Come Emboss With Me

This month I offered a card class where we used different types of embossing on our cards.  On this card, we used black embossing with the Summer Silhouettes stamp set.  It's hard to see on the card, but the black images are raised and glossy.  So pretty!

 I used the painter's tape technique designed by my friend, Deb Valder for the background.  Rub a piece of painters tape along your stamp pad being careful not to catch in the edge of the tape and just press it onto your card!  I saw the same card on Vicki Burdick's blog and she had used these pretty summer colors (including Baked Brown Sugar and Strawberry Slush from the In Colors).  I like this card so much that I would like to try it in different color schemes.  It was fun and easy to make.  Try the painters tape technique today (just be careful that you don't ink on your hands!)

On this card, we embossed the background in a soft gray powder using a Versa Mark pad to stamp the image.  We also embossed the saying with black powder to make it stand out.  The stamp set is Creative Elements.  I got the idea from Jennifer Timko.

For this card, we stamped on vellum and embossed the card with white powders.  Then on the back, we sponged the color and used the Secret Garden framelits to cut out the images.  The idea for this card is from Lee Ann Greff. 

After each stamping class, I always ask the ladies which card or project that they liked the best.  Which one do you vote for?

Some Summer Fun

I just hate to see summer come to an end.  Here in upstate New York, we really only get about 2 months of warm weather.  No sooner does summer start and it's already over!

This week I wanted to make some cards and projects that honored the warm days of summer.  This card is made with an older stamp set called Crab and Company.  I just love going to the ocean.  This little crab and his sidekicks are so cute!  I copied the idea for this card from Christy Charles.  I had so much fun just making it!

I tried to think of other things that remind me of summer.  We all scream for Ice Cream!  Actually I am more fond of the new frozen yogurt places, but I did have ice cream a couple of times this summer.  I made this card using the pennant die and a cupcake sizzlet die.  I used the hounds tooth embossing folder to make the triangle look like a cone!

Watermelons, of course!  (Do you see the food trend here?)  I have already posted this card, but I thought that it really fit into the summer theme.  The card idea was copied from Debbie Henderson.

This bright cheery card made me think of the sunshine!  I copied the idea from a demonstrator on Stampin Up, Vicki Hayes.

And, last, but not least I made some wine glass charms!  They're made with an old summer set that has a lot of fun stamps in it.  I stamped onto shrink plastic with Staz On ink and colored in the images with colored pencils.  Then I punched out a hole in the plastic and shrunk them with a heat tool.  I used a clear block to flatten them after they had shrunk. 

I added a jump ring to the charm and put them on a set of wire earring along with some seed beads.  They came out SO cute.  I am definitely going to make some more of these charms!

What stamp set do you have that would make cute wine glass charms? 

Using Washi Tape

I just love the new washi tape from Stampin Up.  At first I didn't know how I would use it in my crafting projects, but after a few minutes of being on Pinterest and seeing all of the ideas, that problem was solved!

This card is a shaker card, meaning it is three-dimensional and has a window with some glitter in it that you can shake.  I copied the idea from by Linda Gutierrez.  She had a couple of sweet cards made with the washi tape.

In my stamp camp we also made an assortment of Chip Clips made from clothes pins and a cute little container filled with candy with the washi tape.  I used the Gingham Garden designer paper for these projects.  They were a lot of fun to make!

 I watched a video that a demonstrator from Stampin Up had made with these projects.  They were designed by Diane Dimich.

I am definitely going to make more projects with washi tape!  Try it, it's so easy!  What have you made with it?

A Safe Place To Keep Your Pearls

For my Ten Year Stamping Celebration, we made a cute keeper out of the plastic clear stamping cases (did you know that you can buy them separately?)  to store your pearl and rhinestone sheets.  Having one of these makes your embellishments easy to find and easy to transport. 

I got a little carried away with the In Color embellishments on mine, but just loved the colors.  I used the Typeset Alphabet dies to cut out my initials. Each girl made their personalized case from different In Color sheets and cut out their own initials or name so that we can tell all of the supplies apart!

Then I just added butterflies and flowers to embellish.  I used the small circle that comes out of the hole punch for the centers of the flowers and for the butterflies.  If you use a raised item such as pearls, it will eventually make a hole in your plastic covering so only use flat items to embellish.

What other items can you think of to store in your keeper?

Pretty Pear Pizazz Projects

I have to admit, I have a hard keeping track of what colors are still current in the Stampin Up catalog!  They change them so often and bring colors in and out all the time.

One of my favorite colors is Pear Pizazz.  I'm glad that it found its way back into the current color collection.  I made this card using Summer Silhouettes stamp set and the the Petite Purse die cut.  I used rhinestone on the leaf image to make it sparkle just a bit.  It just added the right touch.  The designer papers are from the Gingham Garden collection.  I copied the card idea from Vicki Burdick.   

To make the little purse favor (we put some Hershey's kisses in there) I cut out the purse in the Pear, then ran it through the Big Shot using the Fancy Fan folder.  The whole piece doesn't exactly fit in the folder, but don't worry about that.  Just emboss most of the cut out.

I used the new Strawberry Slush ribbon and because it is gathered, it fits nicely around the top edge of the purse.  Then I used two pieces of designer paper to cut out the "top" part of the purse.  I glued one to the top edge and one to the underside to cover up the edges of the ribbon.  I glued a strip of matching ribbon to the paper handle to make it a little fancier.  Then I adorned the purse with a butterfly cut out and some rhinestone jewels. 

Loving the New In Colors

I told you that I am loving the new In Colors from Stampin' Up!  This card is made using the Papillon Potpourri (say that 10 times fast!) and the two new coordinating butterfly punches.  I copied the idea from Nancy Amato.

This is one of the cards that we made to commemorate the new catalog that came out this summer.  I usually cut out the pieces for each card or project for the ladies that come over to stamp.  With what they are given, there is always the freedom to make the project in their own way. 

Some ladies (and you know who you are!) are very creative and alter the projects just enough to make them their own.  I love to see their creativity at work! 

Here is another sample of how one of the girls had altered this card.

Cute layout, right?  How would you change up this card to make it "your own?"

One of My Favorite Old Sets

When I was going through my stash of older samples for the Ten Year Celebration (a stamping class that I had to celebrate my 10 years with Stampin' Up), I spent a lot of time reminiscing.  I had asked the ladies who come to my classes to bring an old set or project that they had loved. 

I took out this stamp set, A Quiet Life from about 2006 and updated it with the new papers and colors.  I love the vintage feel to it.  This has always been one of my favorite older sets.  The designer paper is from the Venetian Romance collection and the card stock colors are the new In Colors.  

What is one of your favorite older sets?

Celebrating Ten Years!

This month I am celebrating ten years with Stampin' Up!  It has been a great creative outlet for me and I've met so many new people that have become my friends.  Thank you all for sticking with me for ten years!  It's been so much fun.

This adorable watermelon card was copied from Debbie Henderson.  I thought it was an iconic card to make for summer.  I used the new Strawberry Slush color to make the card's colors just pop.  The card is made from the circles embosslets, using different sizes to shape the watermelon slice.  I made the seeds from a leaf die and cut off the leaves to look like the seeds!  The "bite" is a little scallop punch.  I found out (the hard way!) that you have to punch each bite out separately and then assemble the card as you go.  A word to the wise if you want to make this card.

I'll have to admit, I'm not much for buying the In Colors from Stampin Up.  By the time I get around to using them, they are already discontinued.  But now they are staying around for two years.  So I'm more apt to use them now!

I just happen to really love the new In Colors for this year.  I love how they work together and the pretty new shades.  This card features the new colors and a new flower punch.  The paper is from the Gingham Garden collection.  I saw a card made by Amy O'Neill and used her idea and changed the colors for this card.  It's one of my favorites.

A note for this Flower Shop stamp set: Once you've assembled the stamps, stamp each image on a piece of paper.  Line it up with the punch and then mark the lower corner with a Sharpie marker (either on the outside of the wooden stamps or on the top side of the clear stamps) so that each time you will know where to put the lower corner of the stamped image in order to line up it up with the punch.  The petals are not symmetrical and it can easily get frustrating to line up the punch with the flower if you don't do this. 

On Vacation!

Last week my family rented a cabin on the beautiful Lake George in the Adirondacks in upstate New York.  The weather was perfect while we were there.  It was just so peaceful and relaxing!

Here's my view of the lake while sunbathing!  When the week was over, I didn't really want to leave.

And yes, that is my sewing machine that I brought with me!  What good is a vacation if you can't sew or work on your projects?  (I can't tell you what I'm making here- it's a surprise!)

Making a Kitchen Set

I was working on this kitchen set all week.  Last week I had made the 8 placemats.  Then I added 4 potholders/hot pads, 8 napkins, a striped runner and 3 coordinating dish towels.  I picked these colors because I thought they were trendy.  I especially like the quatrefoil pattern on the green fabric.  It looks like one of the new Stampin' Up papers! 

Of course, I made these for a gift!  I love being able to give home-made presents to the people that I love. :)

What colors would you use for your kitchen set?