Spring Inspiration

Being that we were all talking groundhogs and spring a couple days ago, I got the itch to work on some cards with nice, light springtime colors. A Pottery Barn catalog came in the mail and I flipped through it thinking that there'd be all sorts of inspiration inside. I found that I was a little disappointed. The pages reminded me more of fall than spring, but I was determined to find something to use. There was really only one page that seemed remotely spring-like and I ripped it out before sending the rest of the catalog to the recyling bin: I saw Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, and maybe Creamy Caramel in the pillows and went to my cardstock drawers to pull some colors. I was right about the Celery and Bashful Blue, but Creamy Caramel sitting next to them wasn't doing much so I swapped it for Kraft--that was going to be the color for my card base since the couch was the base for the pillows.


I wanted an airy component for this spring card, and I had been wanting to try the "Vitalized Vellum" technique that I had read about. I grabbed my Celery and Bashful ink spots, and then the Apricot one too (to simulate sunshine!!) and added color to my vellum cardstock. I used a dauber to blend the edges of color, being careful not to distort or muddy the colors. Then I used the solid image stamps from the "For All You Do" set (butterfly, medium and small flowers) and proceeded to stamp some of the color OFF the vellum. This gives a shadowy effect that makes a great background that is SO much cheaper than colored vellum found in some stores--and "vitalized vellum comes in any color and pattern you wish!!



This technique worked quite well in my catalog-picture-inspired card:

The vellum piece (once it's dry) gets mounted on a piece of Whisper White so the pattern shows through a bit better. The craft card base pattern is stamped with Versamark, while the focal point is stamped with Certainly Celery. The Thank You is done in Ballet Blue.

Those of you who really know the ribbon section of the Stampin' Up catalog might notice that it seems that I used Bashful Blue 5/8" grosgrain ribbon. Normally that wouldn't be very notable--except that there IS NO such ribbon!! To create the effect of wider ribbon, all I did was use 2 pieces of the Bashful Blue 1/4" grosgrain side-by-side and then cover the center "seam" with a piece of Celery 1/4" grosgrain. Problem solved!! Where there's a will, there's a way!!

February Stamp Camp: Wall Art

Our February calendar has settled in a bit (for us anyway!) and I finally have details for Stamp Camp this month. The theme this time around is "Wall Art: Inspirational Quotes or Name Frames." The dates for the two camps are Friday, February 19th (6:30-10 PM) or Saturday, February 20th (1-4:30 PM). This camp is unlike any I've held recently in that you will be chosing the type of project you want to do. And because the subject and where you decide to display this project are things only you will know, you will also be chosing the colors and details you will incorporate.

Decisions! Decisions!! Will you do a inspirational quote, or will you make a name frame to give as a gift or display yourself? Name frames make wonderful wedding or baby gifts, or are perfect decor for a child's room. No matter which you choose, you'll have fun creating a special one-of-a-kind piece and I'll help with the assembly.

The piece below is an example of an inspirational quote art piece that I have hanging in my home. I chose the frame and colors to coordinate with my decor, and embellished the quote with the "Baroque Motifs" stamp set and pieces from the Pretties kit.


If you choose to do a piece that uses a quote, you will need to decide on the quote, find a frame you like, and paper colors that will work for you. I can help you with those choices if you like.

This next piece is an example of a name frame that I did for a child's room. The printed paper is from the "Tall Tales" Designer Series Paper pack. Embellishments include pieces punched with the Large Star punch and Magnetic Movers & Shapers Big Shot Die. I added a Star Designer brad to the center of the large star.



Cost for this camp is $15 plus the cost of your frame and paper. Included in the camp fee are chipboard for letters and layers, and embellishments (ribbon, brads, cardstock for printing, stamping or letters). Materials (Designer Series Paper, Simply Scrappin' Kits, etc) you order from me qualify for a 25% discount, but must be ordered by February 15 in order to arrive in time for camp.

Registration deadline is Monday, February 15, and is limited to 4 participants in each session. Make sure you get your registration fee to me ASAP to reserve your spot. I can help you with locating a frame that will work for your project--all you need to do is ask.

Kids' Valentine class

Sunday I taught a Kid's Community Education Valentine-making class. I love kid's classes--kids are so carefree when they work! They rarely feel the need to copy samples, or if they do, they don't stress about making theirs EXACTLY like the sample. And they always find such interesting ways to use whatever materials I put out for them. All I had to do Sunday was give them a few tips about using the punches and adhesive products I brought along and then stand back. For the next two hours, the girls created personalized valentines for family members and friends, giggling the whole time!

Included in the fee for the class were materials for 10 cards, 5-3X3 and 5 A2-sized cards with envelopes. (Toward the end of the class they complained that the envelope glue tasted yucky--I showed them how to use an Aquapainter so they could avoid the "yucky." That was a hit!) I had a small display board there with a few very simple samples that I literally put together in about 20 minutes. When I first started as a demo, I held a kid's scrapbooking class that I spent a week preparing for, only to have the kids practically trample my samples as they collected materials for their own ideas. I have to admit I was a little hurt--I thought my ideas were pretty cute, yet no one used any of them. I learned my lesson from that class and don't prep as much for kids as I do for my adults. Here are the quick cards I had on the board Sunday:

It wouldn't be Valentine's Day (at least in my mind!) without paper lace doilies and ribbon!



Re-purposing household items is a fun way to add variety to cards. A few cuts transform a flattened mini-muffin liner into a 3-D flower! When I saw these liners I knew the girls might find fun ways to incorporate them into their card designs and they did. They thought it was really neat when I showed them that I made the leaves for the flower with 2 of the medium-sized hearts from the "Heart to Heart" punch, by just trimming away a portion of each heart.

I gave each girl 2 of the new Real Red "Sending Love" epoxy brads and challenged them to find a way to use both of them before the end of the class. Of course, they easily met my challenge--yet none of them used their brads the way I did here.

I had two retired alphabet sets on the table with all the stamp sets I brought. I knew the girls would enjoy using them on their cards. Alphabets have always been a hit in kid classes. It started to sound like an episode of "Wheel of Fortune" as they called out the letters that they were looking for!!

I took my Big Shot and the scallop circle die with me, just in case anyone wanted to turn one of their cards into a circle. No one took me up on the offer, although one girl made a kangaroo-shaped card!! (The hinge of the card was the edge of the kangaroo's tail.) I told you they get creative!!

My 3 X 3 samples were ultra-quickies. This one was a little window card. . .

This one, using a long-retired set that I purchased before I was a demo, just has a little grosgrain ribbon detail and some red-marker coloring.

All the little hearts that come out of the Pinking Hearts Border punch were a hit, although the girls need a little more strength to operate the punch well. You can't tell from this picture but the red strip of cardstock is adhered to the inside of the card, and the top edge of the red also is punched with the border punch.

It was a great afternoon. It got me in the mood to work on my Valentines! The kid's class on the schedule is in March and is entitled, "Paper Magic." I told the girls I hope to stamp with them again then!

Momentous January Occasion Successful!!

Okay, in keeping with "tradition," let me start by apologizing for my infrequent posts. Just way too much "bon bon eating" going on here!! (Man! Don't I wish!!) Ski racing season, snow, stamping events, snow, a visiting puppy, snow AND cold, a broken van, a broken furnace, and then the pressure of coming up with something memorable to mark a big milestone in our family--my husband's 50th birthday!!

Several of our friends have reached "50" before us, and we've had a hand in hosting or helping with a few of their parties. While they were fun, Mike would mention from time to time that he didn't want a party for his 50th. He didn't even want to hear that word that comes after 49!! But I knew I still had to do something out of the ordinary to mark the day. I tossed around planning a weekend get-away or a shower of gifts but then came up with a way to sort of do a "party in a box."

I contacted friends, family and co-workers and had them send me memories, funny stories and well-wishes for Mike. Then, off to the craft room it was! Armed with my Big Shot and lots of colorful paper, I fashioned 50 little boxes (courtesy of the Big Shot Matchbox die!) and filled each one with a story or memory that had been sent in.



Marty's, a local pizzeria that specializes in huge party pizzas, was kind enough to give me a box that I decorated to hold all the little boxes:


(The message on the front cover: "It's your day, and because you're not 49 anymore, 50 reminders that life is good!")

I had the box waiting for us at the restaurant where we were going for dinner Friday night. I numbered the little boxes because I thought Mike would open a few of the boxes at the restaurant and save the rest for when we got home--the numbers would help keep track of which ones had already been opened. But as it worked out, Mike and the kids went through every single box while we were at dinner! I don't really know how long we were there--I have a feeling it might have been a little longer than the wait staff wanted--all I was concerned with was Mike's reaction to his "gift," and being that he went through all the boxes again the next day, I'd say he was happy with his celebration. We continued the "party" Sunday with a special dinner at home, breaking out a very old bottle of wine that we had been saving for a special occasion.

In all, I'd say it was a very dignified way to mark the big day. No black balloons, no over-the-hill signs on the front lawn--but I did allow the kids the one thing they'd been wanting to get Mike for years: An "old geezer" cane--that I have a feeling will "re-appear" one day next June. Guess turn-around is fair play, huh?

Happy Monday, everyone!

Oh Phooey!

Well, Ol' Man Winter has done it again! There are inches of snow on my "hill of a driveway," with more than another half-foot predicted, and two of my stamp clubs were supposed to meet today! I was even ALL ready to go!! And those of you who've known me for awhile know that I'm "famous" for my last minute stints at the paper cutter, so being completely ready. . . well, that must be what jinxed our day!

So, I plated up a few of the snacks I had prepared for this morning and figure I'll sit at the computer and "chat" with you. Now, if you're in one of my stamp clubs, this is fair warning--SPOILER ALERT!! SPOILER ALERT!! SPOILER ALERT!! SPOILER ALERT!! SPOILER ALERT!! With all my stamp clubs meeting next week AND a nearly-full roster of stamp campers coming the following weekend, chances are I won't get the club projects posted if I don't do it today. So, if you don't want to see the projects until you walk through the door, stop right now. Close this window. Go check on your friends on SCS. Finish those swaps for next week. Call your mom. Heavens, if you're really desperate, go shovel a little of that snow! Just don't say I didn't warn you. . .

At each of my stamp club meetings, I teach a "technique," a different way to create a new background paper or embellishment, or maybe an unusual way to use one of the products in the Stampin' Up! catalog.

Something new in the newly-released Occasions Mini Catalog are glassine envelopes. The smallest ones measure 2" X 2" and had me thinking that perhaps they'd be good for making shaker cards. But one of my "issues" with shaker cards is that they don't always "shake" very well. Most of the time the "confetti" inside the shaker gets stuck at the bottom of the window and a lot of the effect is gone. So I thought I'd try making something that looked like a shaker but "kept the party going" all the time.

I stamped the cake from the new Sale-A-Bration set, "Happy Moments" on the front of the envelope with black Staz-On, colored with markers, and then slit open the sides of the envelope with my hobby blade, added some Snail Adhesive to the areas where I wanted confetti and sprinkled 1/8" punches over the adhesive. I also stamped another cake image on Pretty in Pink cardstock, cut it out and adhered it to the inside of the envelope too, so the cake would remain the focal point. Then all that was left was to close up the envelope and add it to the front of the card. The Snail that I applied for the confetti worked to hold the envelope closed and the glassine material is such that the Snail isn't visible the way it is when used on vellum. Not exactly the same effect as a shaker card, but I was pleased with my take on a "faux shaker."

The second project for stamp clubs this month uses three products from the new Occasions Mini--the Very Vintage Jumbo wheel, the Beautiful Wings Embosslit Die for the Big Shot, and the cute scalloped-edge "Hugs" die cut note.

I love using wheels to make background paper--it's what I originally started stamping for--so that I could make whatever background paper I needed for scrapbooking rather than having to wait until the scrapbook store opened in the morning. So, a couple of quick swipes with the wheel and a quick stamp (with a sentiment from "On Your Birthday") on the "Hugs" note and the stamping's done. Add equally-quick, super-easy embellishments with a couple of butterflies from the Embosslit (there are 4 different sizes/textures on the one die!) and a knotted piece of the Polka-Dot Grosgrain and it's done. Oh, wait. I also used my piercing tool to add a butterfly "trail." Now it's done.

But the snow is not, so off I go to do the first of what will probably be several clearings of the driveway. "Our" puppy is coming to stay with us for several days and her "other mom" needs to be able to get up our silly hill.

Stay safe and warm!

Happy New Year!

The last day of 2009--wow! I still remember the "Happy New Year!" celebration my daughter's kindergarten class had to welcome in 2000, and it feels like it was just last week! What they did for their celebration was so cute, and it worked for absolutely everyone! Us room moms scrounged up enough 12-inch squares of bubble wrap so each student had one, and when the kids finished counting down and yelled, "Happy New Year!" everyone stomped on their bubble wrap. Fun, safe, easy cleanup! Told you it worked for everyone!

Okay, so how does this relate to stamping? At first I didn't really think it did--I was just taking a trip down Memory Lane. I wasn't into stamping (gasp!) back when we popped all those bubbles. But, then I began to think about it. Being that I was first introduced to Stampin' Up! in April of 2000, the new year marks the beginning of my second decade with inky fingers and glittery cheeks! Ten years! Talk about a ton of stamp sets, a truckload of cardstock, and a whole new world of wonderful friends! It's been a great time!

Speaking of great, working with my new toys from the Occasions Mini Catalog and Sale-A-Bration brochure sure fits that category! I've been having a hard time getting the Christmas stamps back in their appropriate places because the new silky satin ribbons--in perfect colors for Valentines, new punches and stamp sets that can be gotten for FREE keep calling me! I'm not using them for Valentines just yet, but for birthday card designs as I get ready for my 5th Annual Birthday Bonanza stamp camp that is coming up on January 15th and 16th. The card I have to show you today is one that I put together for a demonstrator swap I was in, but I like it enough that it will be one of the four designs we do at stamp camp.

The card uses the "Happy Moments" stamp set from the Sale-A-Bration catalog, and the new "Perfect Polka Dots" Textured Impressions Folder for the Big Shot from the Occasions Mini. I paper-pieced the gift boxes, augmenting the design just a bit.

If you'd like to join me for this stamp camp, so you"ll have a good supply of birthday cards with matching envelopes on hand for the upcoming year, email me to reserve a spot.

Hope you enjoy your New Year celebration!

Yep! I'm Still Alive!!

Wow! It's been more than two months since I've posted! Unbelieveable! I'm surprised I even remember how to navigate this site!

Now, it's not like I've just been twiddling my thumbs this whole time. It's just that after having carpal tunnel surgery on both hands, one in October and one in November, I've had to prioritize activities, and things involving typing had to be put very close to the bottom of the list. I could only manage 2-3 lines before it felt like I had run a marathon. Typing one-handed got real old, real quick!

I still managed to keep my obligations to my stamp clubs, there are a fair amount of holiday decorations around my house, and "caramel season," the period from the end of September until Christmas Day, went off without a hitch despite all the concerns from my family. Don't ask about my Christmas cards--I'm afraid that might be one area I'm just going to have to let go this year.

Huh? What's that?? You're not familiar with the part of the holiday time called "caramel season?" That's where a particular pot in my house never gets to see its spot in the cupboard because it's always working on yet another batch of the homemade caramel that we give as gifts this time of year. My kids are in high school, yet a few of their favorite elementary school teachers still see a package of caramels this time of year--and I'd probably hear about it if we neglected them! Of course, favorite current teachers receive some as do my husband's office staff, my stamp club members, friends, neighbors and family members. In all I packaged up about 80 gifts. And somewhere along the line, I decided that I just wouldn't be happy if I didn't present all those caramels in those cute "Santa buckets" that were all over Splitcoast in November. Yep, I made 80 of those buggers! And I'd do it again too--because they're just so darned cute. I love the dotted-ribbon suspenders.

This is just a portion of the "army," as my son called them, of Santas we had here.
Each holds about 3/4 lb. of wrapped caramels in a cellophane bag. I can wrap caramels in my sleep, and by the end of the "season," I could almost assemble "Santas" that way too. My husband felt he had done his part for the "cause" because he helped empty beverage cans so I could use the tabs for the belt buckles. Thanks, Honey.


Besides holiday gifts, I've also been working on swaps that use sets and accessories from the upcoming new Occasions and Sale-A-Bration Mini Catalogs.

This one uses sets from the Occasions Mini, "Butterfly Accent," "Fine Flourish," and the Jumbo wheel, "Very Vintage." The wheel is a great one for turning regular cardstock into "faux" Designer Paper. I ran the wheel in different directions for each color so the pattern was a little more varied. Additional supplies include the "Sincere Salutations" stamp set, the scallop square Big Shot die, Very Vanilla taffetta ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds glitter and 2-Way Glue, along with Rose Red, Regal Rose, Very Vanilla, Basic Black and Vellum cardstock.

I've got 3 more swap designs that I'll share in the days to follow. See you then!