Stampin-Style

PPA113 - Happy Hollow-grin

Stampin' Up! Scaredy Cat & 
Jack of All Trades

It's time for the Pals Paper Arts weekly challenge.  This week it's a technique challenge - heat embossing.  Heat embossing is perfect when you want to have a lighter color pop against a darker background.   Most people would have created an orange pumpkin with black features.  But I wanted to create the illusion that the pumpkin was aglow with the excitement of Halloween.  The Tangerine Tango Stampin' Emboss Powder did the trick!  That and a little Pinking Hearts picket fence and we have a Halloween vignette that's a Trick AND a Treat!

Stampin' Stuff:

Don't forget the Featured Items have links directly to the items in my store.  
Click on the pictures to see a larger version. 

Stamp Sets -

• Scaredy Cat Clear Mount (122557) <-Featured item 
• Jack of All Trades Clear Mount (122622) <-Featured item

Ink - 

• StazOn® Jet Black Ink Pad (101406)
• VersaMark® (102283)

Paper - 

• Wild Wasabi Card Stock (108641)
• Perfect Plum Card Stock (101889)
• Basic Black Card Stock (102851)
• Whisper White Card Stock (100730 - scrap) 

Accessories -

• Wild Wasabi Stampin' Emboss Powder (123224)
• Tangerine Tango Stampin' Emboss Powder (123106)
• Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)
• SNAIL Adhesive (104332)

Tools -

• Pinking Hearts Border Punch (117649) <-Featured item
• Crimper (101618) <-Featured item

Putting It Together Tips:

• I started this creation by positioning the pumpkin just below the half way mark on a 4'' x 5 1/4'' piece of Perfect card stock using StazOn Jet Black ink.  Then I added the stem and vine.  Allow it to competely dry before you add the features using VersaMark and Tangerine Tango Stampin' Emboss powder.  The embossing powder will stick to the StazOn if it's not completely dry.
• Wipe the top quarter of a 4 1/8'' x 5 3/8'' piece of Basic Black card stock with your Embossing Buddy and impring the Happy Halloween using VersaMark and Wild Wasabi Stampin' Emboss powder.
• Tear the top quarter of the Perfect Plum card stock and adhere to the Basic Blac to reveal the sentiment.
• After punching a strip of Basic Black card stock using the Pinking Hearts Border Punch, run it through the Crimper to give it dimension and the look of a picket fence.
• I cut out the ghost using my Paper Snips after printing it with StazOn on Whisper White card stock scrap and attached it using a Stampin' Dimensional.

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PPA12 - Quinceañera

Stampin' Up! Quinceañera &
Lace Ribbon Border Punch

Quinceañera (lit. meaning One (f.) who is fifteen), sometimes called Fiesta de Quinceañera, or simply quince, is the celebration of a girl's fifteenth birthday in parts of Latin America and elsewhere in communities of immigrants from Latin America. This birthday is celebrated differently from any other birthday, as it marks the transition from childhood to young womanhood. The celebration, however, varies significantly across countries, with celebrations in some countries taking on, for example, more religious overtones than in others.

I was so miffed by this challenge.  Let's face it.  I don't have a lot of lace just hanging around with nothing to do!  Then I remembered my Lace Ribbon Border Punch and all was right with the world.  (Well it would be when the card was done!

Stampin' Stuff:

Don't forget the Featured Items have links directly to the items in my store.  
Click on the pictures to see a larger version. 

Stamp Sets -

• Quinceañera (113820 -  Celebrando Creatividad) <-Featured item

Ink - 

• Early Espresso Classic  (119670)
• Calypso Coral Classic (122939)
• Calypso Coral Spampin' Write Marker (123002 - set of 5 In Colors) <-Featured item

Paper - 

• Naturals Ivory Card Stock (101849)
• Calypso Coral Card Stock (122925)

Accessories -

• 3/8'' Calypso Coral Ruffled Ribbon (122976)
• Basic Rhinestones (119246)
• SNAIL Adhesive (104332)
• Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)
• Sticky Strip (104294)

Tools -

• Lace Ribbon Border Punch (122362) <-Featured item
• Crimper (101618) <-Featured item
• Stamping Sponges (101610)

Putting It Together Tips:

• The first thing I need to clear up is that those are not a bunch of little eyes on her head.  Those are Basic Rhinestones.  I didn't notice how "Night of the Living Dead" that tiara looked until I was writing this post.  Suffice it to say it LOOKS like rhinestones in person! (At least the model and the eyes are all looking in the same direction!)
• One of the challenges of gathering card stock is the sheer nature of - well - gathering card stock!  I found that if after I punched out the design and sponges the Calypso Coral on the edge, I passed it through the crimper, it created pre-made gathers that were so much easier to work with.
• SNAIL is not strong enough to secure the gathered card stock.  Sticky Strip is.  That stuff is on that card to stay!
• Our Stamping Sponges are a great little tool.  Although you don't see me using them very often, they are perfect for this type of application.   Simply cut them in quarters to make a wedge and ink them up.  If you wash them right away, you'll have literally years and years of use.

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I'm excited to announce that Creating Keepsakes magazine has named Stampin' Up!'s wood- and clear-mount rubber stamps as one of its Top 10 Tools for 2011!

While Stampin' Up! has long been recognized in the stamping and crafting industry for producing high-quality rubber stamps and exclusive images in a variety of artistic styles, being recognized by Creating Keepsakes is just another validation that when you choose Stampin' Up! products, you are choosing the best!  And joining Stampin' Up! is even better because you get 20% off every purchase on all Stampin' Up!'s valuable product line.  Your Starter Kit reflects a 40% discount and you get a 30% discount on your first purchase.  Your membership is renewable on a quarterly basis.  Join now and your membership is good until January 2012!  Check out the details here!

 

PPA111 - Please Know That I Care

Stampin' Up! Lovely As A Tree & BorderLines
This weeks challenge for the Pals Paper Arts is a sketch challenge from our own Margaret Moody.  I always love these styles of challenge because the work is done for me and all I have to do is plug in the components.  I relied on an old friend and a new friend for this creation. - Lovely As A Tree and Borderlines.  And of course I used another favorite set of mine - Thoughts & Prayers.
 
Stampin' Stuff:

Don't forget the Featured Items have links directly to the items in my store.  
Click on the pictures to see a larger version. 

Stamp Sets -

• Lovely As A Tree (115026) <-Featured item
• Thoughts & Prayers (113252) <-Featured item
• Borderlines Clear Mount (122642) <-Featured item

Ink - 

• River Rock Classic (109010)
• Soft Suede (115657)

Paper - 

• Whisper White Card Stock (100730)
• River Rock Card Stock (108640)
• Soft Suede Card Stock (115318)

Accessories -

• Linen Thread (104199)
• SNAIL Adhesive (104332)
• Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Tools -

• Perfect Polka Dots Impressions Embossing Folder (117335) <-Feature item
• Sweet Buttons Embosslits Die (121813) <-Featured item

Putting It Together Tips:

• The Sweet Buttons Embosslits Die is a great investment if you can't invest in buttons.  With this die you can have whatever color button you want as long as you have the color in card stock.  I used a cross stitch needle to thread the small pieces of Linen Thread through the holes in the button to give them an authentic look.
• Borderlines is a wonderful new stamp set from the 2011-12 Idea Book & Catalog.  The stamps are 5 1/4'' long which makes them the perfect size for borders in either direction on an A2 style card.  An A2 card measures 4 1/4'' x 5 1/2'', or a quarter of a standard 8 1/2'' x 11'' piece of card stock.
• I wanted to keep this card monochromatic, but that's a lot of white space behind the focal point.  Embossing folders are perfect to add some texture and interest to your creation without overwhelming the composition.  The dots are repeated on the leaves of the Borderlines impression.
• River Rock, though part of the Neutrals Collections family, is really a wonderfully ”natural“ green that compliments most browns.  Try it on your next card!

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Pals Paper Arts September Hop - Happy Halloween

Stammpin' Up! Haunted Forest &
Hand Penned Holidays

Welcome to the September Pals Hop! This month, we're featuring Fall and Halloween inspired projects! Enjoy the hop and the amazing creations that the Pals have come up with.  You've likely hopped over from Linda Fisher's Stampin Loft, I'm the next stop on the Pals Hop and I'm glad you hopped in! I'll help you "hop along" from blog to blog where you'll find great ideas for Fall and Halloween paper projects from the Stampin' Pretty Pals! Should you hop off course, simply click here for the Pals Hop Line-up and you'll be back on track!

I couldn't decide whether to do 3D project of a card for this hop so I did both!  For the card project, I was more about the technique than the card itself.  I used quality of vellum to create a multi-dimensional effect.  For the candle project, it was all about getting that darn moon to light up the vignette.  Both projects add an erie feel reminicent of an old fashioned Halloween!
 

Stampin' Stuff:

Don't forget the Featured Items have links directly to the items in my store.  
Click on the pictures to see a larger version. 

 Stamp Sets -

• Haunted Forest (123841 - Holiday Mini) <-Featured item
• Hand Penned Holidays Clear Mount (124312 - Holiday Mini) <-Featured item
• Wicked Cool Clear Mount (120600) <-Featured item

Ink - 

• StazOn® Ink Pad (101406)
• VersaMark® (102283)
• Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Write Marker (105115)
• Soft Suede Stampin' Write Marker (120973)

Paper - 

• Pumpkin Pie Card Stock (105117)
• Basic Black Card Stock (102851)
• Basic Gray Card Stock (121044)
• Daffodil Delight Card Stock (119683)
• Vellum Paper (101839)

Accessories -

• Black Stampin' Emboss Powder (109133)
• Tangerine Tango Stampin' Emboss Powder (123106)
• Black Brads (119736 - Neutrals Assortment)
• SNAIL Adhesive (104332)
• Cylinder Glass Votive
• Battery operated candle

Tools -

• Heat Tool (100005)
• 1 3/4'' Circle Punch (119850) <-Featured item
• Paper-piercing Tool (116631) 

Putting It Together Tips:

• Although I used the same stamp for both projects, I didn't want the Happy Halloween which is part of the stamp to show on the greeting card.  To accomplish this I cut the adhesive part of a Post-it note off and trimmed it to only cover the sentiment.  After thoroughly inking the image with VersaMark I removed the Pot-it note and then imprnted the stamp on the vellum. 
• Vellum is a hard surface to heat emboss simply because of its somewhat delicate nature.  Keep the Heat Tool a minimum of 6'' away and keep it moving.  It may take a bit longer to emboss, but you won't scorch or curl the vellum.
• To get the moon to appear to glow in the card I punched out a 1 3/4'' circle of Daffodil Delight and slid it in back of the vellum.
• All the coloring of the pumpkin and the trees as well as the bats on the card were colored and stamped on the pack of the vellum.
• The vellum was mounted onto the Basic Gray card stock on the card using four brads.  This eliminates the danger of adhesive showing through the very delicate vellum.
• The votive candle used Basic Black card stock to back the vellum.  I simply punched the 1 3/4'' hole in the Basic Black card stock and then attached one end ONLY to the vellum.  I applied SNAIL to the surface of the vellum on the other end and wrapped it around the glass votive and secured it in place.  By not attaching both ends it allows the vellum to adjust in wrapping the votive versus bunching the black paper.

Hop along for more inspiring ideas from Nancy Gleason at http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/mystampinspace/blog the next stop number on the September Pals Hop! Thanks for "hopping" by!

 

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PPA110 - Goblin Greetings

Stampin- Up! Out On A Limb &
Grateful Greetings

This week's Pals Paper Arts challenge is theme based.  Halloween is just around the corner and it's never too soon to "Go Goblin!"  

I decided this week to use some very traditional Halloween colors on a symetrical card and let the components frame the sentiment.  The components are all multiple stampings of a single image.  How'd I do?

Stampin' Stuff:

Don't forget the Featured Items have links directly to the items in my store.  
Click on the pictures to see a larger version. 

Stamp Sets -

• Grateful Greetings (116511) <-Featured item
• Out On A Limb Clear Mount (123824 - Holiday Mini) <-Featured item

Ink - 

• VersaMark® (102283)

Paper - 

• Whisper White Card Stock (100730)
• Basic Black Card Stock (102851)
• Pumpkin Pie Card Stock (105117)
• Old Olive Card Stock (100702)
• Wisteria Wonder Card Stock (122922)

Accessories -

• White Stampin' Emboss Powder (109132)
• Black Stampin' Emboss Powder (109133)
• SNAIL Adhesive (104332)

Tools -

• Heat Tool (100005) <-Featured item
• Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049) <-Featured item
• Embossing Buddy (103083)

Putting It Together Tips:

• The first thing I'll share with this project is measurements as I've received so many comments that you liker/need to get those.  The card is a basic A2 card - 4 1/4'' x 5 1/2''  The black matt is 4 1/8'' x 5 3/8''   The horozontal rectangles measure 1 1/2'' x 3 1/2'' and the vertical rectangles measure 1 1/2'' x 2 1/4''
• The Stamp-a-ma-jig makes easy work of alignment for the images from the Out On A Limb stamp set.  Most images were stamped twice except for the jack-o-lanterns which were stamped three times.
• Find the center of the black matt and imprint the sentiment, but not before passing over the sutrface with the Embossing Buddy to reduce stray powder cling.  The same is true for the other images embossed in black.

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Remember When

Stampin' Up! Word Play

I received a call from a local library a few months back.  The had heard of my card classes and wanted to know if I would hold a mini card making class during their 100th Anniversary.  The theme was Memory Festival celebrating 100 years of memories.  It sounded like a great opportunity, but what could I do in an hour?  I had no idea who would be attending, what their skill level might be, or how many would participate.  As my customer, the library agreed to purchase the supplies to make 20 cards.  Of course my next challenge was to create a "Memory Card."  Not having any idea what that might be, I decided to create a card that the students themselves could design.  (Sort of!)  They were provided with 42 different 3/4'' stamps.  The sentiment was stamped and all the paper was pre-cut for quick assembly.  The goal - find images that evoke a memory and assemble them as a card.  The inside can be used as a journal to document that memory or you can send the card to that special someone who shared in the memory.  Everyone walked away with a mini masterpiece!

Stampin' Stuff:

Don't forget the Featured Items have links directly to the items in my store.  
Click on the pictures to see a larger version. 

Stamp Sets -

• Select sets that have small images that fit comfortably inside a 1'' square.  For the holidays
  Spooky Bingo Bits Clear Mount (123946) <-Feature item
  Jolly Bingo Bits Clear Mount (121187) <-Featured item
  work perfectly.  Or you can simply raid your stamp drawer for small images.
• Word Play Clear Mount Clear Mount (120651)

Ink - 

• Getting Started Clssic Stampin' Spots (119979) <-Featured item
• Brights Collection Stampin' Write Markers (119702) <-Featured item
• StazOn® Jet Black Ink Pad (101406)

Paper - 

• Whisper White Card Stock (100730)
• Basic Black Card Stock (102851)
• Real Red Card Stock (102482) 

Accessories -

•  SNAIL Adhesive (104332)

Tools -

•  1'' Square Punch (124094 - Holiday Mini)
• 1 1/4'' Square Punch (119865)

Putting It Together Tips:

• The key to success is variety here.  Allowing the participants to create a unique, one-of-a-kind card is the goal.  A large selection of stamps and ink colors provides the creative vehicle for the budding artist.
• Keep the background neutral to go with all the colors.  Amazingly Real Red worked well as a neutral here because it is a primary color.  So would Pacific Point as it is also a primary.  Although Daffodil Delight (yellow) is a primary, I don't think the light color would provide the contrast for the stamped images.
• I purposely selected images for my card that were not available to the students as I did not want the them to "copy" my card.  The task was to create something unique based on a memory.
• This card was easy to prepare and super simple for the participants to create.  The big PLUS in my book, however was that each and every card was different!  MANY memories were created on that Saturday in August.

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PPA109 - Give Thanks

Stampin' Up! Hand-Penned Holidays &
Leaves of a Tree

The challenge for this week's Pals Paper Arts challenge is color   Incorporate Calypso Coral, Riding Hood Red, and Basic Gray into a creation.  Some color challenges are really hard for me but this one was easy.  The minute I saw Riding Hood Red and Calypso Coral I thought FALL!  And with this being the 1st day of September, a day that traditionally gets us all thinking about fall even tho it's still 21 days away, and also the first day of the Holiday Mini, I thought I'd feature fall with a Fall/Thanksgiving card.  Both stamps are new in the Holiday Mini.  The sentiment is one of four stamps found in the Hand-Penned Holidays set And Leaves of a Tree is another great A La Carte stamp.  They are featured items in this week's post.

Stampin' Stuff:

Don't forget the Featured Items have links directly to the items in my store.  
Click on the pictures to see a larger version. 

Stamp Sets -

• Hand Penned Holidays Clear Mount (124312) <-Featured item
• Leaves of a Tree (123843) <-Feature item

Ink - 

• Calipso Coral Stampin' Write (123003 set of 5 In Colors) <-Featured item
• Riding Hood Red Classic ( 111836)
• VersaMark® (102283)

Paper - 

• Whisper White Card Stock (100730)
• Basic Gray Card Stock (121044)
• Calyspo Coral Card Stock (124329 - In Color Assortment) <-Featured item 

Accessories -

• 3/8'' Calypso Coral Ruffled Ribbon (122976) <-Featured item
• White Stampin Emboss Powder (109132)
• Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)
• SNAIL Adhesive (104332) 

Tools -

• Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (121809) <-Featured item
• Heat Gun (100005)
• Embossing Buddy (103083)

Putting It Together Tips:

• I stamped the tree image in Riding Hood Red ink.  Then with the Calypso Coral marker, I carefully colored in all the leaves.  It reminds me of a Japanese Maple tree.
• Basic Gray was the perfect color to use as a neutral mat. 
• After I mounted the matted maple on the card front along with the embossed sentiment, the soace between the two looked flat - because it was!  The ruffled ribbon was perfect for adding subtle texture between the two.
• ALWAYS use an Embossing Buddy when working with embossing powder.  It ensures a speck free finished project by removing all the static electricity and olil from the card stock so no stray powder adheres and ruins the look.  

Become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator and receive your Starter Kit.  
For $175 you'll receive product and business supplies valued at over $340.  
Click here for the details!