Stampin-Style

Last Chance - Strength & Hope

Stampin' Up! Strength & Hope
Help Fight Breast Cancer  

This past spring Stampin' Up! offered a wonderful 4 piece stamp set.  But this set is not just any stamp set.  Stampin' Up! is donating $2 from this purchase to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation® . I lost my mother to breast cancer many years ago and pray that a cure might be found.  BCRF is dedicated to preventing breast cancer and finding a cure in our lifetime by funding clinical and translational research worldwide. Until then early detection is key.  For more information about BCRF, visit www.bcrfcure.org.

Don't wait as time is running out to purchase this set and help fight breast cancer.

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 -

• Strength & Hope Clear Mount (123660 - Summer Mini expires September 1st, 2011) <- Featured item

Ink - 

• StazOn® Jet Black Ink Pad (101406)
• Wisteria Wonder Stampin' Write Marker (119801 - In Color pack of 5)
• Wild Wasabi Classic (109014)
• Wild Wasabi Stampin'Write Marker (120975)
• Bashful Blue Stampin' Write Marker (105111)

Paper - 

• Whisper White Card Stock (100730)
• Basic Black Card Stock (102851)
• Wild Wasabi Card Stock (108641)
• Wisteria Wonder Card Stock (122922) <- Featured item

Accessories -

• SNAIL Adhesive (104332)
• Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)
• Anywhere Glue Stick (104145) <- Featured item

Tools -

• Lace Ribbon Border Punch (122362) <- Featured item

Putting It Together Tips:

• The Anywhere Gue Stick is really the perfect afhesive to hold down the Lace Ribbon Border punch.  It can be applied to intricate areas easily with its wide design and dries clear so stray gue never shows. 
• I love double matting with a scat border.  Measure the size of the card stock to be matted and add 1/8'' to both lengtj and with.  This adds a 1/16'' border to the image highlighting without overwhelming.
• Using StazOn is the perfect choice when coloring with Stampin' Write markers is planned.
• Buying assortment packs of card stock is the best bang for your buck to stock your stash with variety.  In Color Assortment 124329 goes great with the In Color Assortment pack of paper to create perfectly color coordinated projects.

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! 

 

 

Pals Paper Arts April Hop 2011

Stampin' Up! Flower Garden &
Wonderful Favorites

Welcome to the April PALS HOP!  This month, we're featuring Wonderful Wedding and Mother's Day projects for your inspiration!  You've likely hopped over from Joanna Munster, Inspired by Stampin. I'm stop number 9 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 paper crafted creations from the Stampin' Pretty Pals!  Should you hop off course, simply click here for a list and you'll be back on track!

I decided this month to do two cards, each with a different theme and technique but both with the same tool!  In this case it was the new Textured Impressions Embossing Folder called Flower Garden found in the Summer Mini catalog available May 1st.  I love embossing folders and this baby is no different.  The impression is crisp and clean and lends itself perfectly to a card face allowing for a sentiment.  For the Mother's Day card I used the positive image and for the Wedding card I used the negative image, but both lend themselves beautifully to just about any theme.

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

Stampin' Stuff:

Stamp Sets -

• Wonderful Favorites (115114) <-Featured item 

Ink - 

• Garden Green Classic (102272)

Paper - 

• Whisper White Card Stock (100730)
• Pear Pizzazz Card Stock (119795)
• White Vellum Paper (101839)

Accessories -

• Certainly Celery Poly Twill 1/2'' Ribbon (114618) <-Featured item
• SNAIL Adhesive (104332) 

Tools -

• Flower Garden Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (123113 available May 1st)
• Ticket Corner Paper Punch (119867) <-Featured item

Putting It Together Tips:

• Working with vellum is always tricky, but a few hints will always make it easier.  Adhesive tends to show through vellum, so I placed mine under the ribbon where it doesn't show.  
• Although you usually use Multi-Purpose Platform #1 for embossing folders, I went right down to the bottom.  This kept the impression a little less deep, but also eliminated the tearing you get otherwise.
• I found that applying slight heat to the vellum after I imprinted the sentiment dried the ink more quickly and eliminated the smudging potential.  Just keep the heat moving so the vellum doesn't curl.

Stampin' Stuff:

Stamp Sets -

• Curly Cute Clear Mount (120510) <-Featured item 

Ink - 

• Peach Parfait Classic (119783)

Paper - 

• Whisper White Card Stock (100730)
• Peach Parfait Card Stock (119794)

Accessories -

• Peach Parfait 1/2'' Stitched Poly Ribbon (119264)
• SNAIL Adhesive (104332) 

Tools -

• Flower Garden Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (123113 available May 1st)
• Ticket Corner Paper Punch (119867) <-Featured item
• Brayer (102395) <-Featured item

Putting It Together Tips:

• Here I used the negative side of the impression and applied the Peach Pizzaz Classic ink using a brayer.  I always started at the bottom of the card and worked my way up to get the faded effect, but I never went all the way to the top to keep the top of the card white so the sentiment would show up.
• The Ticket Corner Punch is a great little tool that creates a custom mat out of any piece of card stock.  Totally versatile.

Hop along for more inspiring ideas from Melanie Collins, , Ooopsadaisy, stop number 10 on the April PALS HOP!  Thanks for "hopping" by!

Don't forget to sign up for my newsletter and receive a handy dandy quick reference card cross referencing Designer Series Paper and our Color Collections!  Click HERE!

 

Mojo 154 - Thinking of You

Stampin' Up! Summer Mini & Sincere Salutations

 You know how sometimes creating a card is like pulling teeth and other tImes it just all comes together?   Well this was a time for me where it just all came together.  I knew before I ever saw the sketch i wanted to use as much from the Summer Mini as I could.  (Tomorrow is the last day for ordering from the Summer Mini)  So my inspiration for this creation started once again with my stash of Designer Series Paper.  Using the color palette I grabbed the necessary solid colors to compliment the design and then went to my Summer Mini collection of stamps.  What do you think? 

 

Stampin' Stuff:

Stamp Sets -

• Punched Posies Clear Mount (120030 - Level 2 Hostess Set)
• Sincere Salutations (115068) 

Ink - 

• Tempting Turquoise Classic (100814)

Paper - 

• Very Vanilla Card Stock (101650)
• Old Olive Card Stock (100702)
• Tempting Turquoise Card Stock (102067)
• Island Oasis DSP (117173 - Summer Mini)

Accessories -

• Brights designer Buttons (119747)
• SNAIL Adhesive (104332)
• Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)
• Mini Glue Dots (103683) 

Tools - 

• Scallop Circle Punch (119854)
• Extra Large Scallop Circle Punch (118874)
• Butterfly Punch (119848)
• Scallop Edge Border Punch (119882)
• Square Lattice Embossing Folder (119976)

Putting It Together Tips:

• If there was one tip I had to share with you it would be to use your punches upside down - ALL your punches!  I used the Scallop Edge Border punch and was able to create  the scallop mat with corners and all.  I actually started with a larger piece of card stock than I needed and punched two sides creating one corner.  Then just decided which scallop I wanted to be the next corner and worked from there.
• Remember that with the Square Lattice Impressions Embossing Folder the paper actually shrinks due to the high detail.  I lost about an eighth of an inch.  Allow for that if you cut your paper to size before you emboss.
• Nothing like a thin strip of card stock to create a “thread” for the button and a “body” for the butterfly!
• When applying satin ribbon to a Square Lattice embossed piece of card stock, DO NOT apply the SNAIL to the lattice.  SNAIL conforms to the surface of the base as does the satin ribbon.  You'll see the ribbon actuallY mold into all the texture on the card stock and that detracts from the finished look of the card.  I found that out the hard way!  Hmmmm....
• Mini Glue Dots are perfect to hold those buttons to the face of your card! 

Stay tuned to Mom's Attic!  I will be posting a bunch of new stamp sets from 

the 2009-10 Idea Book and Catalog and all of my classic style punches.  

Summer Mini Is Almost Gone!

Stampin' Up! Summer Mini Countdown!

Where did the summer go?  We're into the last days you can order from the Summer Mini catalog.  It all goes a away Tuesday at midnight.  Don't wait until then to place your order for these remarkable limited edition stamp sets.  Click on the picture below to see a review of all the cards I've created from the wonderful Summer Mini products.  You can place your on line order by clicking on the shopping cart in the upper right corner and then Shop Now in the upper right corner of my Stampin' Up! Website under my name.

Grab a spoon!

 

GO TO MY STAMPIN' UP! WEBSITE TO PURCHASE ALL THE SUPPLIES FOR THESE PROJECTS!

Become a StampinStyle Fan on Facebook for advance Notice on All Promos

Check out Mom's Attic for specials on retired Stampin' Up! Stamp Sets!

 

Pals Paper Arts Challenge #57 - Enjoy The Journey

It seems hard to believe that the Summer Mini - and summer in general - is almost gone.  In less than a week all those great products exclusive to the Summer Mini will no longer be available.  So I decided to pay tribute to the Summer Mini one last time before we head into fall and the holidays.  One last summer fling!  Did you ever decorate your bike with crepe paper?

The Pals' paper Arts Challenge for this week is a sketch.

   

 

Stampin' Stuff:

Stamp Sets -

• Past Clear Mount (120069) 

Ink - 

• StazOn® Jet Black Ink Pad (101406)
• Tempting Turquoise Classic (100814)
• Rose Red Classic (101778)
• Old Olive Classic (102277)
• Old Olive Stampin' Write Marker (100079)
• Sahara Sand Classic (105208)

Paper - 

• Whisper White Card Stock (100730)
• Rose Red Card Stock (102544)
• Island Oasis Designer Series Paper (117173)

Accessories -

• SNAIL Adhesive (104332)
• Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Tools - 

• Blender Pen (102845)
• Ticket Corner Punch (107214)
• Word Window Punch (119857)
• Modern Label Punch (119849)

Putting It Together Tips:

• This is a pretty straight forward card so not many tips to share that I haven't already shared a gazillion times.  I found that a marker was too intense to color in the fine areas of the bikes so I opted for the Blender Pen solution.  If you've never tried these - PLEASE buy a set and give them a whirl.  The key is a light touch.
• My all time favorite punch pairing is the Word Window punch and the Modern label punch.  They go so well together and in addition to this set and many others providing small sentiments that fit, Teeny Tiny Wishes has 24 sentiments and they all fit in the Word Window.
• Streamers from the handle grips create a feeling of movement and add a bit of whimsey.

GO TO MY STAMPIN' UP! WEBSITE TO PURCHASE ALL THE SUPPLIES FOR THIS PROJECT!

Become a StampinStyle Fan on Facebook for advance Notice on All Promos

Check out Mom's Attic for specials on retired Stampin' Up! Stamp Sets!

 

Mojo Monday 150 - Happy “Green With Envy” Birthday

Stampin' Up! Summer Mini's Watercolor Trio & Island Oasis

Todays challenge is a bit complex with the various layers.  You always need to be careful to find the balance between color, contrast, and pattern without looking to chaotic!  Such are the challenges in life as well!  Is the grass always greener...?  

 

Stampin' Stuff:

Stamp Sets -

• Watercolor Trio Clear Mount (120084 - Summer Mini) 

Ink - 

• Old Olive Classic (102277)
• Always Artichoke Classic (105219)

Paper - 

• Very Vanilla Card Stock (101650)
• Old Olive Card Stock (100702)
• Always Artichoke Card Stock (105119)
• Certainly Celery (105125)
• Island Oasis DSP (117173 - Summer Mini)

Accessories -

• SNAIL Adhesive (104332)
• Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)
• 1/4“ Very Vanilla Grosgrain Ribbon (109026)

Tools - 

• Scallop Circle Punch (119854)
• 1 3/8” Circle Punch (119860)
• 3/16“ Corner Punch (119871)
• Sponge Daubers (102892)

Putting It Together Tips:

• Ventured a bit out of my comfort zone and attempted some sponging and paper tearing.  Make sure when tearing DSP that you have the design facing you and you tear the scrap away from you to avoid the white core from showing.  (That is unless you want it as an accent!)
• I liked the way Always Artichoke was just enough contrast to maintain the softness of this card.  I used it three times - can you see where?
• Although the design sketch had the ribbon over the vertical element, I felt it detracted from the image so I opted to place the ribbon behind.  Artistic license!
• The Designer Series Paper Has a very subtle patter.  - just enough to give the composition some texture without detracting from the overall design.  It remains a background element.

GO TO MY STAMPIN' UP! WEBSITE TO PURCHASE ALL THE SUPPLIES FOR THIS PROJECT!

Become a StampinStyle Fan on Facebook for advance Notice on All Promos

Check out Mom's Attic for specials on retired Stampin' Up! Stamp Sets! 

 

Pals' Paper Arts Challenge 50 - Wishes...Seldom Make History

Stampin' Up! Summer Mini & 2010-11 Idea Book & Catalog

 The Challenge for this 50th Week is a color challenge.  So Saffron, Chocolate Chip & Basic Gray are the colors of choice.    This was truly a challenge considering my style is to use ONE dark color as an accent!

 So I sat down to create the card and came up with the “Wishes” card.  I've been wanting to use Awash With Flowers ever since I used it the first time way back the first of April!  This seemed like another perfect opportunity.  After I completed this card I remembered one of my OInternet friends asking me if I would incorporate the Motorcycle stamp in the Summer Mini in a ladies card.  She said that women also rode motorcycles.  So after my “Bike Babe” comment I felt obligated to create a cards for her as well.  This color scheme seemed to lend itself perfectly.  So as Emeril would say...

 BAM!  That was easy...

Stampin' Stuff:

Stamp Sets -

• Awash With Flowers Clear Mount (120549)
• Heard From The Heart Wood Mount (111644)
• Motorcycle Wood Mount (117657 - Summer Mini)
• Favorite Thoughts Clear Mount (120048 - Summer Mini)
• Baroque Motifs Wood Mount (113490)

Ink - 

• Basic Gray Classic (109120)
• Chocolate Chip Classic (100908)
• So Saffron Classic (105213)

Paper - 

• Very Vanilla Card Stock (101650)
• Basic Gray Card Stock (121044)
• Chocolate Chip Card Stock (102128)
• So Saffron Card Stock (105118)

Accessories -

• Basic Gray 5/8“ Satin Ribbon (117666 - Summer Mini)
• SNAIL Adhesive (104332)
• Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Tools - 

• Paper Snips (103579)
• Ticket Corner Punch (119867)
• Scallop Border Trim Punch (118402)

Putting It Together Tips:

• Faced with a color challenge of this sort you can always double your palette by using tone on tone.  That's what I did with the Awash With Flowers set.  So Saffron Classic Ink on So Saffron Card Stock gives a wonderfully monochromatic effect that gives a sense of class and elegance.  Basic Gray adds to that effect.
• I wanted to integrate the sentiment into the theme of the card.  It was a piece of cake by turning the sentiment into the stem for a flower.  The sideways sentiment adds interest But this card could just as easily be place in landscape mode.
• The Ticket Corner Punch is one of the most versatile tools in the catalog.  You can turn a simple square or rectangle into a plaque simply by punching the corners!
• Finding a balance between a motorcycle and a woman's card is quite the feat.  I felt the Baroque swirl and Scallop Trim Border gave the card a feminine feel.  The swirl could also imply the dust kicked up by a woman biker!  And how perfect is Laurel Thatcher Ulrich's quote?!

GO TO MY STAMPIN' UP! WEBSITE TO PURCHASE ALL THE SUPPLIES FOR THIS PROJECT!

Become a StampinStyle Fan on Facebook for advance Notice on All Promos

Check out Mom's Attic for specials on retired Stampin' Up! Stamp Sets!  

Mojo Monday 146 - Thank U

Stampin' Up! Travel Journal, Cute By The Inch, & Watercolor Trio

Okay, I admit it!  I wasn't thrilled with the Travel Journal Designer Series paper.  I don't scrapbook!  And the colors seemed kind of blah in the Summer Mini.  But I ordered it anyway.  Boy, was I wrong!  Folks, if you are looking for some great masculine scrapbook paper that color coordinates perfectly with your stash of Stampin' Up! card stock and Ink, baby, this is it!  Stripes galore make it the perfect patterned paper for your husband/boyfriend/son cards.  They don't look half bad with flowers either.  The paper, not your husband/boyfriend/son!  Or do they....?

 

Stampin' Stuff:

Stamp Sets -

• Watercolor Trio Clear Mount (120084 - Summer Mini)
• Cute By The Inch Clear Mount (Hostess set 120130 2010-11 IBC)

Ink - 

• Early Expresso Classic (119670)
• Tangerine Tango Stampin' Write Marker (120974)
• Garden Green Stampin' Write Marker (100080)
• Riding Hood Red Stampin' Write Marker (120971)

Paper - 

• Very Vanilla Card Stock (101650)
• Early Expresso Card Stock (119686)
• Travel Journal DSP (117156 - Summer Mini)

Accessories -

• SNAIL Adhesive (104332)
• Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Tools - 

• Big Shot Ovals Die (114525)
• 1 1/4” Square Large Punch (119865)
• Pinking Hears Border Punch (117649)
• Sponge Daubers (102892)

Putting It Together Tips:

• This is actually my first attempt at shading with sponge daubers and I learned some important lessons!  First, I held the paper with another scrap of paper while I was swirling the ink in.  Seems the oil from my fingers picked up some ink and distributed it where I didn't want it.  Not good!  Also I tapped off a bit of the ink before I began to swirl the ink into the card stock so the color wasn't so intense.  Start light and add - it's much easier to add then subtract!
• I applied the marker directly to the rubber for the flower and then huffed a bit before stamping on the Very VaniLla card stock.  I did accent the petals with Riding Hood Red to give them a bit more interest and depth.
• Creating the Pinking Hearts “ribbon” was easy.  My tip here is to cut the piece of paper the length you need first.  Mine was 4“ long by 1” wide.  Then line the end of the paper up with a point and start your punching.  When you flip it to do the other side, simply do the same thing and the edges end up perfectly mirroring themselves.  If you use the same piece of paper you used for the accent, the stripes match up too!

GO TO MY STAMPIN' UP! WEBSITE TO PURCHASE ALL THE SUPPLIES FOR THIS PROJECT!

Become a StampinStyle Fan on Facebook for advance Notice on All Promos

Check out Mom's Attic for specials on retired Stampin' Up! Stamp Sets!  

 

Pals' Paper Arts Challenge 49 - July Fourth

Stampin' Up! July Fourth & Daisies #2 Die

The PPA Challenge this week is the inspiration photo pictured.  This was a challenge for me in that I've already used the July Fourth Clear Mount Stamp Set for the last two cards I've done and really wanted to do something different.  But here were are with “bombs bursting in air!”  What's a guy to do?  Now I'm not claiming to be a ”big shot“ but that's exactly what I turned to to create my version of THOSE ”big shots!“

 

Stampin' Stuff:

Stamp Sets -

• July Fourth Clear Mount (120063) 

Ink - 

• StazOn® Jet Black Ink Pad (101406)
• Real Red Stampin' Write Marker (100052)
• Pacific Point Stampin' Write Marker (120968)

Paper - 

• Whisper White Card Stock (100730)
• Brushed Silver Card Stock (100712)
• Brushed Gold Card Stock (102935)
• Basic Black Card Stock (102851)
• Real Red Card Stock (102482 - small scrap)
• Pacific Point Card Stock (111350 - small scrap)

Accessories -

• Red Rhinestone Brads (109110 - Circle Fire)
• Black Stampin' Emboss Embossing Powder (109133)
• Silver Stampin' Emboss Embossing Powder (109131)
• SNAIL Adhesive (104332)
• Stampin' Dimensionals (104430) 

Tools - 

• Heat Tool (100005)
• Ticket Corner Punch (119867)

Putting It Together Tips:

• Cut a 5” x 5 1/2“ piece of Brushed Gold and Silver card stock.  Lay one piece on top of the other and pass them both through the Big Shot at the same time to create the ”fireworks“ in one pass. Utilize the center from the middle flower to fill the hole and attach the brad.
• Using the Stampin' Write markers to add a bit of the color to the sentiment makes the entire ”logo“ stand out and balances the red, silver, and blue strips.

GO TO MY STAMPIN' UP! WEBSITE TO PURCHASE ALL THE SUPPLIES FOR THIS PROJECT!

Become a StampinStyle Fan on Facebook for advance Notice on All Promos

Check out Mom's Attic for specials on retired Stampin' Up! Stamp Sets!

Mojo Monday 145 - July Fourth Birthday

Stampin' Up! Summer Mini July Fourth & Sneak Peek Perfect Punches

A good friend of mine has a birthday on July 3rd.  I ALWAYS miss it.  Having a birthday near a holiday myself (December 30 - UGH!) I know what it's like!  This Mojo Monday was the perfect opportunity to remember his birthday with a BANG!  Happy Birthday Jim!

This card also features a sneak peek of the stamp set Perfect Punches.  If you're anything like me, then you know how excited I was to see a set that matched up perfectly with our punches - Scallop Circle and Oval, Modern label, Wide Oval, Curly Label, & Round Tab.

As a side note, this was also a request I received from the Pals' Blog Hop.  Use this set for a birthday.  One stone - SO MANY BIRDS!

Stampin' Stuff:

Stamp Sets -

• Perfect Punches Clear Mount (120516 - available July 1)
• July Fourth Clear Mount (120063 - Summer Mini)

Ink - 

• Real Red Classic Ink (103133)
• Pacific Point (111837 - available July 1)
• Real Red Stampin' Write Marker (100052)

Paper - 

• Whisper White Card Stock (100730)
• Real Red Card Stock (102482)
• Pacific Point (111350 - available July 1)
• Pink Flamingo Designer Series Paper (113976 - retiring Designer Series Paper)

Accessories -

• Silver Brads (104336)
• SNAIL Adhesive (104332)
• Stampin' Dimensionals (104430) 

Tools - 

• Wide Oval Punch (112082)
• Large Star (110710)
• Paper-Piercing Tool (116631)
• Mat Pack (105826)
• Sanding Blocks (103301)

Putting It Together Tips:

• For those of you that do not have Sanding Blocks - and I'm sure many of you don't - BUY THEM!  They are amazing tools.  Did you ever wonder how some people got such great ink coverage on solid stamps?  Sanding Blocks!  Did you ever get a ragged edge when punching with a dull punch and wondered how to clean it up?  Sanding Blocks!  Did you ever want to distress card stock so the white core showed through?  Sorry - no white core on Stampin' Up! Card Stock.  But if it was made more cheaply, you could do that with a sanding block too!  Invest in them!
• I have grown to love the effect that tone on tone ( suing the same color ink as card stock) gives a project.  The stars stamped on the Real Red card stock are a perfect example of that.
• I needed a Real Red mat slightly larger than the Wide Oval punch.  I achieved the same effect buy using the brush end of the Stampin' Write marker to color in the band of white left by the punch.
• Stampin' Dimensionals give the perfect lift to the star and oval and pop the sentiment right off the page.

GO TO MY STAMPIN' UP! WEBSITE TO PURCHASE ALL THE SUPPLIES FOR THIS PROJECT!

Become a StampinStyle Fan on Facebook for advance Notice on All Promos

Check out Mom's Attic for specials on retired Stampin' Up! Stamp Sets!