying the shipping for you!  

In order to take advantage of this offer, please email me your order and I will see that it is submitted with the others and I will deliver it to you!

*If you want more than your budget will allow (join the club), stay tuned for product shares!

 And here, in true hunting lodge colours, is a card featuring the new Ornamental Pine stamp set:


  • The cool thing about the pine branch image is that you can ink up the needles and the branch in separate colours straight from the stamp pads quite easily because of how they are arranged. The pine cones are a separate stamp.
  • Lots of texture here with the Woodgrain Embossing Folder used on the Chocolate Chip background, the Dazzling Diamonds glitter and the Linen Thread figure eight bow.  
  • The glitter was added to the card after the 2 Way Glue Pen was applied to the top of the branch, a few needles and the pine cones.  For a better hold on the glitter, you could use the Stamp-a-ma-jig to stamp the same images in VersaMark ink, but just slightly offset.  Then you would cover the image in Heat and Stick powder and heat set it.  Add the Dazzling Diamonds glitter and reheat to set.  Or you could used Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder for a similar effect instead of the Heat and Stick and the glitter. (I did neither of these options because it is for a Christmas Stamper's Dozen and it would take way too long and require cleaning the stamps each time.)



  • The main image was die cut using the Deco Label Framelits and the matte was die cut with the same size framelit, cut in half and added to the top and bottom, offset by about 1/8".  The Deco Label framelits have a little point in the middle of each side and I snipped that off before adhering it on the back because it would look a bit bizarre cut in half.
  • The Designer Series Paper rectangle at the bottom of the card is from the Trim the Tree Designer Series Paper Stack.  This is a great value with forty-eight 4-1/2" x 6-1/2" sheets for $8.50.  You get 4 ea. of 12 double-sided designs.  These are great traditional designs, many of which are appropriate for designs other than Christmas cards.
  • This card is entered in The Paper Player's Challenge #210:

                                              



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

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Quick and Cute Thank You Card Design


I had a wonderful time with all my kids and grandkids this past weekend!  I managed to get everyone in the same place at the same time and that is no easy task!  But the downside is, I had some catch up to do afterwards, including coming up with a couple of Quick and Cute cards for a Try It Free class, one of which, a Thank You card, I'm sharing with you today.  But first here's a picture of the whole gang in front of our nectarine tree, which is loaded with fruit this year!


The two oldest grandsons are getting to the age where they can play a little together and there was a lot less "Mine!  Mine!" going on.  The baby, Cedar, is just 3 months old, but she is already displaying her lively personality!  And little Wyatt, the one year old, is toddling around  pretty competently now, as he lets us all know what he thinks in no uncertain terms!  And everyone just enjoyed reconnecting and relaxing!

Now let's have a closer look at the thank you card:


  • The centerpiece is the beautiful floral from Bloom with Hope, an absolutely gorgeous stamp set that you can only get with Hostess Rewards!  The good news is that I have a few openings in September if you would like to book a private class with me so that you can get your hands on it.  Ask me how.  It is backed with Basic Black cardstock and both are die cut with the Circles Collection Framelit Dies and popped up on Stampin' Dimensionals.
  • The lovely Design Series Paper in the background is from the Park Lane collection and the lined nature of the flowers complements the Bloom with Hope designs. 
  • The sentiment is from Regarding Dahlias stamp set and is stamped using Tuxedo Black Memento ink, my new favourite black ink.
  • I used some Pear Pizzazz 1/4" Cotton Ribbon for the middle and topped it off with some. Basic Black 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon  The ribbon design mimics the DSP on the Basic Black Cardstock, but reversed.
Quick and easy for beginners, so I hope you'll give it a try.



Two more days left to get the Stampin' Up! Starter Kit with an extra $35 worth of free product!  I would love it if you joined my team, the Papercraft Cats.  You can read about the benefits of joining and how to go about it here.  Contact me if you need help.

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