Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder - Versatile Wednesday & Try it Thursday

Hi Stampers and Scrappers! It's the Thursday before the long weekend and I hope everyone has some fun plans ahead of them. I'll be taking the weekend off because I'll be going back and forth to Kitchener all weekend long. I'm hoping to have something exciting for you on Monday. Which reminds me, the new 2011-2012 Idea Book and Catalogue is coming out TOMORROW. Now we can all start the ordering frenzy!! Please let me know if you want me to reserve your own copy.

So on Wednesday, I was doing this project called Emboss Embossing. That's where you take a piece of cardstock and emboss it (I used my Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine item #113439 $132.95) and used the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder (item #120175 $10.95) to do it. Then I heat embossed it with clear emboss powder (item #109130 $5.95). I put a ribbon around it and stamped an image from the Animal Crackers stamp set (from the retired list THAT ENDS TODAY).

But then I got to thinking. Yeah, it looked cool. But what if I put it up a notch? This time instead of the clear embossing powder, I used black (item #109133 $5.95). I love the look of this!! I thought it was too good to stamp an image and hide the texture and look of the image of the Vintage Wallpaper. So I just put a black satin ribbon (item #117285 $12.25 for 15 yards) around it. There are just so many possibilities to how this card can be used (invitations, anniversary, etc.).

So the versatile part is the Big Shot - you can do so much with this handy dandy little machine. I try to use it every day because it adds so much to a project. And with the variety of dies that Stampin' Up offers, you will never run out of ideas. The try it part is using the embossing powders in different ways, in different colours. It takes less than five minutes for your projects to pop.

I hope everyone has a good, long weekend. Talk to you soon!

Countryside - Ta Da! Tuesday

Hello stampers! Today I wanted to do something new and highlight a few products that I think is pretty amazing. I wanted to celebrate the fact that Canada Post is now up and running and I can start sending cards to my friends again. So this card was made for someone special.

First I took a piece of Whisper White cardstock and stamped an image from the Countryside Stamp Set (item #116998 $27.95 for wood - item #120495 $20.95 for clear) which I think has so much potential for a lot of projects. It's just so rustic and fun to colour. Which I did with Watercolour Pencils (item #101879 $25.95 for 24) and then used a Blender Pen (item #102845 $12.95 for 3) which takes the colours and blends it around a little. It's a wonderful look. Now here's the fun part.

You take the stamped image and cover it completely with a VersaMark (item #102283 $9.95) pad. Once it's all covered completely, I sprinkled Clear Emboss Powder (item #109130 $5.95) and tapped off the excess. I used my Heat Tool (item #100005 $38.95) and applied heat to the image. It made the image look glossy. While it was still hot, I repeated this two more times. Here's the crazy part. Once I did that step 3 times, I put it in the freezer for a few minutes. When I got it out, I started to bend a few areas of the image so that "cracks" would appear. It's absolutely so cool! It gives it an old fashioned look - cracked glass. I know the pictures won't be able to do it justice. I then matted the image on Basic Black and then the cardbase was put through the Big Shot using a Square Lattice embossing folder (item #119976 $10.95) which made the cardstock have a little more texture. I then used the sentiment from the "With All My Heart" (item #118134 $21.95 for wood - item #118623 $16.95 for clear) stamp set. I added two antique brads (item #117273 $7.50 for 20 individual brads) which I think just ties the whole look of the project. I wrapped some Baker's Twine (item #123125 $3.95 for 25 yards of Cherry Cobbler/White colour) which is uber trendy right now. If you look at the scrapbooking and cardmaking magazines right now, this product is on everything and you know what? It's really sweet.

I love rustic and old fashioned and I hope that I accomplished that.

Well, that's my Ta Da! for today. I hope you like it. I'm off to mail this off to someone special - who knows, it might be you!

Elements of Style - Scrapbook Layout

Hey!
I was still in a scrapbook state of mind since Saturday so I wanted to do another layout. This has taken me until today to finish. My printer isn't working for me to print out some pictures that I had wanted so I was forced to dig through my stash and find this picture of me. I think I was 9 years old? I didn't think I would write something so personal but it just came out of me so either I put a flap on the journalling or leave it bare - I just have to decide.

What I wanted to do was stamp solely by markers. That means that instead of stamping an image in an ink pad, I would colour the image with Stampin' Write markers. I used the In Colours (item #119801 - $19.95 for 5) on the Elements of Style (item #118611 $33.95 for wood and item #120045 $24.95 for clear). I love this stamp set because it is so pretty to work with. For the title, I used the Schoolbook Serif Alphabet (item #113510 $53.95 and it's double mounted wood) which I believe is on the retired list. I think a good alphabet set is an ideal thing to have for scrapbook pages. Makes titles stand out more. I also used the Circle Circus stamp set (item 115778 wood only $35.95) for embellishments and framed the picture usind retired ribbon that I found on the Clearance Rack (and is still there - item #110108 Theater Ribbon Orginals - 5 ribbons in one package $6.19 for 10 yards). Never underestimate the Clearance Rack!

I really do like the look that markers give a project - it's different than using a stamp pad but it's all preference.

Hope you enjoy it!I'm still working on Ta Da! Tuesday....

Pretties Kit - Scrapbook Saturday

Hi everyone! Sorry that I'm a day late getting this post out to you. I was thinking about my next layout and what I was going to do. Although I favor a one picture scrapbook page, this time, I decided to put many pictures on a layout. It was hard to pick just one or two pictures to give the sense of what kind of day it was and that's ok. There are no rules to scrapbooking where you are bound to a certain number of pictures. You just want to sure that it's not an eye sore - your eye needs a place to rest in between pictures and journalling.

I used Basic Black cardstock for the background and then tore two pieces of scrap Designer Series Paper to give the page a little more texture and depth. And then I used a piece of ribbon (retired but beautiful - I believe you can still buy it from the Clearance Rack) to give it a little extra edge. I printed the pictures in a 3" x 5" format so that I would be able to get more on the page. I then used the Pretties Kit that unfortunately, Stampin' Up does not carry anymore :( Inside were white flowers with half pearls in white and ivory and hat pins. Honestly, I never used up much of that product because it was just so beautiful. But I'm glad that I used it on this project. I coloured the white flower with my Stampin' Up marker in Blushing Bride to finish.

The one thing that we Scrappers have in common is that we hoard supplies. Oh, we love buying product but sometimes we get so consumed with buying all the pretty stuff that we sometimes think it's too pretty to use. And it sits and collects dust. If these are your scrapbook layouts and they mean something to you, they're important and so the supplies are worth getting out and using. Especially if you can't get it anymore. Don't let that happen to you!

I hope you enjoyed today's post!

Teddy and Train - One of the Good Ones to Go

Happy Friday!

Today, I wanted to use one of the retiring sets that will not be available after June. It's called Teddy and Train (Item #115219 wood only $21.95) and I just felt like making a card that you would send to the parents of a new baby boy. Here's what I did to make this card.

I stamped the image of the teddy bear on a piece of Crumb Cake cardstock (item #120953 - 24 sheets of 8 1/2" x 11" - if gray is the new black then Crumb Cake is the new white) with a VersaMark pad. You will notice in the picture that I have a little "pouch" beside the VersaMark pad. This is called an Embossing Buddy (item #103083 $7.50) and is invaluable if you are embossing. If you rub the surface of the cardstock BEFORE you sprinkle the embossing powder and then shake off the excess, the Embossing Buddy will make sure that the powder will not stick to anything else. This is important. Without it, it makes the powder stick to the image and the rest of the paper and it's annoying. It's an extra step but it's a valuable step. Don't heat emboss without it.

Then here's a different step. Take some bleach and put it in a small bowl or a cup. Take a blender pen (item #102845 for 3 $12.95) or an Aqua Painter (item #103954 for two $20.95)and you're going to tip your brush into it and "paint" the image. What the bleach is going to do to the cardstock is lighten it - whichever colour you use, it will lighten the colour of the cardstock. I wanted to leave the bow and parts of the paws free so I could colour it in with Watercolour Pencils (item #101879 $25.95 for a set of 24). It really makes it stand out on a piece of Brilliant Blue cardstock (retired)as the cardstock base. I then used a piece of the Whisper White organza ribbon (item #114319 for 15 yards) which I think adds a little elegance to it. What do you think?

Tomorrow is Scrapbook Saturday. Let's see what produc

t I can showcase!

Timeless Treasures - Try it Thursday

One more day until the weekend! You either love Thursdays because it's so close to Friday or you hate it because it's still too far before Saturday. I hope this will put a smile on your face and make it more bearable.

What I love to do late at night is go on different websites, sometimes YouTube to watch how crafters (especially Stampin' Up Demonstrators) use different techniques. I love the creativity and energy behind their projects. Usually I'm the one sitting there thinking "how did they come up with that?". And usually, the answer is that it comes from an idea that was revised to someone's taste and then revised again by someone to make it their own and so on and so on...But you know, that doesn't mean that great ideas can't come out of the process. Your originality can still shine through.

So with all the cardmaking and scrapbooking going on, what are you doing with all the scraps of paper you have left over? Hopefully, not throwing them out! You want to get as much mileage as you can - you spent good money on this paper so don't waste it! Let's get everything we can out of it.

With this project, I used scraps of paper that I cut into strips and glued side by side on a piece of Basic Gray (the NEW black - item #121044 $8.50 for 24 sheets of 8 1/2" by 11" cardstock). I then matted it on a piece of Pear Pizzazz (item #119795 $8.50 for 24 sheets of 8 1/2" x 11") cardstock. I used one of my favourite stamp sets (Timeless Treasures item #1178748 for wood $25.95 - item #120615 for clear). Really, I love retro or anything old fashioned so this stamp set is right up my alley and I'm happy with the results.

Let me know what you think and use up those scraps!

Another reminder...if you are going to put in an order to take advantage of the free shipping and no tax, please contact me so I can put the order in for you. I want you can take advantage of my offer. If you go through the website, you won't get the same deal so please drop me a line. The end of June is coming to a swift close!!

Fifth Avenue Floral - Versatile Wednesday

Hello Stampers & Scrappers and Happy Wednesday! We're almost at the end of the week. I was thinking of a project that would be versatile enough for any occasion. That is something that you want to keep in mind when choosing a stamp set - how many uses can this be used for. You just don't want to invest in a set and use it for one theme. And that's exactly what you're doing when you buy a stamp set, you're investing in something that will last you a long time. Stampin' Up has great quality stamps - personally, I have tried other stamp sets and they just don't measure up. They're flimsy and they don't last.

I like "Fifth Avenue Floral" stamp set because it's a great go-to set. And I did something a little different with it today. The technique is called "Black Magic" a name I don't really agree with because it's not really magic as it is intense.

What I did was stamp the image with Craft Whisper White Stamp Pad (item #101731 $9.25) all over Basic Black cardstock (item #119922 for 12 sheets of 12" x 12" paper). Now you can either heat it with an embossing gun or you can let it dry since the Craft ink is different than the Classic - its more wet, more thicker). Then I took out my Watercolor Pencils (item 101879 $25.95 - set of 24)and coloured the flowers in with pink and purple. Then I highlighted a few areas with a white Uni-ball Signo Gel Pen). I matted the whole card on Whisper White Cardstock (item #100730 - 40 sheets for $9.25) and then placed it all on Concord Crush (my fav) cardstock (item #119792 24 sheets of 8 1/2" x 11" paper. I used some retired ribbon that I stapled on and then stamped a sentiment from the "A Beautiful Thing" stamp set.

I don't like using specific sentiments on the cards that I am posting because I want you to be able to see that you can use this type of card for anything you might have in mind that's specific for YOU.

I hope you liked today's post. And I hope you like the new make-over of my blog. Since I do not have the technical skills to take the credit, I have to give all my thanks and appreciation to my good friend and mentor, Anne Granger. She took time out of her busy schedule to fiddle around and make my blog more accessible and just a lot more eye pleasing. I owe this woman my first born. Well, she can have her when she hits her teenage years LOL.

See you tomorrow! Keep stamping.

"Morning Cup" - Ta Da! Tuesday

Happy Tuesday! I have been trying to come up with something that will amaze and inspire you. What a lunch box disappointment you're going to have today! I tried something new but the image in my head didn't match the final product. And there are going to be days like that. Sometimes you're not trying to invent the wheel, you just want to put something out there that's new.

I used the "Morning Cup" stamp set (Item #116988 wood $26.95 or item #120489 clear $20.95). Now this is my favourite stamp set because I'm a tea granny and anything to do with tea, my name is on there! What I wanted to do was make a table and then have the tea kettle, the cup and the tea bag hovering over it. I used one of the Big Shot's Clearlits (Scallop Rectangle #118872 $10.50) to make that rectangle cut out - to resemble a table. I used staples for table legs and then used ribbon (retired but any ribbon would do) as the tablecloth.

As I said, the image in my head and the final product doesn't quite match. But I posted it to prove a point: I'm not an expert. Sometimes you have to fool around with products and tools to see how things work. Could I make this card better? Absolutely. And that's what learning is all about. It's taking those "not-so-great" moments and learning how to make it better.

But I open it up to you. What do you think? How should I have done this better?

Oh and another thing. Remember to contact me if you want me to pre-order the new 2011-2012 Idea Book and Catalogue from Stampin' Up. I got my personal copy and I am totally blown away. Not to mention, it's pretty eye candy. See you tomorrow!

All a Flutter Stamp - Inspiration

Hello stampers & scrappers! I know, it's been a while. I tried to post yesterday but there was some technical difficulties (ok, my fault entirely). I was saying that I had just come back from Rochester, New York to see my brother-in-law's graduation ceremony. And that's why there was this lapse in my blog from last Friday up to now. With that event behind me, I can now focus on what I can create next.

So today, I was thinking of what I could do to add a little bit of creativity to my project. Because I'm so brain dead from the weekend, I chose something simple and yes, inexpensive.

It's called the Baby Wipe technique. You basically use re-inkers of your favourite Stampin' Up colours and place drops on a baby wipe to create your own ink pad. I used my "All a Flutter" stamp and started stamping the image all over the white cardstock which I then matted and put on a Glorious Green cardstock. Instead of using ribbon, I used a piece of Twill Tape (Item #119970 $8.25 for 10 yards) and used a standard wheel stamp to stamp the images of flowers on it.

I managed to pull this card off with two kids running around so if I can do it under those circumstances, I know you can do it too! Remember to place an order with me to take advantage of the No Tax - No Shipping offer that I am making available from now until the end of June.

It's Been a While

Ta Da! Tuesday

Say hello to my little friend....

Today, for Ta Da! Tuesday, I'm going to talk about a tool that is very understated. It is my friend: the crimper. No, not for your hair! This handy dandy little tool (Item #101618 $25.95) adds unexpected texture and depth to any project. And here is the project that I used it on. I used the "Nature Walk" stamp set which I absolutely love.

This card took less than 10 minutes and is unique because it's beautiful envelope that contains a card inside. Both unexpected and impressive. And you can use any envelope that you have around the house. Just seal the envelope, cut 1 1/4 off the top and start crimping. Then start stamping. The sky's the limit. Tell me what you think.

And remember, from now until the end of June, if you order from me, you can get free shipping and no tax. Make that wish list and take advantage of this offer!!

See you soon!

Here it Is!

So I was talking about doing invitations for my brother-in-law's graduation party. We're heading to Rochester, New York next weekend to see the ceremony but the party will be in July. Needless to say, I have 40 invitations to create BY FRIDAY. Uh, yeah, I'm in major panic mode!

This is the final product - what do you think? I'll put the list of materials at the end of the post because there's many.

Remember how May was Scrapbooking Month and Stampin' Up had a special promotion to honor the occasion? One of the stamp sets that they had on sale was the one I used: Word Play. I love it. It's definitely going to be my go-to stamp set because it will fit any and every occasion. Why had I not noticed it sooner??? I gold embossed the "Go Confidently in Your Dreams" stamp on the front and then embossed the invitation info in black. I thought it would add an elegant touch.

The little graduation cap I paper pieced. That's right, I cut out 40 little graduation caps BY HAND and it took me up to 2:00 a.m. this morning. Yeah, I'll be sick and tired of the graduation theme in no time LOL. Thanks for looking!

Basic Black Cardstock Item #119922 $8.50 for 12 sheets
Vellum Cardstock Item #101856 $7.95 for 20 sheets
Word Play Stamp Set Item #120308 $51.95 wood & Item #120651 $35.95 for clear
Inviting Stamp Set Item #119153 $26.95 wood & Item#120630 $20.95 for clear
VersaMark Pad Item #102283 $9.95
Stampin' Black Emboss Powder Item #109133 $5.95
Stampin' Gold Emboss Powder Item #109129 $5.95

Scrapbook Saturday

Hello Stampers & Scrappers! It's Scrapbook Saturday and I did a little of both. I used Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper and a picture of me that had no right to be blown up larger than a 3 x 5 LOL. I wanted to do a layout about me but was at a loss as to what to write. So I picked one of my favourite songs on the radio right now and wrote out the lyrics to reflect my state of mind.

Now for the stamping part. I used vellum cardstock (item #101856 $7.95 for 20 sheets). I used the vellum cardstock because it's a little heavier than the vellum paper which is like tissue paper. I stamped a few images of flowers (Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set item #113734 $29.95 wood mount only) in VersaMark (item #102283 $9.95) and then quickly embossed with black embossing powder (item #109133 $5.95). Once that was set, I coloured in the flowers with Blushing Bride and Pear Pizzazz markers (item #119801 set of 4 of the In Colours $19.95)I then went over the images with a VersaMarker (item #100901 - this is different than the VersaMark pad only then it's in pen form which makes it easy to use on hard to get to areas) and sprinkled Heat & Stick Powder over it which I will heat emboss to make the flowers sticky so that I can now sprinkle Dazzling Diamonds glitter on top and then heat set again.

I know it sounds like a lot of steps but I have to tell you, the results are beautiful. This is my first time using this technique that I again, learned from Stampin' Up. The possibilities for this technique are endless.

So today, I got to do a little of both - stamping and scrapbooking. What a nice way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

The Learning Never Really Stops

"Keep an open heart and mind".

I heard that quote from a Stampin' Up seminar and I think it really speaks to all of us at one time or another when we're embarking on something new. Because I love scrapbooking/cardmaking so much, I like to read up on the trends and the different techniques that are out there that I can use with my own stuff. I learned a new trick from Stampin' Up that features a product called Crystal Effects (item #101055 - $7.95). I'm going to be brutally honest with you: I have never used this product until today when my UPS man came to deliver it to me. But I saw a DVD presentation of how Stampin' Up demonstrators were using it and realized how much I was missing out.

I took a paper flower (package of 40 paper daisies, item #119245 for $8.50) and brushed on a combination of Crystal Effects and a few drops of Pretty in Pink re-inker. While it was still wet, I poured on some glitter, tapped off the excess and put it aside to dry. Once that was done, I put a beautiful Antique Brad (item #117273 - $7.50 for 20) in the middle and placed in on the card with a sentiment. Easy Peasy as Jamie Oliver would say. The thing is, I never would have tried this product until I decided to try something new instead of clinging to the old standby. Open your heart and mind and try something new!

Try it Thursday

I tried a new card technique yesterday that I thought would be appropriate for today's post. It's called a Tri-Fold card and I found the instructions on a wonderful website called SplitCoast Stampers. The great thing is, that it takes very little materials. And the card is one piece of 4 1/2" by 11" (two sided preferred).

Now I was raving about the "Nautical Expedition" Designer Series Paper (item #122343) yesterday because it's just so awesome. I used it as the basis of my card. The materials are:

* your favourite stamp set
* ink pad
* hole punch (small)
* slit punch
* ribbon but in this case I used twine, baker's twine would be a wonderful alternative and Stampin' Up has them in their Summer Mini

It took me at least ten minutes to do this card. I'm not going to include the instructions on how to do it because I'm hoping you'll drop me a line and ask. I can't show all my secrets!

Try it for yourself and send it to someone special.

Versatile Wednesday is Back!!

I'm actually on time for this post LOL!

The new Summer Mini catalogue that came out last month (contact me if you haven't received your copy yet) has a great stamp set called "The Open Sea" (item #123032 for clear and item #123030 for wood)and the awesome coordinating Designer Series Paper (2 sided remember!) called "Nautical Expedition" (item #122343. My UPS man delivered it to me yesterday and I was so excited to finally get it!!!

I have to admit, this stamp set is different from what I usually purchase. I usually go towards the frilly, the feminine, the girly type of stamps. But I see so many possibilities and versatility with this set. It has such a rustic charm to it that can be used on any masculine cards, travel diaries, ATCs, travel scrapbook pages, notebook covers, and keepsake boxes. I chose a generic greeting because I didn't want to you to be tied down to a specific sentiment like "Happy Anniversary". I am really in love with this stamp set and I hope you give it a try.

A Break From Our Normal Programming....

You know, I was looking over the Retired List of stamp sets and accessories that Stampin' Up released June 1st and I realized that there are a lot of great items that are being retired. I don't want you to think that because these items are on the Retired List, it means that they are not valuable anymore. Not at all. Stampin' Up every year releases new products and to make room for them, they have to retire some of the older ones. I still use retired products and the ones found on the Clearance Rack. I know I will be placing an order to stock up because once they're gone, that's it.

For example, the Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware that I had used on a similar post is on that list AND it's at 40% off ($22.77) which you can also get in silver. It's a wonderful product for cards and scrapbooking. Remember, it's 200 pieces of hardware that will last you FOREVER.

There's also the Pewter Build-A-Brad that I was going to showcase tomorrow for Versatile Wednesday. This kit is awesome and to me, a must have. You can make your own brads to match your cardstock or patterned paper! It is so easy...takes less than two minutes to make. It's on the retired list for $12.95. I am going to buy a few of those for sure. I am posting a mini scrapbook page in which I used this product. The theme for this album is "Things That I Am Grateful For"..and obviously, I'm grateful for the crazy fashion choices my parents had back in the day. LOL.

Gorgeous Ribbon is also on sale at a discounted price for some. For projects, you can never have enough! My favourites are usually the Taffeta which is so elegant. Make sure you check to see which ones are discounted. And the cardstock to go with it.

And there are punches on sale. There is one that I am eyeing - don't laugh. It's the Bitty Bat Punch (item #119279) which is being discounted and offered for $13.77. I look at it and it looks like the Batman symbol which I think is awesome if you were doing any boy invitations or scrapbook pages on Super Heroes.

Its exciting times ahead fellow scrappers. I too have to pace myself with my purchases but I'm telling you, you will never regret what you buy from Stampin' Up. Good quality and always huge quantities to keep you going for a while. As I mentioned, if you put in an order through me, I will give you free shipping. But now I'm adding another element. If you can get a friend to order through me, YOU will get free shipping and NO TAX. You would be crazy to miss out on this opportunity.