Happy Birthday Cassidy!!!!

Our sweet little Cassidy turns 18 today!  It seems like just a few years ago we took this picture of her with her favorite hat!  Now, we are literally up in Bozeman, Montana, celebrating her 18th birthday and saying good bye as she starts college at Montana State University, studying architecture.  How she has changed over the years!

Now, a card story about Cassidy.  I couldn't go without a cardmaking post now could I?  I have told Cassidy for years that any time she needed a card for a friend's birthday or a thank you card for a gift, she could go into my craft room and either make one herself or get one out of my boxes of cards.  For the first few years, she would go in and make one but as she got older, she would just go in and take one of mine.  Well, this year at Mother's Day, I opened my Mother's Day card and found a card that I had made!  Cassidy said "you said I could use them when I needed one!"  We all got a great laugh out of how I received my own card on Mother's Day but the special sentiment she wrote inside makes that card very special!

Stampin' Up!'s Best Friends Forever....

Today's card is one that I introduced at a recent workshop.  My friend Connie gave me a picture of a card she found with this layout but with another company's stamp set.  I used the Best Friends Forever stamp set for the leaves which really turned out pretty.  The card I actually made for the workshop had a sentiment from the Herb Expressions stamp set which I borrowed from my mom for use at the workshop.  Naturally by the time I got around to making my card, I had returned that set back to her so I used the "Thanks" from the Tagstastic hostess set.  I colored the pearls using a Sharpie so they would coordinate with the ink color of Garden Green.  The cardstock is Always Artichoke.  The ovals were cut from the Ovals dies.

Another Letterpress Card Using Greenhouse Garden....

Here's another card I made using the Letterpress plate and Stampin' Up!'s Greenhouse Garden stamp set.  I love the new In Color Wisteria Wonder.  We really needed a pretty lavender!  The background piece is Lucky Limeade and the printed piece is from the In Colors Patterns Pack.  The flowers were stamped with Wisteria Wonder and Concord Crush.

Stampin' Up!'s Fancy Fan Letterpress....

When Stampin' Up! first released their Letterpress plates, I wasn't really excited about them but I just love the one they introduced in the new catalog this year! I just inked the Lucky Limeade cardstock with Lucky Limeade ink and ran it through the Big Shot. I embossed the pear image from the Faith In Nature hostess set (a bargain at $8!) and then watercolored using Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz and Lucky Limeade. I added a few pearls and came up with this beautiful card!

Do you ever have trouble getting your pearls or rhinestones spaced evenly? Here's a little trick - use your mat pack. The pearls and rhinestones fit perfectly inside the largest holes and you can get them lined up perfectly straight on your card.

UPDATE TO POST (5/29/14): Several people have asked how to get one of these mats to space out your pearls and rhinestones. The mat shown was retired by Stampin' Up! a couple years ago but can be found on online auction sites. However, I thought I would show you how to make your own.

Here's what you will need: Crop-a-Dile, window sheet piece, Cardstock piece to draw pattern on, ruler.

The holes in Stampin' Up's mat are 3/8" apart. Measure and draw a straight line along one side of the Cardstock piece. Next, measure and draw 3 or 4 lines perpendicular to the other line, making each line 3/8" from the other line.

Lay the window sheet over the top of the Cardstock and punch out where the lines cross, making sure it is centered.

Now you have a clear piece to add your pearls or rhinestones. Note that the pearls are the same size as the punched hole so you will need to be careful lifting the sheet off after placing your pearls/rhinestones.

 

 

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Making a Full Size Card from a Pocket Size Card....

Do you remember last week, the little 3"x3" card I made from Stampin' Up!'s convention Make 'n Takes?  Here's a card that I made using the exact same pieces that they provided to us but I added the Peach Parfait cardstock and the Whisper White card.  The Cherry Cobbler piece was the exact same piece that Stampin' Up! provided for the little tag.  Here, I just layered it in the corner.  Also, I used the Elegant Lines Embossing Folder but I didn't want the embossing over the entire card so I placed only half of the cardstock in the folder and ran it through my Big Shot. 

Technique Tuesday - Easel Card....

In today's Technique Tuesday, I am going to show you how to make an Easel card.  This variation of an easel card is a circular one.  The card can also be made square or standard card shaped.  You can also used stamped images to hold you easel in place instead of the ribbon in my example.  Let's get started.....

 You need the following items:

• The Big Shot
• Scallop Circle Bigz Die
• 3 1/2" Circle Die
• Fun Flowers Bigz L Die
• Blossom Petals Builder Punch (not pictured)
• Embossing folder - I used Elegant Lines
• 1 1/4" Striped Ribbon - I used Basic Black
• Large Brad - I used In Color Designer Printed Brad in Island Indigo
• Cardstock - I used Pool Party, Lucky Limeade and Island Indigo
• Designer Paper - In Colors Pattern Pack
• Inks - I used Island Indigo and Lucky Limeade

 One piece of the Lucky Limeade cardstock needs to be 5 1/2" x 11 inches and then folded in half.  Place on the Scallop Circle Die with the folded portion at the top leaving 4-5 of the scallops visible at the top.  This way, the Big Shot will not cut at the top along the fold.

 Here's what you need cut from the various dies and punches. 

• Scallop Circle - the folded piece and one full circle from the Pool Party cardstock
• 3 1/2" Circle - one Island Indigo circle, then run through Elegant Lines embossing folder
• Blossom Petals Punch - two leaves from Lucky Limeade punched and highlight edges with Lucky Limeade ink.
• Fun Flowers - Pool Party DSP with polka dots on one side and words on the other.  Sponge edges of all four pieces to highlight with Island Indigo ink.

 Adhere Island Indigo circle to full Scallop Circle.

 Layer and adhere flower pieces together.  Attach leaves to the back.

 Attach flower to top left corner of scallop circle.

On folded scallop circle, score horizontally half way from the folded edge on the top scallop. 

 Place adhesive on INSIDE top half of the top scallop.  (Believe it or not, the these two pictures are of Pool Party cardstock - not green cardstock!  I don't know why they turned out this color???)

Attach full size scallop to the inside top half where you placed the adhesive, lining up the scallops as best as you can.

 Lay a 12" piece of ribbon out on your work surface.

 Take each end and fold it under and over to the other side so you make a loop with tails out to each side.

 Punch a hole approximately 1" up from the bottom of the bottom scallop circle.  Scrunch up the center of the ribbon loop and put it inside brad legs (or whatever you call them!).  Place through hole and open brad legs to secure.

 Here's my card opened as an Easel Card.

Here is the card when it is laid flat for mailing.

Card Display Banner from Stampin' Up! Convention...

Our final Make 'n Take was this adorable banner to display our Make 'n Take cards on.  What a cute way to display your beautiful handiwork!

Another Make 'n Take Card from Stampin' Up! Convention...

Here's our final card from our Make 'n Take package.  It uses the Raining Flowers stamp set and I added the "Thanks" from the Thank You Kindly stamp set.  I love the new ruffled ribbon in the In Colors!  They layer with the 1/8" Taffeta ribbon really well.  Stampin' Up! found a great way to secure the ribbon - forget about adhesive - just use staples!

Make 'N Take Card from Stampin' Up! Convention...

This card was made using the Best Friends Forever stamp set.  I also added the "Thanks" from the Thank You Kindly stamp set since most of my cards are donated to the Necessities Bag of Sacramento organization for women undergoing breast cancer.  Remember, if you woud like to donate, just get your cards to me and I will pass them along to NB!  The card uses some of the left over fabric from the card box which highlights a great way of using up your scraps!  A Cherry Cobbler button and linen thread finish this card off perfectly. 

Stampin' Up! Convention Make 'N Take Card....

This little 3"x3" card was made using the new In Colors of Island Indigo and Lucky Limeade.  The stamps used are from the Raining Flowers stamp set which we also received at convention.  What a cute and quick little thank you card!

Technique Tuesday - Dry Embossing with Letterpress Plates....

Today's technique is Dry Embossing with Letterpress Plates.  Later this week, you will see some cards using the letterpress with ink but today I am going show you how to make just an embossed image using the plates.

 You will need:

• The Big Shot
• Letterpress Plate (I am using Fancy Fan)
• Cardstock
• Silicone Rubber Mat
• Piece of cardboard from Designer Paper packaging (cut to size of Letterpress plate)

 Begin by placing the Letterpress plate down onto the Multipurpose Platform with both tabs.  Place your cardstock in the middle of the letterpress.  I recommend that you make your cardstock piece just a bit larger than the size you actually want.  The embossing sometimes makes the edges look torn and you will want to trim that off.

 Place the silicone rubber mat down on top of the cardstock.

 Finally place the cardstock piece on top of the silicone rubber mat and run through the Big Shot.

 This picture is not very good but you can see the raised image from the letterpress.

 Here is the opposite side of the cardstock.

Here's my quick card using the embossed cardstock at the bottom.  What do you think?

Convention Make 'n Takes....

I finally finished making up the Make 'n Takes that I received from convention in July.  There is never enough time to make them completely up and I find it is easier to transport them home prior to making them so I usually just make the parts that use supplies that I don't have and then I visit with people.  This year, I actually goofed up and double booked myself for another class at the same time as my Make 'n Take.  I really wanted to take that MDS class so my Make 'n Takes came home - completely undone.   I have finally finished them and will show you the cool items we were given to make at convention.

Our first Make 'n Take was this gorgeous card box which will be available for purchase on September 1 in the Holiday Mini Catalog.  We were given the Timeless Portrait fabric to cover the top as well as the Cherry Cobbler label on the front.  Using the Best Friends Forever stamp set which we were given at convention, we stamped on the label and layered it with the "cards" label and metal frame.  The flower is made using layer upon layer of flowers cut with the Big Shot as well as some made up with the Lace Ribbon Border punch.  A crystal bauble from the Simply Adorned line tops off the flower.  Inside are 6 dividers which we covered using the coordinating Timeless Portrait DSP.  The box comes with templates for covering the lid and sides of the box so all the hard work is already done for you.  What a great gift this would be for someone special with some handmade cards inside!

Stampin' Up!'s Happiest Birthday Wishes...

Today's card is a great birthday card for all ages and both genders.  I used the Block Shadow Stamping technique which I showed you last week on this card to give the background some depth.  I wasn't sure if I wanted the sentiment on an oval or the decorative label so I made up both and then decided I liked the look of the oval on top of the decorative label.  Here's what I used to make this card:

• Poppy Parade cardstock for card, label layers and present
• So Saffron cardstock for matting
• Baja Breeze cardstock for present and labels
• Peach Parfait for present
• Just Eat Cake DSP
• Stamp Set:  Happiest Birthday Wishes
• Punches:  Decorative Label, Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer, Extra-Large Oval
• So Saffron 1/8" Taffeta ribbon
• Rhinestones

Stampin' Up!'s Bliss Stamp Set from Sale-A-Bration

Today's card comes from a workshop that I did last weekend.  It was a special request from the hostess and uses a retired stamp set but I will suggest some current ones for you to use instead.  It is a simple card but very pretty!

Supplies needed to make this card:

• Whisper White and Basic Black cardstock
• Basic Black and Real Red cardstock
• Scallop Trim Border punch
• Framed Tulips embossing folder
• Pearls
• Bliss stamp set - Suggestions for Current Alternates:

                 Butterfly:  Precious Butterfies (hostess), Kindness Matters,  For All You Do, Summer Solstice
                 Swirl:       Elements of Style, Creative Elements, Style Beautiful, Baroque Motifs

Technique Tuesday - Telescoping Circles Card

It is Tuesday and that means a new technique for you.  Today I am going to show you how to make a Telescoping Circles Card.  They are quite easy but require a bunch of Big Shot dies or a circle cutter.

 Here's what you need:

• Whisper White cardstock & two coordinating colors of cardstock (I used Tempting Turquoise and Old Olive)
• Stamp set of your choice (I used Stampin' Up!'s Patterned Party & Happiest Birthday Wishes)
• Markers or inks in coordinating colors (I used Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive, Melon Mambo and Daffodil Delight - not pictured is Basic Black)
• Dies - 3" circle, 3 1/2" Circle and Large Scallop Circle
• 2 1/2" Circle Punch
• Coordinating brads
• Ribbon - not pictured.  I used Tempting Turquoise
• Paper Piercer and mat (not shown)

 Cut your circles as follows:

• Cut ONE Large Scallop Circle out of coordinating color cardstock;
• Cut TWO 3 1/2" circles from Whisper White cardstock;
• Cut ONE 3" circle from second coordinating color cardstock;
• Punch ONE 2 1/2" circle from Whisper White cardstock.

 Stamp on the Whisper White circles as desired.

 Attach 2 1/2" Whisper White circle to 3" colored cardstock.

 Attach one of the 3 1/2" Whisper White circles to the large scallop circle.

 Take the second Whisper White 3 1/2" circle and place it UPSIDE DOWN over the other Whisper White 3 1/2" circle.  Pierce a hole at the top and attach brad.

 Spin top circle around so it sits above the scallop circle.  Place 3" colored circle UPSIDE DOWN in center of middle circle.  Pierce a hole at the top and attach with a brad.

 Spin top circle around and pierce a hole at the top.  Cut a small piece of ribbon and fold in half.  Attach ribbon to circle with brad.

 Here's my card when it is all folded up.  Looks pretty cute just like this, doesn't it?

Now see how cute it is when it is opened up!  Who wouldn't love receiving a card like this one!