Snowflake Sentiments-Black and White and Red all Over

 I love the look of a black and white card, how about you? How did I make the center of the card?

1. I knew I wanted the center to be about 1 inch wide, so I cute my card stock 1 inch shorter than I normally would.  5 inches by 2 3/4 rather than 3 3/4.

2. Next I cut a swirled piece about 2/3 down from the top of the designer paper.

3. Place the top and bottom cut piece so that it centers on the sides of the card and attach it to the card base with dimensionals. Now you have a white center piece in which to place a saying.

4. I fussy cut the saying so I could place it where I wanted in the white space.

Since I wanted to make sure I used all the parts of this bundle I created this card to showcase the snowflakes and the swirls.  

The designer paper stack called Quilted Christmas made the perfect background, while the Cherry Cobbler card stock was a great color for the focal points of the card.

The dotted strip is actually a thin piece of Washi tape to hold the accent piece in place.

Finally, tomorrow I will share with you some 3 by 3 cards I made that would be perfect to use as tags on gifts.

Snowflake Sentiments-WOW card

  Why do I call this a WOW card?

1. The white background is made using Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer card stock.  The glitter on the background makes is a WOW.

2. The intricate Soft Sky snowflakes on top of the background are so delicate looking, they make the card look difficult to put together and therefore are a WOW.

3. The simple color scheme of blue and white say WOW to me.

Tomorrow I will show you two more cards made using this set that have an entirely different look to them. Check it out tomorrow.

Snowflake Sentiments-Block technique

 The background of this card is created using an acrylic block to mount stamps on.  If you have not used this technique before it is very simple.

1. Ink up your block by coloring it with a marker. I used Marina Mist, Pool Party, and Soft Sky and colored on one of the rectangular blocks.

2. Spritz the inked block with water. 

3. Stamp this onto your background card stock as if it were an inked stamp.

Now you have a great background for whatever you want your card to look like.

I finished the card by creating the word JOY with the Large Letters framelits and some snowflakes.

Come back tomorrow to see a WOW card made with this set.

Snowflake Sentiments-Simple Card

  These are the framelits that coordinate with the Snowflake Sentiments stamp set.  I first noticed the large snowflake border and the dotted border and did not notice the other items as much, like the tiny snowflakes, the swirl, and the line of dots.  When I sat down to play with the set I wanted to make sure I used everything offered and then found out what fun all these items are to use. 

  I wanted to start out with a simple card.

This will be my December Christmas Through the Year card.  

 The dotted border is a great framelit.  It is just a single dotted scallop that can be as long as you wish.  First decide your paper length and then lay the scallop on the top edge.  It doesn't show on my card but mine is placed on a piece of Dazzling Diamond glimmer paper.

  As I often say, simple can be elegant.

Tomorrow I will showcase a sample using the block stamping technique.

Night in Bethlehem-Ornaments

 Do you like the look of handcrafted ornaments?  I have gone through the ornaments I have saved over the years and kept only the hand crafted ornaments.  The kids have moved, and the tree is smaller, and in trying to downsize I am happy with my decision.  

What did I use to make these ornaments?

1. Foil snowflakes, two per ornament, gold and silver glued together.

2. Silver and Gold Foil card stock.

3. Layering Ovals framelits

4. Oh My Stars embossing folder

The ornaments are reversible.

I reversed the gold and silver foil, the foil snowflakes and featured a different part of the stamp set on each side.  It was great fun.

Next week I will be sharing all the projects I made with the Snowflake Sentiments bundle.  These were also make for the Holiday Catalog Launch party so be prepared to see quite a variety.

Night in Bethlehem-Envelope Punch board box with cards

 Did you know you can make a box with the envelope punch board.  Here are the steps to follow.

1. Look on the punch board for your card size.  Mine was 3 by 3.

2. Add 1 1/4 inches to the paper size.  A 3 by 3 card need paper sized at 5 1/4 by 5 1/4.  So adding 1 1/4 would make the new size for the paper 6 1/2 by 6 1/2.

3. Find the score line for your card and add 1/4 inch to the score line.
3 by 3 score line is 2 5/8 so the new score line would be 2 7/8.

4. Make your first score and punch.

5. Move over 1" and score and punch again.  Continue like you would with an envelope only you are scoring and punch twice before turning 90 degrees.  

I think I have an idea for my next Youtube video.  One of my goals is to do more videos.  

Once your box is put together, then you can make some 3 by 3 cards to put inside the box.  Making some kind of a belly band will help the box stay together with having to seal it. What would you make your box and cards from?

Happy Thanksgiving one and all.  I hope today finds you with family and friends.  I am in Tennessee with my children and grandchildren and loving every minute.

Tomorrow I will share some ornaments I made for the tree using this great and versatile set.

Night in Bethlehem-Framed Art

 Do you like to display your art work on the walls of your home?  I think it is fun now and then to make something that can hang on the walls. In preparation for the Holiday Launch party I was encouraged to make a variety of items with the same stamp set.  That was so much fun, I have to figure out a way to do that with each new set I receive.  It helps me realize the versatility of a stamp set and helps me share these ideas with all of you.

I had some long frames in my garage and decided to try to make a picture inside.  The background paper is from the designer paper stack called Delightful Daisy.  Yes, that is correct!  There were flowers on one side but this delightful blue pattern on the back that reminded me of the night sky.  So remember there are 2 sides to each designer paper.

1. The city scene was repeated twice using both the framelits.  The top layer was raised using dimensionals.

2. A foil snowflake was cut in half to be used as background to one of the sayings in the stamp set.

3. The star was cut out from gold foil paper.

It was a lot of fun to make and encouraged me to try more framed art projects.

Tomorrow I will share a cute box I made using the envelope punch board with some 3 by 3 cards inside.

Night in Bethlehem-Stencil technique

  Have you ever sponged using a stencil?  To make this card I first used the Big Shot to cut out one of the city layouts.

1. Lay the cut out image over your whisper white card stock.

2. Start with your lightest color and gently sponge over the cut out. I used Fresh Fig.

3. Next choose a darker color and sponge once more making sure to keep the cut out on the paper. I used Dapper Denim.

4. The third color should be the darkest yet.  As you sponge each color try to blend a little with the previous color so there is not a sharp line. My final color was Night of Navy.

5. Allow the ink to dry a bit and then using versa mark, stamp the star in the sky and emboss with gold embossing powder. 

This was a very simple card to make but very elegant when finished.  I have swapped this card in several of my stamping events.  The latest was at OnStage.  This was also the Christmas Through the Year card for November. 

At Christmas Through the Year the stampers make 3 cards of the same design for $5.  The class meets every month so by the end of the year attendees have 36 handmade Christmas cards ready to be mailed.

Tomorrow I will share a framed art picture that I made to display at the Holiday Catalog launch I was a part of in early October.  Look for information about a Occasions and Sale a Bration catalog launch at the end of January.

Night in Bethlehem-Cards

  Aren't the framelits in the Night in Bethlehem bundle outstanding?  I loved them as soon as I saw them in the Holiday catalog.  Did you know the Holiday catalog is still current until January 3rd?

Here are two cards I made using these framelits.

 I love how you do not need much other than the framelits and a simple saying to make a great looking card.  There are two Bethlehem cities to choose from.  One is a little longer at the bottom than the other. I chose the shorter one for this card.

Basic Black for the city
Black ink for Mary and Joseph and the saying
Gold foil for the star

I made this as a sample for our Holiday Launch party, but now am anxious to mail it to a special friend.

How about a card where the city is white instead of black?

I sponged several colors I thought would look good as a night sky.  I embossed the saying in black embossing powdered.

The city has been cut out using both cityscapes and whisper white card stock.  The star has also been cut out with whisper white.

Isn't it amazing how changing up the background and the color of the framelit makes the card look so much different.

Tomorrow I will show you one of my swap cards for OnStage where I used the city in a totally different way.

Labels to Love-Valentine's Day

So what would you use this Love card for?

Birthday
Valentine's Day
Baby card
Wedding
Anniversary

Simple can be beautiful don't you agree!

On Monday, December 4th I will have the Labels of Love Card Cafe.  You will be able to make the cards that you have seen this week.  If you decide you want to own the Labels of Love bundle, then the class is free. Contact me at the link above for more details.

Next week I will feature the Night in Bethlehem bundle.  Come back to see several items that are not just cards.

Labels to Love-New Years

I love this black and Old Olive color combination.  Did you know the black paper is Christmas paper? What I love about the SU papers are that one side can be seasonal and the other allows us to use them for a longer period of time.

This stamp from the Labels of Love stamp set can be used for a variety of Occasions.

New Years
Birthdays
Anniversary
a promotion 

And I'm sure lots more.

Come back tomorrow to see the stamp that can be used for Valentine's Day.

Check back later today for more Stamparatus info.

Stamparatus-How do you reserve yours?

Stamparatus is being introduced as a reservation first.  The hopes are that this will avoid back orders.  So, how  do the reservations work?

1. Tomorrow-November 16-November 30th you can reserve one only while supplies last ( I would reserve mine the 16th) The reservation period opens at 2 PM Mountain time.  3PM if you live in Central time zone.

2. Your Stamparatus  will be shipped around February 1st.

3. You will need a credit card number when you reserve your device, but it will not be charged till it is actually shipped.

4. The cost is $49.

5. If you miss the November reservation dates there are two others

    December 5-30 shipped around March 19
    January 15-30 shipped around April 15

6. Once your reservation is transferred to your shopping cart you can add to the order.

Go to the Shop Now part of this blog, once you are in the store, click on the Stamparatus link to make your reservation.

Do you have questions, then contact me and I will try to help.

Don't have a computer, then you can reserve your tool by calling 1-800-STAMPUP.

Come back tomorrow to find out special ways the tool will help with your stamping.

Labels to Love-Another Christmas Card

Can you see how I created a card with a bit more detail than yesterday's card?

1. I added two different designer papers as a background.

2. Ribbon and mini sequins stepped the card up a bit and added some bling.

3. Instead of a foil snowflake I added a doily.

Small changes can make a simple card a little more detailed.

Come back tomorrow to see a card that could be given for New Years or any event that begins a new year.

Check back later on today for some information on how to register for the Stampamajig..

The video is really here!

 I finally have figured out how to get the video to all of you. Click on the word video to see the video. 

I hope you will be as excited as I am about the Stamparatus.  Contact me with questions and come back tomorrow when I let you know how to reserve one for yourself.

Stamparatus part 2

Here are the parts of the Stamparatus

7 by 7 wide
2 open sides so any sized paper can slip in
Grid and ruler on base but placed between a layer of clear plastic so that the grid will not wear off
2 strong magnets that can be stored on the base
Foam to be added on top of the base for photopolymer stamps
2 removable clear plastic plates that can be removed and turned around to allow for 4 stamps to be used at once
The ability to move the sides to stamp the same image multiple times.

Sometimes I notice my hand shaking a bit when I try to stamp and this will totally eliminate the mistakes I make when I stamp with the shakes.  It has nothing to do with drinking but more to do with aging.

Come back tomorrow when I share some ways to use the features of the Stamparatus with your stamping and how to make your reservation for one of your own.

Labels to Love-Christmas

  This stamp set makes creating cards pretty easy because the stamp is the focal point of the card. I colored the label with markers so that I could get several colors on the stamp at the same time.  Do you know how to do that?  

1. Ink the back of the stamp set with different colored markers.

2. Huff on the back of the stamp (blow on it to make sure the ink is moist). I remember at one Stampin'Up! event they called it doing the Darth Vader.  It does sound like that doesn't it.

3. Stamp your image on card stock.

Supplies

Foil Snowflakes
Holly embossing folder
Christmas Around the World designer paper
Real Red card stock
Markers 

Come back later today for more information about the Stamparatus and tomorrow to see how the stamp set Labels to Love can be used in a different way for Christmas.

Stamparatus Excitement

I arrived home last night from Salt Lake City and could hardly wait till today to see the information about this awesome new tool, the Stamparatus, that lots of people at Stampin'Up! helped design.

I have been a member of the L2L team for the past several years and we have been sharing and perfecting this device.  Image my excitement when I saw it at OnStage!  And now both you and I can make a reservation to have it sent to our homes!!!!

Watch the video to see what it can do. (You can see the video by clicking on the highlighted word Stamparatus). Come back tomorrow and I will share how you can reserve one, and several benefits I can see to this brand new tool.

If you think you would like to be a part of Stampin'Up! and learn about and help create new devices contact me at the link above or through my website www.sushi.stampinup.net.  I wish I could talk to you in person to let you know how excited I am about the Stamparatus!!!

Labels to Love-Thanksgiving

I love making cards that are simple, but great looking.  This card has lots of items I love to use in my card making. Punches, designer paper, and stamps, oh my.

Tracy Elsom made this great card that I had to CASE.  

Designer paper-Painted Autumn

Punches-Leaf Punch, Everyday Label punch 

Stamp set: Labels to Love

Ink: Cajun Craze

Come back tomorrow to see a card I made using one of the Christmas Labels.

Off to Utah

Such a busy week.  Making swaps, holding classes, making gifts for my roommates, doing laundry for my husband and I both to have clean clothes, cleaning up my stamping area, and packing.

Check my facebook page, Stampin with Sushi for pictures and notes about OnStage.  I will be back blogging next week with lots of great new ideas to share.

Stampin'-Marquee Messages

I love how these markers made this stamp set POP.  You can see the shading I used on the arrow, and around the word birthday.  In the center of the arrow, I actually used the Color Lifter to lift even more color off for a more shaded look.

When I lifted color off the blue area, the lifter took off more than I wanted so I was able to color over the light area and make it darker.  

I had such fun looking at my stamp sets to see which ones called out to be colored.  Next week I will feature the stamp set and kit that Stampin'Up! has created to coordinate with the markers.  And I will share a container I made to hold my markers since they need to lay flat when stored.  

Stampin' Blends-Beautiful You

  I loved how using the Stampin Blends on this card really made the dress and umbrella look 3 dimensional.  I used the ivory blend for the skin tone another plus for me.  When I colored in this stamp with our Stampin' Write markers I had nothing to use for skin color.

  Tomorrow I will use the set called Marquee Messages with the Stampin Blends.  It was a great set to use with these markers.

Stampin' Blends-In This World

 The Stampin Blends have two tips to use in your coloring.  One end is a smaller tip to use in tiny areas, and the other end is a brush tip.  For this card, I did not use shading because the areas are so small, but I did place the colors from the same shade near each other to resemble shading.

  The other images in this set, a door, a chair, and a key can also be colored and shaded.  It is fun to find stamp sets to color that and not common stamp sets.  The background of this card is stamped with a couple stamps in this set that are intended to be accent pieces.

  Today is the first day that you can order these great markers.  You may remember that a few years ago Stampin'Up! offered what they called Blendabilities. Since they have been off the market a lot of research has taken place and the markers have been improved considerable.  

   1. The lids are much easier to take on and off.

   2. The colors blend together much easier.

  
  3. There are just 2 shades with each color making it easier to see how to blend the colors together.

   Today is the first day that you can order these markers.  Check out my website for the details.

   Tomorrow I will share a card I made using the set called Beautiful You. Be sure and check back.