Stampin' Up!'s By the Tide...

 I am a total sucker for anything to do with the ocean and this stamp set is no different!  As soon as I saw it, it was first on my list of things to order from the spring catalog.  I am hoping that they also put this stamp set out as an MDS download because I have a great idea for a log for my husband's boat.  He keeps track of where he puts his crab pots and I thought a journal for him would be an awesome Valentine's Day gift.  Now to just hope they release it before then!  Don't worry, I know he doesn't read my blog! 

Here's what you will need to duplicate this card:
Stamps:       By the Tide, Bring on the Cake
Inks:            Calypso Coral, Island Indigo, Pool Party, Soft Suede
Paper:         Calypso Coral, Island Indigo, Pool Party, Very Vanilla, Sycamore
                       Street Designer Series Paper (SAB)
Other:         Natural 7/16" Trim Ribbon, Crystal Effects, Happy Whale Clearlit
                       Die, Large Scallop Edgelit, Perfect Polka Dot Embossing Folder

Forever Stampin',

    Cathy Williams

Stampin' Up!'s Feeling Sentimental...

 Here's the other Sale-A-Bration swap card I made using the Feeling Sentimental stamp set.  I think this is such a cool set and great for more masculine cards.  I also love the monochromatic theme.

It is hard to see but the Basic Black strip behind the carousel is embossed with the Very Vintage wheel and clear embossing powder.  Yes, the pattern is sideways but you don't notice that.

Here's what you will need to duplicate this card:
Stamps:       Feeling Sentimental, Bring on the Cake, Very Vintage wheel
Inks:            Early Espresso, Soft Suede & Versamark
Paper:         Early Espresso, Basic Black, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake,  Very
                      Vanilla & Early Espresso Core'dinations Paper
Other:        Natural 7/16" Trim Ribbon, Stripes embossing folder, Square
                       Lattice embossing folder, Neutrals Brads, Clear embossing
                       powder

Forever Stampin',

    Cathy Williams

Stampin' Up!'s Amazing Family...

 One of the stamp sets I was assigned for Deb's swap was the set Amazing Family.  I thought it would make a great Valentine's Day card for my Mom.  Oops!  Guess the surprise is out of the bag if Mom is reading my blog.

Here's what you will need to duplicate this card:
Stamps:       Amazing Family, Wonderful Mother, Make a Cake (heart) &
                       Amazing Accent wheel
Inks:            Real Red & Primrose Petals
Paper:         Very Vanilla, Primrose Petals, Real Red & More Amore Designer
                       Series Paper
Other:         Designer Builder Brads, 5/8" Crochet Trim, Frost White Shimmer
                      Paint

Forever Stampin',

    Cathy Williams

Stampin' Up!'s Sale-A-Bration is here!

 Here's a card I made for Deb Townsend's Spring WOW swap using items from the Sale-A-Bration catalog.  Can you see all of the items that you can get for FREE?

Here's what you will need to duplicate this card:
Stamps:       Madison Avenue (SAB), Teeny Tiny Wishes & Bring on the Cake
Inks:            Island Indigo, Summer Starfruit, Rich Razzleberry
Paper:         Island Indigo, Tangerine Tango, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White,
                    Sycamore Street Designer Series Paper (SAB)
Other:        Sycamore Street ribbon (SAB), Vine Street embossing folder (SAB),
                    Jumbo Rhinestones, Curcly Label, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border
                    & 1 1/4" Scallop Circle Punches

Forever Stampin',

    Cathy Williams

Gift Card Holders, Part Four.....

 Here's our final gift card holder that we made at the class.  A huge "thank you" to the women who came up with these gift card holders which I found via Pinterest and Splitcoaststampers.  I am not clever enough to come up with them myself but I am great at CASEing!!!

To make this gift card holder, you need to start out with a piece of cardstock that is 4" x 11" piece of cardstock.  You will need to score it at 4", 5 1/2" & 7".  Fold it in half and then fold along the other two score lines so you have a small tab inside the 4"x4" card.   Where the two folds meet on the bottom, you will want to put a single strip of Sticky Strip to hold it together.  Then take a gift card and mark the two sides of the tab.  Use the Word Window punch to create an opening in the tab to insert the gift card into.  Then stamp the inside piece and place a ribbon vertically on the patterned paper that will go on the front.

For the lid, take a 4 1/4" x 4" strip of cardstock.  Score and fold it in half so you have a 2" x 4 1/4" top.  The bow is made using the Lattice Die and was attached to the front with a glitter brad at the very top of the lid.  A ribbon was then wrapped around the patterned paper and was attached to hide the rest of the Lattice pieces.  A tag was wrapped around the brad using the baker's twine.

Here's what you will need to duplicate this card:
Stamps:       Tags Til Christmas & Ornament Keepsakes
Inks:            Cherry Cobbler, Gumball Green & Basic Black (inks & markers)
Paper:         Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Gumball Green and Be of Good Cheer
                    Designer Series Paper
Other:        Lattice Die, Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding, Cherry Cobbler Baker's
                   Twine, 1 1/4" Scallop Circle Punch, 1" Circle Punch, Glitter Brad

Forever Stampin',

    Cathy Williams

GIft Card Holders, Part Three.....

 Here's a fast & easy one to make.  It is a bit small for a gift card but would be perfect for a folded up bill - a $50 in my stocking would be awesome!!!  Yeah, right.... like that will happen!

Here's what the card looks like when the card is put in the present.  Just pull on the little tag and out it comes!  To make the present, you just need a 4"x8" piece of patterned paper, fold it in half and secure it along both sides.  You want the adhesive just along the outside edge so you have as much room as possible on the inside.  Take a 1 3/8" Circle Punch and punch out a half circle at the top.  Take an 8" strip of ribbon and wrap it around the present horizontally in the middle with the ends meeting in the middle front.   Then take another 8" piece of ribbon and wrap vertically and tuck in the front and back.  This covers up where your horizontal pieces meet.  Now just add a bow.

For the card itself, I used a Scallop Circle die which is retired but you could use the 3 1/2" Circle die and then use the 3" Circle die for the front layer.  You will need to cut the small strip of patterned paper with the 3" Circle die as well before attaching it.  Make sure to attach as close to the outside edge as possible.  The Multipurpose Glue works great for this.

Here's what you will need to duplicate this card:
Stamps:       Mixed Medley (Holiday Catalog Hostess) & More Merry Messages
Inks:            Gumball Green & Cherry Cobbler
Paper:         Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Gumball Green & Be of Good Cheer
                     Designer Series Paper
Other:         Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine, Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding, Circle
                     Dies, 1 1/4" Scallop Circle Punch, 1" Circle Punch, Oval Punch, Scallop
                     Oval Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch

Forever Stampin',

    Cathy Williams

Gift Card Holders, Part Two.....

 Here's the second of four gift card holders we made.  I used the Greetings of the Season stamp set again - boy, am I glad they carried that one over!!!  Below is the inside of the card.

Here's a few recommendations if you want to make this gift card holder.  The card itself is a piece of 4 1/4" x 11" piece of cardstock folded in half.  I then ran it through the Big Shot using the Top Note Die but dropped it down a little so the fold wouldn't be cut completely off.  If you don't like the little openings, you could drop it down even further.  The front of the card is another piece of cardstock cut out with the Top Note Die but I stamped the branches and placed the Cherry Cobbler punched border paper and the patterned paper before I ran it through so they would be cut along with the cardstock.  I used the Pinking Hearts Border Punch which is retired but you could use the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch instead.

For the inside, I ran a small piece of the patterned paper through the Top Note separately after adding the Cherry Cobbler punched border strip.  I then used Multipurpose Glue along the outside edges and attached it to the card leaving a pocket.

Finally, I stamped the "Merry Christmas", the branch and poinsettia inside (using a post-it note mask) and stamped another poinsettia and cut that one out.

Here's what you will need to duplicate this card:
Stamps:     Greetings of the Season, Watercolor Winter & Bring on the Cake ("a gift for you") 
Inks:          Garden Green & Cherry Cobbler
Paper:       Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler & Be of Good Cheer Designer Series Paper
Other:       Top Note Die, a border punch, Pearls

Forever Stampin',

    Cathy Williams

Gift Card Holders - Part One....

 In December, I held a Gift Card Holders class since we are all in need of them.  Here's the first one we made.  I saw this gift card holder on Diana Gibbs' blog and thought it was so cool.  It is very easy to make as well.  Below are some basic instructions.  This card could be done with any patterned paper so it could be used for any occasion where you need a gift card holder.

Here's the inside of the card.  To make the card, take a sheet of cardstock and cut it in half so it measures 4 1/4" x 11".  Then, using the Simply Scored, score from the top right corner down to the bottom left corner.  Fold along the score line.  Line up the corners and fold in half to get the center fold.  In the picture, you can see the fold on the inside right of the card.  I put a small piece of Sticky Strip in the corner so your gift card won't fall out.  On the front of the card, you will need to put Sticky Strip along the fold opening so your card stays together.

For the patterned paper, I recommend that you find a pattern that you like both sides and cut it down to a 4 1/4"x11" piece.  Then cut it diagonally from the top right down to the bottom left just like you did the score line on your card.  Then slowly cut it down into the shapes you need.

The card will fit in a standard A2 envelope but you do have to put it in correctly.  The first time I tried, it was about a 1/4" longer than the envelope and I panicked!  Then if you just turn it about 45 degrees, it fits in just fine.

Here's what you will need to duplicate this card:
Stamps:       Greetings of the Season & Every Little Bit (snowflake on front)
Inks:            Versamark & Cherry Cobbler
Paper:         Gumball Green, Very Vanilla, Be of Good Cheer Designer Series
                     Paper & Champagne and Red Glitter Paper
Other:         Gold Embossing Powder, Snow Flurry Die & Labels Collection
                    Framelits, Jumbo Rhinestones

Forever Stampin',

    Cathy Williams

Stampin' Up!'s You're Amazing....

 Here's a card we made using the You're Amazing stamp set and the Affection Collection stamp set.  We received these two stamp sets last July at convention and I just had not pulled them out so I thought I better use them just in case they retire in six months!  This card was inspired by a card I saw on Splitcoaststampers.

Here's the inside of the card.  The birthday phrase is from the retired set "Happiest Birthday Wishes" - I loved that set and still use it.  You could use Bring On The Cake which has a bunch of great birthday phrases.

Here's what you will need to duplicate this card:

Stamps:      You're Amazing, Affection Collection and Happiest Birthday Wishes
Inks:           Gumball Green, Tempting Turquoise, Primrose Petals, Early Espresso, & Summer Starfruit
Paper:        Gumball Green, Whisper White & Tempting Turquoise
Other:        Primrose Petals Stitched Satin Ribbon

Forever Stampin',

    Cathy Williams

Stampin' Up!'s Greetings of the Season....

I know it is past Christmas but I need to catch you up on what I have been making so you will be seeing some Christmas cards over the next few days.  Just bookmark the posts for next year if you want CASE anything.
This card was made at my friend Carmaine's house.  At Christmas in 2011, she gave me the poinsettia die so I though we ought to make a card with it.  Hopefully, Stampin' Up! will have one next year!

Here's the inside of the card.  If you like this card but do not have a poinsettia die, the poinsettia from the Watercolor Winter stamp set would be beautiful on this card.

Here's what you will need:

Stamps:       Greetings of the Season, More Merry Messages & Watercolor Winter
Inks:            Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso
Paper:          Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Garden Green and Riding Hood Red
Other:          Finishing Touches Edgelits, Holiday Frame Embossing Folder,
                    Pearls, Dazzling Diamonds

Forever Stampin',

    Cathy Williams

Stampin' Up!'s Embellished Events....

 Here is a card that we made back in December at a workshop that uses the Embellished Events stamp set.  It is a quick and easy card for welcoming a new baby.

Here's the inside of the card.  I used to not finish the inside of all of my cards but recently got it in the habit and I think it makes such a difference!

What do you need to replicate this card, you ask?  Here ya go:

Stamps:      Embellished Events, Circle Circus & Friendly Phrases
Papers:       Whisper White, Pool Party, Gumball Green & Pool Party Patterned
                   Paper
Inks:           Gumball Green, Summer Starfruit & Pool Party
Markers:     Summer Starfruit, Early Espresso, Gumball Green & Pumpkin Pie
Other:         Perfect Polka Dot Embossing Folder, Scallop Squares Duo Die,
                   Summer Starfruit Stitched Satin Ribbon, In Color Dahlias,
                   Apothecary Accents Framelits

Forever Stampin',

    Cathy Williams

Happy New Year!!!

Wow, did the holiday season get away from me!  What a month we had in December - both the good and the bad.  A loss, an illness, an adoption and the holidays themselves and their accompanying commitments meant I didn't get a chance to blog at all!  It's a new year and I am back to blogging.

REST IN PEACE JAKE

 

On December 6, we lost our sweet Jake to Valley Fever, a fungal infection that he got in all of his organs.  He was only 6 years old.  We only had him for 14 months but he was just the best dog ever!  Thanks to American Brittany Rescue for rescuing Jake and allowing us to adopt him.  We hit the "Jake-pot" with him and miss him terribly.

WELCOME RYLEE!

 



If you know  me, you knew I couldn't be without a fur baby for very long!  On December 28, we adopted Rylee through American Brittany Rescue.  This little love bug came all the way from Salt Lake City, Utah!  If it had been in July, I would have just picked her up while being there for Stampin' Up! convention but I certainly couldn't wait that long.  She was put on a transport to Reno and then another volunteer took her to Truckee where we picked her up.  Isn't she a doll?

Another reason I am glad to have my fur baby is that Cassidy (yeah, that's her in the picture with Rylee) headed back up to Bozeman, Montana, for college so she only got to play with Rylee for a week.

Just wanted to bring you up to date on the goings on at my place.  Back to cards tomorrow!

Forever Stampin',

    Cathy Williams