Merry Little Christmas card kit

    Do you ever just want to make a card and not worry about designing it, or cutting out cardstock?  Well, SU now has kits that you can purchase.  This kit is called Merry Little Christmas and includes supplies to make 8 cards including the cute envelope liner. I did buy the saying stamp separately but loved the final look of the card.  My friend Julie showed on her blog how to turn the card into a birthday card.  Clever idea I would not  have thought of. Now, I need another set for some ready to mail birthday cards. What would you use as an alternate saying on this card ?

Christmas Punches

     Last year one of my stampers suggested having a Christmas card class in the summer.  So, I did and decided to make it an annual event.  Last weekend I had Christmas in August.  People that came made 4 Christmas cards, 3 tags and a decorated box.  They got to use several new items from the Holiday catalog.  This card was made using the trio of tiny Christmas punches.  It is no longer in the catalog but still available to order. If you are interested in order them send me an email and I will be glad to help you out.  The designer paper I used for this card is actually called Birthday Basics.  But I liked the look of the design and thought it would be great for this card. How much easier can you get, punches, designer paper, and a simple saying.

Undefined Christmas Tree

     It's never too early for Christmas wouldn't you agree!  At my downline meeting on Tuesday we had a great time playing with new product.  I had the thinlits, the envelope punch board, the new paper cutter rotary arm, and the carving tools.  Everyone tried their hand at making their own stamp.  I hope they will  bring back cards they made with their stamp next meeting so I can post them here.  I decided to make another one and tried a Christmas card this time.  It was so much fun.  Here is what I like about this Undefined Carving kit.

1. The stamped image has a primitive look to it so it does not have to be perfect or exact.

2. The extra lines that are caused by not carving everything perfectly add to the primitive look.

3. Simple looks as good as a complicated design.

What do you like about the hand carved look?
    

Fall Wreath Fun

     Wouldn't you love to have this wreath in your house?  Well, some of my stamping friends will be making this wreath today.  I pretty much copied the design from the catalog.  After all isn't what that is for.  I used the solid colored cardstock that coordinated with the Sweater Weather designer paper.  I textured the cardstock using the Woodgrain, Stylish Stripes, and Chevron embossing folders.  The new Burlap ribbon worked out as the perfect wreath holder.  I did have to go to several locations to find the Styrofoam wreath I was looking for.  I could not believe how much they cost.  I wrapped the wreath in muslin strips to cover over the blaring white of the Styrofoam. I am looking forward to making the winter wreath and offer that as a class in November. Now to figure out where to place this in my house.

Simple cards for Knollwood

 

 

     Designer paper can make a card easy to put together.  The last time I went to Knollwood to make cards with the Senior ladies I took this card.  I had pre-punched all the flowers, and the extra large oval.  Each lady then stamped the words which I then punched out.  This may seem way too easy for you and I but is just right for the ladies that stamp with me.  They have two sides of DSP to choose from so each card can look so very different.  Since they are all on a limited income, and never purchase anything from me, I am able to use up retired supplies I over purchased. Imagine that! over purchasing.

 

    

    I loved the designer paper on this card and thought the saying from the set called Really Good Greetings, had a different way of saying Happy Birthday.  We stamped the words Happy Birthday on the inside.
   I have said it before but going to Knollwood and making cards with the ladies that live there is such a positive experience for me, it makes my day so much brighter.



Thinlits Circle card

     Can you find the new items on this card? 

1. The chevron border punch is great.  It was bigger than I thought it would be, therefore the punch out shapes are easy to use as accent pieces. 

2. The stamp set is called Spread the Joy and was designed by one of the employees of StampinUp.  SU is encouraging anyone, demonstrators, customers to design stamps and post them on this site. Anyone can vote on the designs they like.  At the end of the open period the design that gets the most votes will actually be created as a stamp in that person's style and handwriting.  I think this is a great idea.  I actually created a design as a way to push myself. See if you can find mine.

   In case you are wondering how I made the thoughts of you saying into two lines, I used my window punch.  First, I punched out the thoughts, then  of you.  Finally, I resized the of you by placing one end of the punched out section back into the punch to shorten the saying.  What would you create with these new items?

Thinlits Label card maker

    I love a card that shows action, and that also is simple to make.  Well, the new Thinlit card makers are just that simple.  I took a 6 by 6 piece of 12 by 12 cardstock, ran it through the thinlit, added a few butterflies, and a couple of stamps and in less than a half hour had a great looking action card.  I didn't even use all the parts that came with the thinlit.  There are at least 8 additional thinlits that can be used to decorate cards.  Look for lots more samples in the future.

   

 

     When you gently pull the lower left hand corner of the card it opens up and you have another view of the action card.  Easy Peasy and tons of fun.

 

Simple Get Well is Good

    
   The simplicity of this card spoke to me.  I received a very similar card as a swap a while ago and saved it for just the right class.  I changed the colors of the card from River Rock, which is retired to Sahara Sand.  The darker color is Early Espresso a great combination.  Did you notice the envelope?  I used the new Envelope Liner Framelit to provide some color to the inside of the envelope. This card will be easy to duplicate and could be used for multiple occasions.

McDonald House Get Well Stamp

    Tag it is the name of this year's Ronald McDonald house stamp.  I think the images are really cute and love that each one can be cut out using the Chalk Board Framelits.  Simple cards like this one can be as cute as ones with lots of details.  The designer paper is from Gingham Garden. When you need a fast card, designer paper and framelits can make it fast and easy to get the job done.

  Still no camera, not in any trash cans.  I wish it had a tone to it so I could just dial and find it like I can find my phone when I misplace it.  Where would you look for my phone if you were me?

Need a Kleenex?

    
    I received a card like this as a swap more than a year ago and finally had a chance to use it, with my own touch of course.  I chose the Venetian Romance paper because this design reminded me of one I had seen on an actual box of Kleenex.  This would certainly cheer me up if I had a cold or the flu, how about you? The oval for the box top was easy to make.

1, First punch an oval in the center of the designer paper. I used the large oval punch.

2. Next, punch an oval, yes the oval, in the contrasting color.

3. Finally, take the scalloped oval punch and center it around the hole you made in step 2.  Save the oval you punched out for another project.

   I used the new embossing folder called Stylish Stripes for the background paper.  It is one of my favorite things in the Holiday catalog. Finished off with the saying from Sassy Salutations, punched it out with the hexagon punch, and layered it with the new Label Bracket punch also in the Holiday catalog.  Can you tell I love punches?

   The camera still has not shown up and is definitely not in the refrigerator. Mystery still unsolved.

Get Well Grunge

    
   Gorgeous Grunge was one of the stamp sets we received at convention.  I was not sure what to do with it until I went to the Jubilant Butterflies meeting and saw this card that Alison made.  I loved everything about it.  The colors, the arrangement of the stamps, and the simplicity.  This is really a one layer card. I really CASED
Alison's card, just changed up the saying to one that could be used as a get well card.
   A little story about me.  On Monday I took a picture of a project to have it ready to post that day on my blog and in an email to customers.  Well, after I took the picture the camera has disappeared.  I have been searching my house inside and out, trash cans, boxes, behind shelves, everywhere I can think of and can not find the camera.  I don't know if this ever happens to you.  I know at some point it will turn up and be in a strange place, I just hope it is not the refrigerator! Thank goodness I have a smart phone.

Carving my own stamps

     I did it!  Tonight I just dove in and tried my hand at carving my own stamps.  I had thought about what design I would like to try my hand at and decided on a flower image I have used for years, then it was on to the leaf, then I tried my stamping name Sushi, then I made a greeting and a heart.  It was so much fun, I think I may never stop!

    Here is the card I made with my stamps.

    I can see it now, I won't be able to get to sleep because I will be trying to decide what to carve next.  Confession time, I ordered some inexpensive carving foam to get me started but I think I am ready for the Undefined kit from StampinUp.  I am thinking of having an evening where people can just try out carving and see what they think.  What would you carve if you came to my house?

Aqua Painter shading

     What was the first stamp set that caught your eye when you opened the new catalog?  Well, the Wetlands stamp set was one of the ones I was immediately drawn to.  We made this card at the Jubilant Butterflies meeting last week.  There are a few things that were surprises to me when I made the card.

1.  We shaded the inside of the Canada Goose image with an Aqua Painter filled with water and reinker.

2. The tab at the top of the tag was made with the ticket punch, folded in half.

3. The corners of the tag were made with one side of the hexagon punch.

   Let me know what your favorite stamp set was and I will feature some more of my favorites in future blogs.

Telescoping card

     One of the cards we made at the Jubilant Butterflies meeting used several different sized circles, and scalloped circle shapes.  The trick or treat in the center is from the set called Tags for You and is one of the sets everyone at convention received for free.  Put your hands on the center circle and give a little twist and then.....

  

    This is what you see.  Isn't that fun!  The saying in the center of the card is from the set called Halloween Bash that I received for free as a prize patrol.  Can't wait to show my stamping friends how to make this cute card.

Julie's Undefined stamp

  This is one of the cards we made at the Jubilant Butterflies meeting this past Tuesday.  It uses the Thinlits Circle card that I used on my card yesterday.  But the best part of this card is the snail stamp.  StampinUp has come out with a new kit called Undefined.  I am so excited about this new kit.  It allows you to actually create and carve your own design.  Julie created the snail ands we all used it on our cards.
  I found out about Undefined at convention and have been a little nervous about actually carving my own stamp.  After Tuesday I have gotten the courage to give it a try and have a design figured out in my head.  Check out my blog tomorrow to see my design.

     The inside of the card we made on Tuesday.

Thinlits, Circle card for Halloween

    
   Now, that I had fun with the Expressions Thinlits, I thought I would try out the Circle card thinlits.  These are amazing.  You send your cardstock, and the thinlit through the Big shot and come out with a card that has cuts and score lines ready to go.  I used the Witches Brew designer paper, and the Best of Halloween stamp set to make the front of the card.  Then, Voila, you pull the edges of the card apart and this is what you see next.

  On the inside I used the scalloped shape that came as part of the Circles Thinlit set, the 1 3/4 inch scalloped punch and the Trick or Treat saying from Best of Halloween.  Don't you just love how everything coordinates so well.

Thinlits leftovers-What to do/

     After I made the cards I showed yesterday, I noticed the leftovers also showed each word in a different light.  So, I featured them in cards.  I tried to make the colors look about the same, but made sure what showed through the empty spaces would look good.

    I liked the silver look of the Winter Frost designer paper and decided some silver glimmer paper would look good behind the merry.  Don't you just love the look of the new Frosted Finishes embellishments.



    

     When I saw what was leftover after the love was cut out it looked rather odd, so I ran the word through and used the cut out loops as added features.  Now, at least it looks like the word love.
     How would you have fun using the new Expressions thinlits and the leftover pieces? 

Expression Thinlits Fun

   Wow, the time has really flown by since I lasted posted.  I have just returned from a family reunion in Angola, Indiana.  What great times we had. It took me a while when I returned to get back into the stamping mode, but a meeting of the Jubilant Butterflies last night helped me get back in the groove.
     I gave a brief demo on how to use the Expressions Thinlits in an easy and non-frustration manner.  Mary Fish has a tutorial you can access here that demos what I am talking about.

1. First if you have a magnetic platform your job will be so easy, otherwise a regular platform for a Big Shot will work just fine.

2. Layer in the following order cutting plate, cardstock or DSP, waxed paper, thinlit, second cutting plate.

3. Run through the Big Shot, then use a paper piercing tool to poke all holes and inside shapes out.

4. The cut out piece will come out so easy because of the waxed paper.  I tried several samples and they all worked out just fine.

   I can't wait to make some more cards using these delicate phrases.  Come back tomorrow for a great hint on how to glue the phrases to your project.

Family Reunion Scrapbook page

     I love how this layout turned out.  I used the I am Me designer paper for the travel pages because it had suitcases and cameras and fit the theme. I added smaller stirps of coordinating cardstock between each piece of DSP.  Each person coming to the class had told me ahead of time where they were going for a trip.  I went onto My Digital Studio and found a map of the US with the download called Fifty Nifty.  I shrank the US to use as an accent piece and marked the journey to the family reunion this year.

   For the second page I found a punch for each state also a part of the Fifty Nifty download and filled it in with designer paper I thought would go along with the color scheme of the designer paper.  I can't wait to add some pictures from my family reunion in Angola, Indiana.

Hexagon Flower Scrapbook page

    Scrapbook Your Life for July met this past week and this is one of the layouts we made.  I used the Afternoon Picnic Designer paper and the hexagon punch.  I have some beautiful pictures of  miniature lilac trees that I plan to place on this layout.  Now, what do I have to do to get them there?  Just print them off.  I think I can do that before the class meets next month.
  The scrappers that come to the class have the challenge of placing photos on the pages when they come each month.  They put me to shame.  They have been attending for 4 years now and have pictures on every layout we have made.  You do the math, 4 pages each month, for 4 years equals 192 pages completed.  Way to go Clara and Cammie.

Mirror image of the first page.

Ronald McDonald House Charities card event

     Do you know what a swap is?  Well, it is a card front you swap at events with other people to get ideas to use in your stamping classes.  Since I have been a demonstrator for 10 years, you can imagine that I have quite a collection.  Stampin'Up! joined with the Ronald McDonald house charities my first year as a demonstrator.  Each year they create a stamp set that benefits the charities all over the world.  They have donated over $1,000,000 in the 10 years that have had this connection.
   Well, I recently was contacted by the lead of the Springfield, IL house and asked to have a card event and then donate the cards to the house to have on hand for families to use during their stay.  My  bright idea light came on and I had an event where people came and turned the swaps I had collected into whole cards.  Three people and myself created 115 cards in 3 hours to send to the house in Springfield.  It was great fun to work together for such a good cause.  I am planning to hold a similar event each quarter to keep the cards coming to the house.
  Once we had all the cards, I thought to myself.  Wait we need envelopes for all those cards.  I had lots of leftover designer paper and using my diagonal scoring plate, I made 115 envelopes. I had did that while watching some of my guilty pleasures, like the Bachelorette.  Yes, I do watch that show.

  I then sorted the cards by type and boxed them up to send the lead for a party they are having on August 9th.  I wish I could go but I will be heading home from my family reunion and in no shape for a party after being in the car for 6 hours.

Hidden Message folded card

  I learned how to make this card at a Jubilant Butterflies meeting a while ago.  It looks pretty basic, but there is a hidden flap that you pull out to the left that reveals a hidden message.

   You might wonder what stamp I used to get the scalloped oval underneath the banner on the front of the card.  I used one of the stamps in the Everything Eleanor stampset, which could have been cut out using a Framelit from the Apothecary Accents set.  But, instead of the framelit I used the scalloped oval punch and covered the original saying with the banner.  You can do most anything you want with any stamp, just try!

Butterfly Pop-Up

  I found a wonderful tutorial on how to make this butterfly pop-up card. After I made the butterfly I wanted to mount it on a card base.  I popped up the butterfly with dimensionals to make it easier to pop up.

   I used the new in-colors for the card and am loving them more and more each time I use them.

Black and White Fancy folded card

  Don't you just love the look of a black and white card?  I think they are so very striking.  When I decided to create this card for my Fancy Fold Technique class, I used a design I had learned at the Spring Into Stamping event held last April.  I think all the designs in the Modern Medley designer paper pack look wonderful with this technique.  Looks hard, so easy

1.  Cut your accent piece into a 4 inch square.

2. Score the paper at 2, 2 3/4 inches on each side.

3. Accordian fold the paper and now you have a wonderful frame you can place anything inside.

I used the Flower Shop stamp set to create the flower I placed inside my frame.

   Doesn't this sound much simplier than it looks/

Ordering Mistake

   Sometimes I do not read all the fine print.  Imagine that, a retired reading teacher not paying attention to all the details. This happened recently when I ordered the new wood mount cases for my 6 wood mount stamps.  Without reading the fine print I ordered 6 so that all my wooden stamps would fit into a new box, and line up with my clear mount cases.  Imagine my surprise when the order came and I now had 24 cases, because the fine print mention that 4 cases come in one order. Because I had a whole lot of extra cases, I put my mind to work and created kits to place at each person's place whenever I have a class. 

   Inside each kit are the basic supplies that a stamper might need to create cards. This has turned out to be a wonderful mistake and has me a lot more organized when people leave a stamping event.  They put everything back in the box, much less work for me.

A Handmade Gift for Alex

     Today, my youngest grandson Alex turns 4.  I wanted to make him one of his gifts and remembered I had some leftover designer paper with the alphabet on it.  In fact, I had two sheets of it left.  Perfect for making a concentration game. 

1. I cut out the pieces for the ABC's and the numbers.

2. My friend, Darcy, let me come over and laminate the pieces.

3. I found a bag, added some Velcro inside to keep it closed.

4. Placed everything in one of our new wood mount cases.

Now we'll wait and see how long all the pieces stay together.  Wish I could see him open his gift and play the game with him.