Think outside the box (or framelit, as the case may be)

I was recently reminded of this technique -- where you have a portion of your stamped image (in this case the rose leaves) extending beyond the borders of your focal frame.  I used my awesome Labels framelits again here.  Start by stamping the rose stem from the Fabulous Florets stamp set, in Wild Wasabi ink on a scrap of Vanilla card stock.  Lay the framelit size of choice over your image and use a pencil to trace along the inside edge of the framelit at the top around where the leaf is going to extend.  Use paper snips to carefully cut the paper on either side of the leaf, down to where your pencil line is -- you don't have to cut exactly around the leaf, as you'll do that later.  Now, put your stamped image and framelit into your Big Shot, lifting up the extended leaf part, and putting it over the TOP of your framelit so that part doesn't get cut, and lining up the framelit with the pencil lines you drew earlier.  Put a sticky note over the extended leaf part before putting it through the Big Shot, as it gives it a bit more protection and keeps it from getting accidentally severed. :) After putting it through the Big Shot, you can carefully trim out the leaves that are extending.  A little trick to keep from seeing a white border around your cut leaves -- use a marker (in the same color of ink you used) and just use the side of the brush end to add ink to the edges of your leaf.  It erases the white border and makes it look like you're a cutting genius -- which I am so NOT!

I embossed the rose with Versamark ink and black embossing powder on water color paper, and water colored it with my water color crayons.  Then, cut it out and popped it up on stampin' dimensionals.  I colored a Basic Rhinestone black with a Sharpie, and added it to the center of my rose.  Makes it look so elegant!  Of course, I embossed the Pool Party panel with the Elegant Lines embossing folder, and added some scalloped, polka dotted Cherry Cobbler ribbon.  How can you possibly go wrong with that! :)  and that's pretty much it!   This is another card we will make in our water coloring techniques club in May. 

Don't forget!  Sale-a-bration ends tomorrow!  If there are some FREE treasures you still NEED, visit my website today and stock up!

April scrap booking border swap

The theme for April's scrappy border swap, was summer or fall -- and I chose fall as I had some incredibly adorable fall pics of my baby girl to scrap.  It's a fall tradition in our family, to go to the pumpkin patch every year, so I have a back log of gorgeous fall photos begging to be put on pages!

I made the little 3-D pumpkin using my 1 3/8" circle punch -- layering 5 circles together that I punched out of some pre-embossed/inked pumpkin pie cardstock.  The cute embossed leaves along the border, are from the Bigz leaves die -- I cut the leaves out of Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze and More Mustard cardstock, and then embossed them with various embossing folders.  I used some retired fall designer paper on my border, as well as a strip of Old Olive stamped with the French Foliage set.  The Lace border punch in Early Espresso, added the perfect edging I was looking for -- and the perfect element for bordering the photos on the right hand page.  "Autumn" is embossed in copper to add to my fall theme.

I'm so loving these border swaps, as they help me get more accomplished with my scrapping!  Here is a 2-page layout made with a border swap I received at last month's swap.  It went together so quickly, and officially marks the very first layout for my darling 6 year old son! LOL :)  Hey, gotta start somewhere!

Happy scrapping!

Isn't it almost time?...

for chocolate and pink???  Well, a girl can dream, right?!

Spring is one of my most favorite times of year -- trees aglow in various shades of pink, with their contrasting brown trunks -- SOOO beautiful to me!  But, perhaps that's because I happen to LOVE chocolate and pink together.  Check out my baby girl's room. :) 

Oh yeah, onto the card at hand! :)  At my next techniques club, we will be playing with the water color wonder crayons, and this is one of the cards we will be making.  This is the "direct-to-stamp" watercoloring technique.  Start with cutting out a watercolor paper panel using the Labels Framelits.  I spritzed the tree stamp (from Lovely as a Tree stamp set) with water -- make sure your stamp is fairly damp, but no puddles of water.  Now, take your watercolor crayons of choice and color directly on your stamp -- you want the crayon to glide easily, but not have pools of excess water.  Once you've colored to your heart's content, lightly spritz your stamp again and stamp onto your watercolor panel -- letting the stamp hang out for a second so the paper will absorb the moisture from your stamp.  This technique takes some playing with to figure out the right amount of water/crayon ratio -- too much water results in a blurry muck, too little water, and the image won't transfer.  As "picky" as it is, I urge you to keep trying, because once you get a feel for the right balance, you'll reach for this technique again and again because it gives you such intensity of color!

For the fancy layers on the bottom half of the card, I used my edgelit dies.  I've finally worked out a great, easy way to use them -- take a (preferably new) extended cutting plate, and cut SU grid paper to the same size as the plate, and adhere that to the bottom of the plate using double sided tape.  On the top of the plate, fasten one edgelit to each end of your plate, using a glue dot or tiny pc of sticky strip at the far edges of the edgelit.  Line up your edglits with the grid lines you can see through the plate.  Now, just slide your card stock under your edgelit and cut -- lining up your card stock with the grid lines, as well.  Gives you a perfect even cut every time!  Yeah!  Now I actually like these things. (Gasp! did I really just say that?)  As you can see, I staggered the pattern on the different layers so that they would layer together more uniquely.  Again, easy to do when your paper stays put and doesn't slide around like a fish on a cutting board.  (Note: I saw the idea for using the cutting plate with the grid paper under it, on some dear demo's blog, but can't for the life of me find it now, so apologies to whoever's brilliant idea it was that I haven't given credit to!)

Colors used here: Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Rose Red

I hope that you, too, will give the edgelits another try! :)

Happy Spring!

Kindness Matters...

This little stamp set, "Kindness Matters", is another freebie during Sale-a-bration.  I've had my eye on it for quite a while, and when it could be aquired for FREE, I was all over that! :) 

This is a simple card we will be making at my upcoming Card Buffet this Sunday.  It features the "poppin' pastels" technique.  Simply stamp the butterflies in Versamark ink on Vanilla card stock, dip Q-tips in the Stampin' pastels, and dab it on the butterflies -- the chalk sticks to the Versamark and makes the butterflies "pop" out from the background.  I then added a few speckles with my color spritzing tool and Soft Suede marker, and stamped the flourishes in Soft Suede as well.  For the background, I wanted to show how Versamark works perfectly to create a watermark type image -- note the butterflies stamped on the background of the folded Pacific Point card base.  It's a subtle effect, but adds dimension.

Of course, I used the Labels Framelits again -- love those little critters -- and some scalloped polka dotted Old Olive ribbon, as well. 

Happy Stamping!!!

Coming down to the wire!

Here is one of the final two cards we will be making at my upcoming Card Buffet next Sunday at 1:30.  This card is a CASE from one I saw on Mary Fish's blog -- http://www.stampinpretty.com/2012/01/stampin-up-sale-a-bration-in-style.html.  I just simplified it a wee bit and used the Triple Treat Flower (yet ANOTHER free Sale-a-bration product) as my focal point.  I stamped the flower first in Pool Party ink and then again in Pumpkin pie.  I punched out the background flower with the Fancy Flower punch, and then layered the second flower on top using the Five Petal Flower punch.  I LOVE how this flower coordinates with two different punches -- actually, three if you use the 1/2" circle punch to punch out the center and pop it up on a dimensional.  Here, I just added one of the brads from the free Sale-a-bration pack. 

The designer paper used here, is from the Sale-a-bration free pack -- Everyday Enchantment.  I love how there is such a variety of colors and patterns in this pack -- makes it so versatile for a bunch of different uses.

The little "Hello" stamp is from the Everyday Elegance Sale-a-bration set.  I punched it out with the Decorative Label punch.

The Victorian croquet trim and the Basic Pearls add the finishing touches to this very simple card!  Colors used:  Pool Party, Pumpkin Pie, Very Vanilla, and Everyday Enchantment DSP

Happy Creating!

An idea I'm excited about!

So, I was recently looking at the front cover of a stamping catalog, and was admiring this large scalloped circle that was used as a backdrop behind a photo, and had the brilliant idea (I thought it was brilliant, anyway! :) to use my new Hearts Framelits (from the Occasions Mini catalog) to make a similar pattern.  I've been wanting to come up with ways to use the Hearts Framelits for something other than, well, hearts!  So, here it is!  You could use this idea for a card, too -- just use the smaller hearts in the set.

To make this huge, gorgeous flower, I cut out four hearts (using the largest, scalloped heart) from the Flirtacious Specialty Designer Series paper and one heart out of Pretty in Pink card stock, embossed with the Finial Press embossing folder.  I then cut all the hearts in half, and arranged the petals, overlapping them as shown, so the flat (cut edges of the hearts) don't show.  I used a piece of Sticky sheet to hold my petals at their bottom points while I arranged them the way I wanted.  The center journaling element was made with the clear circle Bigz die and the Scallop circle die.

This layout is the one we will be making at my scrap booking club next month.  On the top left corner and lower right corners of the layout, I stamped the Hello Doily stamp and two stamps from the Delicate Doilies stamp set, in Versamark, and embossed them with Irridescent Ice embossing powder.  It adds such awesome sparkle to this girly layout.  The word, "Easter", is cut out of the SU On Board Long Board chipboard using my Seriff Essentials Bigz Dies.  I then put the bare chipboard letters down on a piece of scratch paper, used my chocolate chip craft ink pad, and smooshed the ink all over the letters to dye them dark brown.  Let them dry (or use a heat gun to speed up the process) then inked my little Fine Flourish stamp in White Craft ink, and stamped the letters, giving them a lovely, delicate pattern.  Here's a close up of the letters:

The dogwood flowers are made with the Blossom Petals Punch.  You can learn all about making those in this blog post:  Dogwood flowers

For the little espresso leaves around the flowers, I used the branch from the Bird Punch -- such a simple little accent, but adds a lot. 

Come make this layout with us on April 13th at 6:30 pm!  AND, if you are an "anti-pink activist", don't freak out QUITE yet -- I will have some other color options available to choose from if you just can't handle so much PINK!  However, the Easter photos I wanted to scrap, looked so perfect with this Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink, So Saffron, and Early Espresso combination...  I must say, I was pleased with how this layout turned out -- baby scrap booker that I am. :) :)

What a Whoooot! Kid's birthday card

What little person in your life wouldn't love to receive this cheerful little card???  LOVE that little owl punch, of course! and I added wings to him using the bird punch, so it looks like he's holding the collection of balloons.  This card was inspired by a number of different cards I've seen made with this, (new to me) stamp set -- "Party This Way" -- yet ANOTHER free stamp set you can get right now during Sale-a-bration!

I stamped the balloons in Real Red and Pacific Point ink on Whisper White card stock and cut them out, popped them up on dimensionals, and added some Cherry Cobbler bakers twine for the strings.  The clouds are made with the cupcake punch, (a lovely punch that I sadly haven't used very much -- don't know why!) and I added a little yellow sun in the upper right corner using the 1 3/8" circle punch.  The red "rick rack" along the bottom is made using the Tasteful Trims XL die.  This die is a bit on the spendy side, but I really do use it a lot. It makes 12" die cuts, so it's perfect for scrap booking as well as card making.  And doesn't it add such a cute touch to the bottom of this card?!  (Here's another card using this die: http://www.stampedwithflair.blogspot.com/2011/10/sweet-stiched-stockings.html)  The Bashful Blue card base is embossed with the Snow burst embossing folder -- such a great embossing folder for many, many applications.  Finally, I made his little party hat using the Petite Pennants Builder punch -- which coordinates with the Party This Way stamp set, as well.

This little cutie pie card is another project we will be making at my upcoming card buffet.  Hope you can come!

Stampingly!
Beth

Fresh Vintage Takes Flight

In keeping with my New Years goal to use sadly neglected crafting treasures, I pulled out my Beautiful Butterflies Bigz die.  This is a gorgeous die, so no idea why I haven't used it much!!!  But, here you are -- it makes a gorgeous, easy card paired with my favorite free Sale-a-bration stamp set -- Fresh Vintage, and the matching free Sale-a-bration designer paper -- Everyday Enchantment.  I cut the butterflies out of Very Vanilla and Poppy Parade, and stamped them with images from the Fresh Vintage set in Poppy Parade and Crumb Cake ink, then layered them together, adding Basic Rhinestones (colored with a Sharpie) for the butterfly body.  I used the Dazzling Details glue on the edges of the butterfly wings to add some beautiful sparkle.  While Dazzling Diamonds glitter is by far my favorite glitter, the Dazzling Details glue is far less messy and FASTER and cheap! -- only $2.50 for a nice little bottle that goes a LONG way.

The Poppy Parade card base is stamped with another flower image from the Fresh Vintage set -- just adds a nice backdrop for the other elements on the card.

Next, I embossed an oval frame in the lower right corner, using the Textured Frames folders (another Sale-a-bration freebie), and punched out my sentiment (from the Petite Pairs stamps set) with the Wide oval punch -- fits perfectly!

Added my strip of designer paper, and a Crumb Cake dotted scallop ribbon border punch strip, my assembled butterfly, and Ta Da! we're done!  This is yet another card we will be making at my upcoming Card Buffet on March 18th.  Come stamp with us! and be inspired to use YOUR neglected crafty treasures!

Paisley Petals meets Elementary Elegance!

Need a card you can create in10 minutes or less, perfect for any occasion?  Try this one!  We will be making this card at my upcoming Card Buffet on March 18th.  It features the Paisley Petals Designer Paper and the Elementary Elegance Free Sale-a-bration stamp set.

This card was inspired by a card I saw on Mary Fish's blog, but for the life of me, I cannot find the card again, to give credit to the original designer.  Sorry about that! :(

I cut out a white panel using my Labels Framelits, stamped the image from Elementary Elegance in Bravo Burgandy ink, punched out a flower from the Paisley Petals paper using the Curly Label Punch and added a couple stampin' dimensionals to the back to pop it up a little.  I punched a Bravo Burgandy strip of card stock with the scallop trim border punch, and layered that behind a strip of the Paisley Petals paper.  The Baja Breeze card base is embossed with the Finial Press embossing folder -- adds such a nice elegant touch to the card!  Finally, I added a some adhesive along the bottom of the card in a curvy line, and stuck some of the Pleated Baja Breeze satin ribbon (from the Occasions Mini catalog) to it.  Wow! is that ribbon ever beautiful! Adds an exceptional dimension to any project!!!

The sentiment is from Pocket Silhouettes stamp set, punched out with the Modern Label punch. 

Of course, there needed to be some bling, so I colored a few Basic Rhinestones with a blue Sharpie and added those for the final touch.

Enjoy!!! and come stamp with us on March 18th!