Christmas In July Blog Hop

Thank you for visiting today, I thought it would be fun to participate in a Blog Hop!  It is the first time I have done one, so please be kind.

The theme for this Blog Hop is Christmas In July featuring the new Carols of Christmas stamp set that will be available for customers to order next week, August 1, 2017.  One of the many benefits of being a demonstrator is that I was able to pre-order a stamp set and the awesome Card Front Builder Thinlit Dies that coordinate with it.  My project to share with you today is actually a quick, sweet and simple Christmas gift tag!  

I had a lot of fun playing with these products and I am secretly in love with the tree and deer dies!  The little deer is small, but guess what?  The new mini dimensionals fit right behind it to give it a little lift.  I also had fun playing with some different ribbon choices.  Have you tried the new 1/4" Copper Trim?  It is amazing!  Here is a close up for you:

It is a little stretchy, net type trim that is very versatile!  And paired with some Copper Embossing Powder it is really stunning.  

I hope you have enjoyed seeing all the fantastic projects the many talented demonstrators in this Blog Hop have shared!

Embossing Paste Class

Did you see the new Embossing Paste in the Annual Catalog?  It can be found on page 201 along with the Palette Knives and Pattern Party Decorative Masks.  The paste creates an awesome texture on your projects.   Check out page 176 to see step by step instructions on how easy it is to use.

The class I held was a success, although I did find that it was best to keep it small.  Everyone that attended received their own jar of Embossing Paste, a set of Palette Knives, a set of the Pattern Party Decorative Masks and a Silicone Craft Sheet.  Everything to create these 4 projects!  

This Embossing Paste is so much fun to work with and very versatile!   It can be left white, colored with Classic reinkers, sprinkled with Dazzling Diamonds Stampin' Glitter and we even sprinkled it with Embossing Powder and then heat embossed it!

Currently the Embossing Paste is on back order until the middle of August and once it is available I will offer this class again.  

If you are interested in attending this class, please contact me and I will add you to the list.  I may offer it a couple different times to keep class sizes small and to accommodate schedules.  I do hope you will try this exciting new product!

Don’t toss those scraps!

Don’t toss those scraps!

Wonder what to do with all those scraps of card stock and designer series papers?  Toss them or save them, that is the question!  Here are a few tips on how to use them to make the most of your scraps.

Punches like the Classic Label Punch (141491) and the Decorative Ribbon Border(143721) don’t need more than a ½” strip.  Remember to stamp your sentiment first and then punch it out with the Classic Label Punch.

Need a little ‘something-something’ on the inside of your card or on an edge?  Just look through your scraps to find a coordinating strip to dress it up.  Stamp a design or tear it for some extra texture.

Sometimes scraps are odd sized or a bit larger, use those for punch layers behind a stamped sentiment or focal piece. 

Love our framelits and thinlets?  Many sets have tiny pieces or trim that can be cut with small scraps.

Like to keep your supplies organized?  Here’s an idea to easily identify your ink refill bottles.  Punch each color with the small berry circle from the Holly Berry Builder Punch(141843) and use a Mini Glue Dot (103683)to attach it to the top of ink refill bottle to find what you need quickly.

Another idea is to use scraps as spacers.  Our Stampin’ Trimmer (126889) makes it a snap to cut 1/8” thin strips that can be used to insure you get pieces lined up with equal borders. 

So next time you are about to toss a scrap, think about the many ways it could be used!

Merry Mice

Here is the 4th project from my November classes:

This little mouse is so cute!  It is from the Merry Mice Stamp Set.  I almost didn't purchase the set but when it was on sale last month how could I resist?  This was another idea I found on Pinterest by a demonstrator named Lynn Starzl.

To begin, we used the Thick Whisper White card stock for our base cut at 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" and scored at 4 1/4". That pretty Designer Series Paper is from the Warmth & Cheer 6"x6" paper stack.  I love these stacks because you get a nice variety of  4 each of 12 double-sided designs, that is 48 sheets!   The Designer Series Paper piece is cut at 4 1/4" x 3".  Next we have a layer of Whisper White card stock that is 3 1/2" x 4 3/4".  We stamped the sentiment on the lower part of this piece in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink.  This layer was popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals.  The next layer is a piece of Cherry Cobbler card stock that was cut using one of the scalloped  Layering Ovals Framelits.  This set is really nice as it has regular ovals and scalloped ovals!  Then we stamped the mouse with the Tuxedo Black Memento Ink onto a piece of Whisper White card stock and cut out with the new Stitched Shapes Framelit.  (These will be available for purchasing again in mid January.)  We then colored parts of the image with several Stampin' Write Markers; Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Crumb Cake and Pink Pirouette.  The focal image was then glued to the scalloped oval and the whole piece was popped up with more Stampin' Dimensionals!

If you wonder about the monthly classes I offer, please check out my calendar on my Stampin' Up! web page.  I usually have a class on the third Saturday of the month (except for December - no classes scheduled) in Lakeside at the R&R Pizza Express in front of the theater.

Happy Ornament

Another project from my November classes is this card.  For some reason every time I see it I think it belongs in Whoville!  Maybe it is the ribbon or the hook or the font, but I really liked this whimsical image.

We started with a card base of 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", scored at 4 1/4" of the Thick Whisper White card stock.  This gives our card a nice sturdy base.  Next we added a neutral layer of Crumb Cake card stock of 5 1/4" x 4".  The focal layer is stamped with the single Happy Ornament stamp, this stamp is only available as a wood mount stamp.  We used Basic Black Archival Ink to stamp it onto a 3 3/4" x 5" piece of Shimmery White card stock.  Because we used the Aqua Painter to watercolor, the Shimmery White card stock is heavier than the Whisper White and hold up extremely well to water coloring plus it also has a bit of shimmer built right into it!  This design would be fabulous in any color, we used Peekaboo Peach for the ornament itself and Real Red for the bow.  I created a pallet for water coloring by putting a few drops of the re-inkers onto a plastic lid, this makes it easy to pick up the colors with your aqua painter and it is very easy clean up, too!  The barrel of the Aqua Painter contains water that can be blended into the ink to create more color variations.  For the ornament top we first colored it with Delightful Dijon and then for a little extra bling we colored over it with the Gold Wink of Stella Glitter Brush to complete our card.

One of the best places I like to find ideas is Pinterest!   This project was CASE'd (Copy And Share Everything) from Katrina Duffell, a demonstrator all the way in Australia!  Isn't the internet wonderful?!

Would you like to create this project?  This stamp is available to purchase until January 3, 2017 along with all the supplies in my online store.

Noel

Another fairly simple card from the November classes was this lovely one:

We started with a 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" piece of Thick Whisper White card stock, scored at 4 1/4".  I really like the thick card stock for the base!  The next layer is a 4" x 5 1/4" Pool Party card stock.  The Whisper White focal piece was stamped using snowflakes from the Stitched with Cheer stamp set using Pool Party, Island Indigo and Pear Pizzazz ink. The Noel was also stamped using Island Indigo ink and it came from the Christmas Pines stamp set.  Using the Fine Tip Glue Pen we outlined the largest snowflake and sprinkled on some Dazzling Diamonds Stampin' Glitter for a bit of bling!  The addition of a bit of the Silver 1/8" Ribbon finished the card. This project was CASE'd (Copy And Share Everything) from demonstrator Ronda Wade. I just fell in love with the soft colors and simplicity.

There are so many great products in the 2016 Holiday Catalog, go ahead and look for yourself!  Remember, you can order from this catalog until January 3, 2017.

Welcome to my blog!

Hello and thank you for visiting my new space!  Here you will find some tasteful cards and paper crafts, many are featured at my local classes and workshops.   I am an Independent Demonstrator for the fabulous Stampin' Up! company.  I love teaching classes and making cards.  If you believe as I do that everyone deserves a handmade card, let me show you how easy it is to make one!  

Some of the most favorite projects are often those that are quick and easy, like this one:

This card uses Cherry Cobbler 4 1/4" x 11" card stock for it's base, the 3 - 2" strips of Designer Series Paper are from the Presents & Pinecones  12"x12" pack, they were finished with the Triple Banner Punch.  The beautiful Emerald Envy Silky Taffeta Ribbon is part of a combo pack of the 3/8" ribbon (that also contains a roll of Cherry Cobbler), and the Whisper White card stock was cut using the Tags & Labels Framelits after being stamped in Cherry Cobbler ink with a sentiment from the Tin of Tags Stamp Set.

This project was inspired by the very talented Julie Davison.  What a great way to use pieces of our beautiful Designer Series Papers!  The stamp set, tools and all the materials to create this lovely card can be purchased through my Stampin' Up! Online store.  

I hope you have enjoyed this quick and easy project!  It was one of the cards featured at my local classes in Show Low and Lakeside, Arizona for November, 2016.  Come back soon and see more projects from the November classes and more!

Happy stampin'!