11/27/2009

Great Friend Tri-Shutter

Here is my 2nd attempt at the Tri-Shutter card. I needed to send a friend a card, and thought one of these would be good! Here is the front view. It didn't want to lay completely flat so this is as good as I could get.


I used the Great Friend set, Cottage Wall DSP and coordinating colors. Card base is Old Olive. Remember that you have to start with 12 x 12. If I keep making these, I'm going to have to order more! I've never kept much of that size paper on hand.

I did the Top Note again on the front in Whisper White CS, and stamped it first with the Butterfly several times in Rich Razzleberry. I came back in with the leaf in Old Olive, masking the butterflies and stamping it in varying strengths of ink (some full ink, some after stamping once or twice). Edges are sponged in Rich Razzleberry. For You and Friend (from Fundamental Phrases) at the top right in Old Olive. Rich Razzleberry ribbon is attached just above the side notch on the Top Note, and a Flower brad is through the ribbon.


Here is the somewhat open view so you can see the different panels. I tried more layers on this one. It looks OK, but I could have tweaked them a little more so more of each layer showed. Next time, it was very late when finishing this one up!! I layered Rich Razzleberry on each of the inside panels, under either DSP or Whisper White CS.



This one was my "test run" to make sure it came OK before I did the one for my friend. On this one, I did "Wishing You Happiness Today and Always" (from Heard from the Heart) in the center of the center panel, with butterflies and leaves spaced around as best as I could. Note in the final version below that I changed that panel up a bit, and put the words on the bottom. The small white center panel just has the butterfly with some leaves and "Forever Friend" (both from Fundamental Phrases).



Here is the final version that was mailed to my friend.

Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving! We had a nice, quiet one. Off to a slow start around here today, but hoping to get some basic cleaning done, then dig into the Christmas decorations! I think I'm ready, even though it's supposed to be in the sixties here today!

11/24/2009

Coaster Calendars

Tonight, a simpler post! If any of you try the tri-shutter from yesterday and it doesn't seem right, PLEASE let me know! I did one (well two, one to keep, one to mail) and think I caught the errors. But, I've done them before!

Following are the five versions of coaster calendars that I made for my gift exchange at a recent stamp group Christmas party. They weren't so fun in the middle of the night, but overall I like how they came out! They have magnet strips attached to the back so they can be placed on a file cabinet or refrigerator.


The background papers used are all from the Sweet Slumber Specialty DSP from the last catalog. Now retired, sorry! But most of my point in doing these was to use up some of my stash.


My first step in making these, after obtaining the coasters and calendars, is to cut the DSP to 4 x 4 squares. You should be able to get 9 out of 1 sheet of DSP.



Next step on these was to emboss the "My dear kind & wonderful friend" using Black Craft ink and clear embossing powder. Next I ran some Sticky Pages (p. 180, bottom right side) cut down into strips through the Big Shot and cut a circle with the Holiday Windows circle. I tried punches but they won't punch all the way through. The Sticky Pages are like Sticky Strip, just in a 12 x 12 sheet. Great for glitter! I sparked for days!! I used several glitters: some are Chunky Sprinkles (Crystal Iris & Light Blue), some are Fine Galaxy (Red & Champagne).



Next step was to attach the DSP to the coasters. I used the SU! glue sticks. Put some on the DSP, and some on the coaster, making sure to get close to the edge. I pressed it together all round, set it under something heavy, repressed until I knew it was caught. Then I clipped of the square corners of the DSP and sanded all the edges. That just kind of "blends" the paper into the chipboard and smooths the edges.

Finally, I dug through my room for accessories and found some Prima flowers that coordinated perfectly. Most are attached with Rhinestone brads in various colors. When I ran out of Primas, I used some punched flowers in coordinating prints.


Happy Thanksgiving all!

11/23/2009

Last Club Card-Tri-Shutter

Here is the last card we did for club last week, again at the request of someone because of a swap card I had! I guess I know now why I stress myself every month to get that swap done!!


Here is the front, closed version of the card. But that's just the beginning!!! Open it and you have this:



From the top it looks like this:


And all the way open it looks like this:


There is a tutorial for this on Splitcoaststampers HERE. It has both a written tutorial with pictures, and a video tutorial. I will talk you through cuts and sizes for what I did. The stamp set used here is Snow Swirled and includes all the stamps used: the Tree on the front, the different snowflakes inside, and both sayings. Colors are Real Red, Whisper White & Soft Suede.

The card base is a 12 x 5-1/2" piece of Real Red cardstock. The DSP used was from the Christmas Cocoa Speciality set from the Mini Catalog. Step 1 is to score and cut the card base. You need a paper cutter that you can lift up the guide and blade, or a ruler and craft knife. Along the 12" edge, you want to score at 2", 4", 8" and 10". Then on your paper cutter, turn your cardstock and at 1-1/2" cut between the 2" and 10" score lines.. Start your blade at 2" and cut to 10". Repeat with the other side of the cardstock (turn it one half turn) again cutting at 1-1/2". This give you the center pieces that fold the different directions. Fold on all your score lines. The center section folds the opposite way of the top and bottom, use the top view above for guidance.

Now you're ready to embellish! I used a Top Note on the front, and DSP and cardstock on each section inside. Each one could have more layers, I was rushed for time (go figure!!) and went simple.

Here are the sizes of DSP/Cardstock that I cut:
(2) 1-3/4 x 5-1/4 Holly DSP, front and back tabs
(2) 3-3/4 x 1-1/4 Snowflake DSP, top and bottom center sections
(4) 1-3/4 x 1-1/4 Red print DSP, small rectangles each end of top and bottom sections
(1) 3-3/4 x 2-1/4 White CS, center section (stamped with words and snowflakes)
(1) 1-3/4 x 2-1/4 White CS, center back section (stamped with large snowflake)


One more view of the front and a note for adhesive on the Top Note. The left half of the Top Note is totally over the front tab (with the Holly DSP), but the right half is only over the center section, the top and bottom pieces fold away. Test it before applying the adhesive and make sure you know where it can and can't go!!

Let me know if you have questions! Sit down and try one and I think it will make sense! I'm hoping to go try another one here in a minute. I have a quiet house and figure I've got to do some stamping for fun! My boys went different directions after school & hubby has a meeting. Got a little time before its time to run after boys.

8:16 pm 11/23 ETA: I just corrected one of the numbers for the cardstock measurements. If you looked before now, it wasn't right! Sorry for the oversight. It always takes quite a bit to get the format right, I completely missed the wrong number. And that was before I got hit by a deer tonight!

9:28 pm 11/23. ETA: another correction made in the cutting/scoring section. Obviously I shouldn't have tackled this today! Glad I decided to go make another one. I may be calling it a day soon though if things don't start going better.

Holiday Extravaganza!!

WOW!!! is what comes to mind! TONS of things on sale today through the end of November.

edited to add: the original link I posted wasn't taking you to my site for shopping. The prices aren't right if you aren't on my specific site so it has been updated. Sorry for the confusion!!

Click HERE to go to my Stampin' Up! site, then click the SHOP NOW button on the upper right.

Once in, either click the big red box that comes up in the middle and says HUGE SALE, or on the left side top item is Online Extravaganza. They have given 30, 40 & 50 percent off items, bundled items and discounted them. WOW!!! Get in there and check it out! You do NOT have to order online, but you can. If you haven't done that before, register by clicking the Customer Login in button just above the big red box in the center. You should see my name at the top right side, and in the bar in the center.

One other note, click each item that is for sale to see specific product detail, and it will tell you there what the regular catalog price is.

LMK if you have questions, or want to place the order through me!

11/22/2009

Scallop Turkeys

These were fun, but a little challenging for my brain (and others!) last weekend. I had received one in a swap and it was requested by my club hostess. Of course, I waited until Sunday morning to try and figure it out! You'd think I would learn!! Anyway, it came out OK and I think they all liked it.

Here is the one I received in a swap, I think it looks a little better than mine.

To make these, you need the Scallop Circle die (113468, p. 199) and the Big Shot. The base is a card which you get by placing a folded piece of Chocolate Chip cardstock with the fold just below the top of the die so that you aren't cutting the top. You then cut 3 other Scallop circles. This sample uses Real Red, Really Rust & More Mustard. Once you have those circle, cut them in half. I did this with my Fiskars paper cutter by placing the indent between scallops on the cutting line. If you don't have a cutter that will work, a ruler with a craft knife (on a mat!) will also work. Next you need to make additional cuts on your colored scallops to form the tail feathers. The back row of feathers has 4 scallops each, the inside row 3. What worked for me to get even pieces was to measure & mark the middle of each scallop on the straight side. Then, count your scallops and use the mark and the indent to line up on the cutting line. Hopefully that's a little clearer than mud! Once you have the pieces, sponge the outer edges with either Chocolate Chip or Close to Cocoa ink, line the back row up with the card scallops and attach. Spaced the inner row as desired and attach.


Here is the one I did. My feather colors are Ruby Red, More Mustard and Really Rust. The body of the Turkey is made with punches. The head is the 1-1/4" circle in Close to Cocoa, the body the 1-3/4" circle in Close to Cocoa. The feet are a Scallop Circle punch in Pumpkin Pie, cut the same way as the larger circles. You should have 1 extra scallop from your half circle after two feet. Cut that down for the beak. The waddle is the long, narrow heart from the Heart to Heart punch in Ruby Red. The eyes are a 1/4" circle punch with googlie eyes on top. Sponge all the parts you want sponged and layer together. The head/body are attached with dimensionals.

Enjoy and let me know if you have questions!!

11/21/2009

Club Cards-More Bride Paper

Sorry it's taken me a week to get back! Didn't plan on that, but had a busier than usual week. I played with the Bride paper for these samples before club. My girls did the lower one with the stripe paper, but I did both up so they could see the other print. Quite a difference from the last post isn't it?? Love this though, and the color possibilities are endless!!


Its a fairly simple cards, except for cutting layers. Card base is Rich Razzleberry. A small Basic Black layer behind the Bride player. The Bride paper was colored with a brayer and the Rich Razzleberry classic ink. Wide Black grosgrain around the Bride paper layer. The flower from Together Forever was stamped on Whisper White in Basic Black and colored with the blender pen & Rich Razzleberry classic ink. It's layered on Rich Razzleberry and Basic Black, attached to the background with dimensionals over the ribbon. The saying, Together Forever, also from the Together Forever set was stamped on Whisper White and punched with the large oval punch. That is layered on a Scallop oval punch of Rich Razzleberry. That is layered on a Basic Black slightly larger scallop oval cut with the Punch Window die set for the Big Shot. The scallops are also attached with dimensionals.

This card is almost the same. Obviously the background as I said is the stripe print from the Bride paper, and I colored the flowers a little different. I decided after doing the first one they needed a little white left showing.

I will be back soon! I have several things to share. This week is looking a little slower, especially with the Holiday. All I have to do for Thanksgiving is make pumpkin pie. Maybe some shopping or decorating for Christmas on Friday.

11/10/2009

Black & White!

The theme for the monthly swap this time was Black & White. Not sure I've ever done one before, and it wasn't easy-I kept wanting to add color! But it came out OK!

I used the new specialty paper, Bride (page 158). You need to see this paper up close and in person if you haven't! It's gorgeous!! Heavier than the usual DSP and it has a shiny finish to the pattern. It has two prints, this one and a stripe. It also comes in Groom (black) and Bridesmaid (Vanilla). I NEED them all!! and you will too once you see them!!

OK, back to the card! Card base is Basic Black with the Bride paper on the background. I rounded the corners and added a wide black grosgrain ribbon around the center. The flower from Embrace Life was embossed with Black Craft Ink & Clear EP on the Shimmery White CS. Corners were again rounded and it was layered on Basic Black. The Best Wishes from Oval All was also embossed on Shimmery White, punched with the large oval punch and layered on a Basic Black Scallop oval. This was attached with dimensionals. Lastly I added a half-pearl from the Pretties Kit in the center of the flower!

Back to the stamp room! Somehow I've got to get 40 "gifts" done by Friday night, and I haven't really started! Better go give it some quality time!!! Have a good week all, I'm guessing I won't be back til the weekend!

11/02/2009

Marble Leaf

Another rolling marble card today, but with a slightly different look. I did the background on this one with the marbles & ink same as the others, but then cut it with the Top Note die in the Big Shot. Colors used were Elegant Eggplant, Really Rust & Summer Sun on Very Vanilla CS.


The card base is Really Rust and I stamped the smaller leaf from Autumn Splendor in Rust around the edge. On the Top Note I added a Vintage brad just inside each point. For the leaf, I stamped it on Very Vanilla with Elegant Eggplant ink. I then grabbed a blender pen and blended some of the ink around. I picked up so me extra to do the veins, and then added a little Summer Sun & Really Rust in some spots as well. I attached the leaf with dimensionals over a piece of Elegant Eggplant, then layered onto the Top Note & card base. Great fall card!!

11/01/2009

More Marble cards

A couple more rolling marble background cards today! What a nice, sunny day it is here in Nebraska-hope the combines are rolling!!!

First up is a monochromatic one, using all shades of purple. Background used Elegant Eggplant, Perfect Plum & Pale Plum on Whisper White. Card base is Perfect Plum. I used the corner rounder on both the background and main image. The long stem flower from Bloomin' Beautiful was stamped in Elegant Eggplant and a blender pen was used to blend the ink some and add some Perfect Plum. I layered that on Elegant Eggplant and tied a White Satin ribbon around.
This one has a very similar look, but I changed up the colors a bit. Background was done with Elegant Eggplant, Perfect Plum & Always Artichoke on Whisper White again. I used the Tag corner punch on the background this time. The main image is from True Friend and I colored it using Elegant Eggplant, Perfect Plum & Always Artichoke markers. I added a small purple Rhinestone brad from the Ice Circles set. This was layered on Always Artichoke with an Elegant Eggplant ribbon tied at the bottom.

Hope you're able to give this fun technique a try!