Brayer Class - Stampin' Up!'s Gently Falling Stamp Set

We made this card during my recent brayer class too.  This time, we ran the cardstock through the Big Shot using the Finial Press embossing folder and then inked our brayers and lightly ran it over the raised image.  You do not want to press too hard; otherwise you will get ink in the debossed areas.  Keep reinking your brayer and adding color until you like the contrast.  Some of the attendees turned it over and saw a very different look by inking the back side so try both ways and see what you like!
We then took the solid images from the Gently Falling stamp set from the current Holiday Mini catalog and inked them with the More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Garden Green and Riding Hood Red markers.  Using Early Espresso ink, we stamped the outline images over the solid images.  We finished the card with some ribbon and Bitty Buttons.

Brayer Class - Stampin' Up!'s Manhattan Flower Embossing Folder

This has to be one of my favorite embossing folders.  While the image is relatively simple, it is quite stunning and I am finding lots of ways to use it.  For this card, I showed everyone how to brayer the embossing folder directly with your ink and then place your cardstock inside and run through the Big Shot.  I am not sure how to describe which side of the embossing folder that you need to ink except to say it would be the "valley" side.  The "mountain" side would be the raised image side and the "valley" side is the one that drops down in the shape of the image.  Clear as mud?
One other hint on this card is to place a VERY small piece of double sidede temporary tape to the back side of the cardstock and place the cardstock on the "mountain" side of the embossing folder and then close the embossing folder.  This way you do not risk it moving around as you close the folder and cause the ink to smear.
I finished off the card with the Happy Birthday stamp from the Happiest Birthday Wishes hostess stamp set in Melon Mambo and Old Olive.

Brayer Techniques - Stampin' Up!'s Creative Elements Stamp Set

I recently held a brayer class where we made this card.  Can you tell where the brayer was used?
I started with a piece of Pool Party Patterns Pack DSP and embossed the butterflies with clear embossing powder on the patter that has the small words.  I then used Wisteria Wonder ink on the brayer and covered the DSP, virtually making the pattern disappear except on the butterflies.  After brayering, I used a tissue to remove the excess ink from the embossed area.
I then ran another small piece of the opposite side of the DSP through the Elegant Lines embossing folder for the bottom of the card.  A crinkled ribbon, a button and a few pearls completed this card.

Ribbon Rosettes using Stampin' Up!'s Morning Cup Stamp Set

Welcome back to Technique Tuesday!  I know, I was the one missing and not you.  But I am back and today I am going to show you how to make a ribbon rosette.  The 1/2" Stitched Poly Ribbon in the 2010-2011 In Colors works great for this technique because of the contrasting edge and center.
Here's what you will need:

• Big Shot
• Sticky Sheets
• Circles #2 Die
• 18" of Ribbon
• Pearls/Rhinestone or Brad

 Using the second to the smallest circle on the Circles #2 die, cut out a 1 1/2" circle of Sticky Sheet using your Big Shot.

 Peel off paper from one side of sticky circle.  Fold one end of your ribbon in half lengthwise.

 Press the end of the ribbon into the center of the circle.  If you are off a little, it will not matter.  You will just end up with a smaller rosette.

 Twist the ribbon tight and begin to press it down on the sticky strip in a circular motion.  The tighter you twist the ribbon, the easier it is to do this.

 Continue to press it down into a circle, stopping often to twist the ribbon tightly.

 Once you fill the sticky circle or run out of ribbon, trim off any excess of ribbon leaving a little to tuck in the back.  As you can see at the bottom of my rosette above, there is a little sticky circle exposed.  Turn your rosette over and trim off any of this excess.

 Peel the other side of the sticky strip back and tack down the ribbon end.

Place a pearl, a rhinestone or a brad in the center of your rosette and attach it to your card.

Here's the card that I made at a recent workshop where we made the ribbon rosettes.  They were a hit with everyone.  I hope you have fun making these as well!



Boys And Their Toys Card - Stampin' Up!'s Loads of Love

I don't know about you but I never have enough masculine cards.  Here is one that I CASE'd for a recent workshop that will work well for a number of the men in my life.  I think they all have the thought that "he who dies with the most toys, wins" -- including my husband!  Although his toys are mostly boats instead of ATVs and motorcycles.  Using the Loads of Love and Loads of Fun stamp sets, this is a perfect card for that guy in your life that has lots of toys.
Here's what you will need to make the card:

• Early Espresso, Baja Breeze & Very Vanilla cardstock
• Early Espresso ink
• Watercolor pencils, crayons or chalks for coloring
• Sponge for aging edges
• Simpy Scored - I LOVE this new tool!  (Introduced in the current Holiday Mini Catalog)

One hint if you make this card, crinkle the Baja Breeze cardstock into a ball in your hands to "age" it well.  Then run it through the Big Shot to flatten it out well.  Otherwise it will end up being a bit shorter than the other pieces.  Also, when assembling the card.  Attach the Baja Breeze and Very Vanilla to the Early Espresso on the left side only at first.  Use a very strong adhesive.  Fold your card several times and use your bone folder to press the fold well.  Then adhere the center sections and repeat the process of folding and pressing before attaching the right side.

Ahoy Matey!!! Using Stampin' Up! Punches

The hostess at a recent workshop challenged me to come up with a card using Stampin' Up!'s punches in a way other than what they were designed for.  I CASE'd this card from a gal on SCS.  I thought it was a cute card for a little boy's birthday or even a great card to welcome a new little baby boy.  So sweet!

Colors used are:  Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight, Night of Navy, Baja Breeze, Real Red and Whisper White.  I used one of the Texturz Plates on the water and the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder on the sail and the background. 

Missing in Action?????

Yes, I have been MIA!  I even planned a few posts to automatically post when I got back from Montana to drop Cassidy off at college but the best plans never seem to work out the way you plan them, do they?  As soon as we got home, we jumped right into fixing up a rental for occupancy on top of all the things that piled up after being gone for two weeks.  What suffered?  My blog, of course....
But I am back and committed!  I just hosted a brayer class and have a Stamp-A-Stack and my annual Christmas Card class coming up in October so you will be seeing lots of new ideas over the next few weeks.
Here's a great picture of my daughter's dorm in Montana.  I need not have worried about her getting to know people before we left!  Her birthday was exactly a week after she moved into the dorm and she was already friends with some great kids that decided to grab her dorm keys and decorate her dorm room with signs, streamers and balloons on her 18th birthday! 

Why was Mom worried?  She is having a ball - including having her dorm room to herself for now since her roommate never showed up!

Swap Card from Convention....

I just love the color combination that Tammy Nowatzki chose for this card.  Wisteria Wonder, Cherry Cobbler and Lucky Limeade - they really pack a punch together.  The stamp set is Flower Fest.

Convention Swap Card....

This card was made by Lea Christensen.  What a simple, yet very beautiful card!  She used the Elegant Lines embossing folder and the Posy Punch hostess set.  Her color choices were Whisper White, Concord Crush and Wisteria Wonder.

Swap Card from Convention....

Here is a great card made by Gary Jensen, one of the few men at Stampin' Up!'s convention and a fellow early riser to get to the front of the line for general session.  I always like swapping with Gary because he does wonderful work and gives me great ideas for more masculine cards.  I love the effect he made using Whisper White craft ink on the Not Quite Navy cardstock for the lighthouse light.  I just might end up with this set after all!

Technique Tuesday - Scored Flowers....

It is Tuesday and that means another technique for you!  Today, I am going to show you a project using our new Simply Scored.  I am excited that I can finally show you this great product!  It has some great features that you won't see on that other scoring tool.  So let me know you the Simply Scored and some of its' great features and then we will begin!

 Introducing the SIMPLY SCORED!  Stampin' Up! announced this product at convention to a rousing ovation.  Shelli explained that the delay in getting this product out is that they wanted to make sure that they put out a QUALITY product and were not happy with the first few prototypes.  If you look at the picture closely, you can get an idea of the reinforcement on the back.  This means that it will not bow so your score lines will be uniform no matter how long they are.  The SIMPLY SCORED is configured for paper up to 12" in length AND width.

 At the top is a ruler in 1/8" increments which are also what the score lines are in.  There are removable markers so you can mark the exact score lines you need when working on a project.  Three markers come with the SIMPLY SCORED but you can order more.

 There is an ergonomic steel stylus which snaps in at the bottom of the SIMPLY SCORED.  No worrying about where your scoring tool is!

 There is a storage tray at the top of the SIMPLY SCORED that can hold a bone folder AND a piece of chocolate - two necessities when cardmaking!  You can also store your markers here.

 Now, that you are in love with the SIMPLY SCORED, let's create something!  Here's what you will need:

• A SIMPLY SCORED!!!!  (It even retails for less than that other one!)
• Cardstock and/or Designer Series Paper  (I used Pool Party & Spice Cake)
• Scrap paper - for punching a 1 3/8" circle (not seen so it doesn't matter what color)
• Glue Gun
• 2-way Glue Pen (optional)
• Glitter (optional)

 Cut your strip of paper for your flower.  For the Pool Party cardstock, I cut a piece 1 1/2"x11".  For the Designer Paper, I cut it at 1"x12".

 Punch a circle out of your scrap paper for each flower.  I made the second circle smaller since I was making a second smaller flower.

 Place your strip down against the top left corner of the SIMPLY SCORED and score at 1/2" increments.

 Flip the paper strip over and score at the 1/4" and 3/4" marks.

 As you can see, you have created alternating peaks and valleys on your cardstock strip.

 Fold your piece back and forth along the score lines.  I find it works best if I keep it flat on a surface as I am folding them.

 Put some glue on either side of one end's peak and place the other side's peak on top of it.  Hold it together until dry and secure.

 If you choose to glitter the edge, use a 2-way glue pen and run a line of glue along the edge of the flower and place in glitter.  Brush off excess.

 Stand the piece upright and press the center inward until it lays flat and you have your flower.  If you do this a few times, it makes it easier when you are ready with the hot glue.

Take your scrap circle and cover with hot glue.

 Place flower around the outside of the circle and press the flower in against the hot glue and hold until cool.

 As you can see on the backside, the circle does not need to be exactly in the middle.

Here's the card I made using the two flowers.  Want to try another variation of this technique?  Use a border punch along one edge of the cardstock strip before putting it together for a different look.

Card Swap At Convention....

This card was made by Mary Ellen Byler who presented this year at convention.  She is a twenty-something Amish gal who is tremendously successful as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator.  She also has a great sense of humor!  I have heard that she travels to the library to place orders and get online to Stampin' Up! since they have no electricity in their home.  Truly an amazing gal!
Her card is made using the Field Flowers and Perfectly Penned stamp sets on Wisteria Wonder and Very Vanilla cardstock.  She used Concord Crush, Wisteria Wonder and Pear Pizzazz inks.

Swap from Convention from One of My Roommates...

This card was made by one of my roommates, Amy Johnson-Fiskness.  My other roommate was Amy Fink so I jokingly referred to them as "Amy Squared" and the nickname stuck!  Other people started referring to them that way as well.  I hope they don't mind.  Amy Johnson-Fiskness is Amy Fink's downline and Amy Fink took over Amy Johnson-Fiskness' position at their other jobs after she left.  Sounds to me like they are pretty connected!
Amy used Basic Gray and Whisper White cardstock and Night of Navy and white craft inks.  The stamp set used is Just Believe.

Swap Cards from Convention....

While I am in Bozeman, Montana with Cassidy, I didn't want you missing out on your daily card fix so I thought I would do some posts of cards that I received as swaps at Convention.  Over the next week, I will be posting cards from other demonstrators - making sure to give them credit for their creativity!
Today's card was made by Chat Wszelaki using the Delicate Doilies and Word Play stamp sets.  I love her color choices of Concord Crush, Wisteria Wonder, Blushing Bride and Whisper White.