Color combos

There are colors that I would never think to put together. That is why I rely on my Color Coach so much. But, I noticed that my Dusty Durango, Rich Razzleberry and Melon Mambo looks just like the color combos from Cirque de Soleil's Kooza.
I will need to take more time and look for more color combos that are out there for inspiration.

Robots

A new Stampin year means new stamp sets. Yeah!
One of the fun new sets is Lots of Bots.


My son was invited to a friends birthday party and he asked me to make a card (How sweet! He appreciates me!) He wanted me to make a stand up card like the ones I made for his birthday invitations. Well, I had to try my new stamps!

The base of the card is made with Brilliant Blue and the tag is made with Brushed Silver. The base is stamped all over with nuts and bolts in Brilliant Blue ink. I water colored the image with Going Grey and Brilliant Blue.

Daniel loves the interaction of the card. He likes how it is opened in a different way and it stands itself. I think this is quickly becoming one of my favorite designs.

Independence Day

Happy 4th of July!

Before I share all the new projects from new goodies, I want to showcase one more old set, just for today. I made these cards as thank you to some of my fellow Navy moms using the Free and the Brave set. I used Brilliant Blue, Real Red, and Brushed Gold papers. I watercolored the image on Whisper White.

Today is a day not just for celebrating and shooting fireworks, but also to remember what it took to get here and the cost of having this celebration. Too often, people forget that "Freedom isn't Free". We have our freedoms because of those that have been willing to fight for it. And its a battle that we must continue to stand up for. Everyday, I think about our military and the sacrifices they make. I hope everyone at least thinks about them today.

In the meantime, I'll just keep waiting for my new military stamps set from the new catalog!

Faux Leather Wallet

One of the coolest projects we learned at the Luv2Stamp meeting was how to make Faux Leather Wallets.

The outside of the wallet has a faux leather finish. This is achieved through heat embossing clear embossing powder after drawing lines in the embossing powder.

The wallet has pockets on the left for gift cards and a clear window (like a drivers license window) on the right. The wallet doesn't hold much, but is perfect for gift cards.
I made mine for my Secret Pal for his end of the year gift. I think it worked out quite well.

To learn how to do this, come to my workshop or you can purchase the pattern at Patty's website. The pattern includes an 18 page tutorial with over 70 photos and step by step instructions for only $10 !!
http://pattystamps.com/pattys_stamping_spot/2009/05/fabulous-wallets-tutorial-available.html

Brayered Manhattan Rose

We also brayered these roses. These are so gorgeous and easy.
Start by embossing the Manhattan Flower on Shimmery White paper. Using the lightest color first, brayer irregularly on the non-raised side of the paper. Remember to move lightly and shift directions/angles as you move the brayer to prevent lines. Change to a slightly darker color and continue with irregular layers.
After brayering layers of color, cut out the brayered image and mount.
So easy, so cool!

Brayered projects

Also at our Luv2Stamp meeting, we worked on brayered cards. These are my cards.
To create these cards, first stamp the image. Mask off the area that is not going to be brayered. (the snow, the water/sky). Brayer in layers, starting from the lightest color and working towards darker colors. Keep a light touch and move in a curved, irregular pattern. If you go back and forth, ridges tend to appear. Irregular, curved movements create a blended, even appearance.
The mountains were created by using a mask and sponged.

After all the brayering is done to create the blended backgrounds, white gel pen was used to add the highlights in the water and the snow.
It was amazingly easy to make such beautiful cards.
Patty is the best!

My Swap

For our last Luv2Stamp meeting, I decided to try out the Butterfly Die for the Big Shot. I used Textured Neutral cardstock - Going Grey and Basic Grey. I also used the Walk in the Park DSP and ribbon.

To make the butterfly, I first cut the butterfly out of Vellum Cardstock. I then ran it through again to emboss it. The middle of the butterfly still needed something, so I ran a line of Crystal Effects and sprinkled Dazzling Diamonds glitter. I was still stuck for antenna, so I cut a strip of vellum, folded it in half and curled it. I then used a silver brad to make the head of the butterfly.

One warning, the antenna can get twisted when curled, so I do not recommend having much of a curl and expecting it to travel well in the mail. This does much better hand delivered.

Blast from the past

OK, its hard to find a good stamp set for boys. It can't be too cutesy. It should be related to what they do. Its tough.

Well, for my son's birthday, I tried to think of something that wouldn't offend him, be interesting, and connect thematically to his party. Yeah, right....

Well, since his party is a Golfland Sunsplash, the big castle, I thought to use my "Dreams and Dragons" set. Now, this set is my reminder to myself and everyone else... If you like a set BUY IT! Don't worry about it being retired and you aren't sure if you would use it enough or whatever excuse you give yourself to pass on it. Just buy it. Or five years later you find yourself paying three times (or more) than it is worth on EBay. Like I did with this set.



Anyway, I used the trophy card/stand up card design for this. I wasn't too sure I wanted to go through all the effort to make these cards, but once I was started, I found it was really quite easy.

The real test was showing the invitation to my son. He looked at and seemed mildly interested (now that is a really good sign!) We took the invitation to his patrol meeting and the boys were also mildly interested. They liked being able to pull on it and peeked through the stand. Hey, they didn't laugh or get indignant! Yeah!



I will post all the directions on how to do these in the next few days. If you just can't wait, there is an excellent tutorial on Split Coast Stampers.

Thank You cards

Our class received a grant to continue our field study programs. Although the district has been able to support field experiences in the past, our tight financial times are quite limiting.

To say "Thanks" to the support we received, I made some cards for the kids to record their thoughts and thanks.
Parents came along to chaperone our trip, so we had a card for each parent signed by the kids they worked with. The were really excited by these cards (made me feel pretty good to see they appreciated my time and didin't think they were hokey)

I made larger 6x6 cards with a picture of the kids on the trip for the foundation that made the generous donation that paid for our transportation. Each of the kids signed the card with a few words of thanks. They were really great!

Although I do like my cards, I think I am in a rut. I seem to be going through lots of Certainly Celery and So Saffron. Maybe because they go with the Delicate Dots DSP from SAB I have been collecting (I am sad to see it go) I also am using the SAB ribbon bundle. Hmm... same colors, no surprise with that. I also seem to find that everything suddenly needs eyelet trim. And I just living off of those embosslits. I just can't stop playing with that little Cherry Blossom!

But I did slip in some old Hodge Podge (antique Brass)
Yep. I am definitely in a rut. I need to pull out some new colors and sets (even if I am having fun!)

My Swaps

When I saw the new Ocean Commotion, I knew it was my first "Must Have"

For this card, I used the Curly Label Movers and Shapers on Whisper White. I stamped the Swirly Kelp in Baja Breeze first. I then used the Swirly SU Texturz to emboss just the front. I used Pacific Point to stamp the animals to make them stand out. The Seahorse stands out even more with a couple dimensionals. With a final touch of Pacific Point ribbon, it all comes together.

A tip for embossing just the front:
The Silicon pad has a tendency to slide while running through the Big Shot. Run the back of the card through first so that if the pad slides, it does not emboss any other paper. I found the easiest way was to use the seam line to line everything up: the fold of the card, the edge of the silicon pad, and of course the textured pattern.

How to emboss card fronts

There has been some discussion on SCS about how to emboss just the fronts.
So here is how I made my cards and projects.

First off, I used the Movers and Shapers Curly Label die to make my cards. These dies are so cool. I sure hope SU and Sizzix come out with many more. You can put the put anywhere you want and it is held in place magnetically. It doesn't more so you can make many cuts all consistently. The Curly Label punch also coordinates with this die.

In this case, I ran a 12 x 5 piece of Real Red through the Big Shot on the Movers and Shapers die.

To emboss the front:
Line up the score line on the card (made by the Movers and Shapers) with the edge of the Texture embossing plate. Because the Silicon pad has a tendency to slide, always run the back side (or whatever is not being embossed at this time) through first. As you can see, it is already in the Big Shot. Remember which side is the front of your card. The front of the card needs to be down to raise the image.

To be sure that everything is correctly embossed, use the edge of the Embossing plate to line up the Silicone pad. By lining up everything on the edge line, it is quick, easy, and accurate.

The front is now embossed. This can be used for a card. Or, the back can also be run through to create a gift bag like the Valentine treat below.

Love you Much Valentines

Although I wasn't too sure about the Love You Much bundle at first, I am finding that I absolutely love it! The Candy Lane paper, the hearts punch, the stamps are just too cute. Here is my first set of Valentines I was trying out.

Paperwise, these cards used Close to Cocoa, Pirouette Pink, Riding Hood Red, and Very Vanilla card stock. I also used the Candy Lane DSP which coordinates with those colors.
When stamping on colored cardstock and then coloring, I found that the Close to Cocoa wasn't always dark enough. I also used Chocolate Chip ink for stamping.

I also used the Vanilla taffeta ribbon and Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon. The Vanilla hodgepodge also coordinates with Candy Lane. And the birds fit pretty well inside the Designer Label punch. They also fit in the oval punch. In each case, the little heart gets cut out, but the small heart from the heart stamp and punch is a perfect replacement.
Too bad I don't have many people to send Valentines to. Just my boys (and they aren't really too interested. They consider it abit girly)

Remember our military

One of the Navy Moms on my forums mentioned that a sailor over seas did not receive any cards for Christmas. In fact, her son has not seen any mail for him since he arrived. Sadly, many of our dedicated service people do not have support or contact from those back home. If possible, always send out a care package or a note.

Its late, but I sent out this Christmas card and New Years card to this sailor. I will also look at getting a care package out his way.

If you don't recognize it, the Christmas card is from Deer Friends. It is similar to my earlier card.
The New Year card uses the Under the Stars set and Muirfield DSP with Baja Breeze and Chocolate Chip.

Please remember, whether you support the war or not, make sure to support our troops. Send a card, a package, or at least your warm thoughts!

My Christmas Cards

Although I originally had an elaborate design for my Christmas cards, I decided to keep it simple and cute this year. I was amazed with the cards made by several other crafters using the Top Note die to make the folded cards and had to give it a try. It was so easy, and different. And they stand really well.

I love the Deer Friends hostess set and took advantage of it to make my cards. I couldn't resist coloring the deer's nose red and gave it a touch of crystal effects to help it "glow". And I had to use my new stamp set from the Country Living special to perk up background too.

Invitation

Daniel is about to turn 10.

Here is Daniel's party invitation
I used Ahoy, Matey and Matey's Map.
The main card is on Blue Bayou (which always makes me think about pirates)
The Matey's Map is on parchment, wrinkled and and sponged with Chocolate Chip.
The Pirate is on Vanilla and sponged to give it an aged look.

It was a fun card to make and the kids liked it!

Triangle Trifold Card

This is another fabulous project that some of the other Stampin' Up group members came up with.
This Triangle Trifold card uses the new tapestry theme line: the new Baroque Designer Paper and Baroque Motifs stamp set.
This card is very versatile. You can opt to attach the ribbon in a variety of ways. It can be attached to the front (one triangle) or the back. The key is, don't attach it in too many places, or the card will not open. I like using the Sticky Strip, since it will hold even if you only are attaching a small area.
There is a great tutorial for this on Split Coast Stampers at:
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/triangletrifold.php

My Swap

At my last Stampin' Up meeting, we had a card swap for cards using the new catalog.

One of my favorite new sets is the Baroque Motifs. I used Old Olive cardstock and sponged it with Old Olive ink to "age" it. I used gold embossing powder with versamark to emboss the background image on the Old Olive and the medallion on Basic Black.

I highlighted it with Black grosgrain ribbon and raised the medallion with Stampin' Dimensionals.
This is all mounted on Basic Black cardstock.