BOO to you and you! -- Fall Fest Bundle

Happy almost Halloween!  We have two very enthusiastic trick-r-treaters in our house, gearing up for some serious fun.  Bryn is going to be the "headless horseman" this year, and 4 year old Sabina was going to be a princess AGAIN, as she has been for the past couple years, so I suggested that perhaps she should be something else this year, so she immediately pipes up, "Okay! I'll be a unicorn then!" Yep, we are now the proud owners of a unicorn costume.  Earlier this week, I was trying to get the kids out the door as I had to go to work, and Sabina was not too happy about being "hurried", and was insisting on wearing her unicorn costume to school.  Guess who won????  Some battles are just not worth fighting, so off she went in her unicorn costume and tiara and a bag of cheerios "in case she didn't like the breakfast they serve".  What a case!

If you haven't checked out the Fall Fest bundle yet, it is CUTE!  One thing I love about this bundle, is that it isn't just fall or just Halloween -- but both in one.  Those little ghosts are seriously cute!  I cut two out of the silver glimmer paper, and the rest just out of white.  To make the eyes, I punched the holes with my 1/8" round punch and stuck a pc of black card stock behind.  I had a ton of Halloween pics from last year that I wanted to put into this layout, so I used more pictures than would have been needed.  That cute Halloween paper is the Motley Monsters DSP.  In my humble opinion, it is some of the cutest Halloween papers we have had in a long time.

We made this layout for my last club class.  Fun to see pictures of everyone's little "monsters". :)  I used the word bubble framelits and stamped various Halloween sentiments from a bunch of different sets in white craft ink.  Then, used white word bubbles for my journaling pieces.

Seasonally Scattered gift boxes

For my last club class, we made these little gift boxes using the Seasonally Scattered stamp set, the scalloped tag topper punch, and the decorative window gift boxes which are on sale in the weekly deals this week -- 6 boxes for $3.71!  I love that these little boxes are food safe, so you can put cookies or fudge or candies in these and give them to your coworkers for a little special something.

I showed how you can stamp the Thanks stamp in Crushed Curry ink, then take a sponge dauber and add a little Cajun Craze ink just over the word before you stamp, to give you a two tone look.  Add a few of the gold sequins from the gold sequin trim, and you have a lovely tag for your box!  Use that same sponge dauber to add some cajun craze dots to your box base.  These would make a super cute Thanksgiving place setting/giftie.  Add a few Autumn wood elements and a die cut acorn or leaf from the Champagne glimmer paper for that perfect touch.

OR, use the "Merry" stamp to make a cute Christmas giftie box.  Of course, you NEED some of those frosted sequins and "All is Calm snowflake embellishments" to make it over the top! :)

'Tis the Season -- almost!

Happy Saturday, Everyone!

I love Christmas, and I REALLY love this year's Holiday catalog!  So many gorgeous stamp sets, punches, and embellishments to choose from. Ok, I didn't do that much choosing -- I basically bought it ALL!  Yikes!  Here is my line up of holiday cards we will be making at my upcoming, annual Christmas card Stamp-a-stack.  (To read all about these classes, or RSVP for a spectacular Christmas card making extravaganza, :) visit my meet up group and RSVP for the date that suits you -- space is limited, first come first serve. http://www.meetup.com/Flathead-Valley-Stampers/)

This first card features the "Seasonally Scattered stamp set.  I simply stamped the "Merry" in Night of Navy ink, then the "Christmas" in Real Red ink (from a hostess only exclusive stamp set -- Good Greetings -- available to all hostesses who have a $300 or more party during October) on a Whisper White panel.  After stamping, I embossed the panel with the Filigree Frame embossing folder.  Of course, I added some bling as that's what I'm all about!  the frosted sequins add that little special touch, AND you get a TON of fun for that $4.95!  There are a lot of sequins and little beautiful white snow flakes in that little container.  I also used a little dazzling details to the design for a bit more sparkle.  A very easy card, but lovely, I think.

If you love stars, you're gonna love this one featuring the Bright and Beautiful stamp set and the star framelits.  Also featured on this card, is the All is Calm washi tape.  I used a little scrap of card stock,  covered it in several patterns of the washi tape, then use a star framelit to die cut the center washi tape star.  The All is Calm snowflake embellishments are the perfect accent for the center of my star.  Colors used in this card, are Lost Lagoon, Soft Sky, and Whisper White.  That gorgeous silver star, is some retired Silver glimmer paper.  However, there is a new beautiful silver glimmer paper that you could sub in for this card.

Third in the line up, is this cutie pie snowman/trees card featuring a new set from the Holiday catalog -- White Christmas.  There are so many possibilities with this set, but I was trying for a simpler creation as people will be making a lot of cards at this class.  I stamped the trees and snow man in Memento Black ink on Kraft card stock, then colored in the white areas with the chalk marker.  The snow flakes are once again, from the Frosted sequins assortment.  I added a little strip of red glimmer paper along the bottom, and used my two way glue pen to add some Dazzling Diamonds glitter for the snow.  For the falling snow, I stamped the little dots in white craft ink.  A note of caution with white craft ink, it takes a little longer to dry, so either let your panel dry for a bit first, or use a heat gun to dry it more quickly before assembling your card.

Another product I love from the Holiday catalog, is this little paper stack called Trim the Tree paper stack.  You get a lot of bang for your buck with this little stack -- lots of darling patterns that you could use for Christmas and beyond!  I wanted to create a simple card featuring the Bloom for You stamp and the matching Fun Flower punch.  I always love a set that you can stamp first, and then punch it out.  Makes it so easy to create something lovely in a snap.  I used the new this year dazzling diamonds glimmer paper for the flower center -- punching it out using the 7/8" scallop circle punch.  I added a few colored rhinestones to the flower center, using my trusty red sharpie to color them red.  The Christmas sentiment uses a stamp and matching punch from another holiday catalog set -- Merry Everything Bundle.  The Early Espresso panel on this card is embossed with the woodgrain embossing folder.

Last, but not least, the Festival of Trees bundle was a must on my Christmas wish list this year.  The little photopolymer tree stamp set, has a matching punch, so you can stamp first and then punch out some darling little Christmas trees!  Super cute for cards or tags or anything Christmasy.  Love this little bundle!  Also used on this card, is the Endless Wishes stamp set, some more silver glitter paper, the word window and modern label punches, and the All is Calm specialty designer series paper.  I am convinced you couldn't possibly make anything ugly with this paper.  It is gorgeous! and has two sheets of silver foil paper in the pack as well.  A must have, in my book.  That little strip of silver is the silver 1/8" ribbon.  Colors featured on this card: Lost Lagoon, Pear Pizzazz, and Whisper White.  I used a few touches of silver sparkle dazzling details to add something special to the tree.  Fun, fun, fun!  Just a reminder, for best results when using photopolymer stamp sets, stamp your image with the stamp and pierce mat underneath.  It helps you get a better image.  Also, if you find that you aren't getting a good image with your photopolymer stamps at first, try rubbing the surface of the stamps with an eraser, or give them a rub on your jeans, or scrub them thoroughly on your stamp n scrub.  Sometimes there is a little coating on these stamps that you need to remove before they will take the ink well.

By the Tide meets Faux Tile technique

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

Here is a swap I made for a techniques swap I participated in this past SU Convention.  My chosen technique, was the "faux tile" technique.  I wanted to create the look of light shining through ocean waters -- highlighting the sea shell on the ocean floor.

I used the Gorgeous Grunge stamp set to stamp the splatters on the folded Island Indigo card base.  The other card stock colors used here are Calypso Coral, Soft Suede, and Whisper White.  I scored my panel on my diagonal score plate first, then I stamped the shell in Crisp Cantaloupe ink, the coral in Soft Suede ink, and the sea horses and splatters in Island Indigo.  After I finished my stamping, I sponged the panel in Island Indigo ink and Soft Suede along the bottom.  The final step, is to completely coat the panel in Versamark ink and then emboss it with clear embossing powder.  The result is a shiny tile look.  I used the Delicate Designs embossing folder to add texture to the Coral strip on the front, and the Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch for the Soft Suede accent.  My fellow swappers at Convention really liked my card, which made me feel really special.  One gal said to me that she has been swapping for years, and this is the very best swap she had ever received.  I think that possibly may be the best compliment I have ever received!  It so made all the work I put into it worth it.

For more details of how to do the Faux Tile technique, visit this blog post: http://stampedwithflair.blogspot.com/2014/03/faux-tile-technique-meets-lovely-as-tree.html

If you haven't checked out this weeks weekly deals, hop on my website and check them out!  The Darling Doily Die is on sale!  I LOVE this die, and it is so easy to pop out compared to the old one we used to have.  Several other Big Shot options on there, too.  The little decorative window gift boxes are also on sale -- 6 of them for $3.71!  These are perfect boxes to put treats in at Christmas time.  Just sayin'...

Have a great day, Everyone!

Sunset by the sea -- Wetlands stamp set

Happy Wednesday, Everyone!

I have been personally challenging myself to create at least one masculine card at every stampers' club class, so this is what we made for my Sept class.  I have seen many cards made with the Wetlands stamp set, and just love this stamp of the birds on the beach.  I wanted to show case reverse masking, and regular masking, and also the piercing templates and paper piercer that I have not show cased nearly enough.

I started by creating my "reverse mask" -- a pc of scrap card stock 4 x 5 1/4" that I centered one of the Labels framelits on and die cute it.  I stamped the birds and the grasses in Memebto Tuxedo Black ink.  I then laid my reverse mask on my card front and sponged on Coastal Cabana and Soft Suede inks.  I started with the Soft Suede and created my sand, I then stuck a 1 3/8" punched sticky note circle where I wanted my setting sun or moon to be.  I then sponged my Coastal Cabana ink on the top half until I was happy with the sky.  I then removed my sticky note mask and sponged a little Daffodil ink in there to make it look like a setting sun.  The final step was using the piercing template that matches the Labels framelits, to add the paper piercing around the focal image.  Subtle effect, but none-the-less gorgeous.  This card was a hit with all my class participants, and got some more tools in their hands to try.  That's what it's all about, right?

The card base was Coastal Cabana and the mat was Soft Suede.

New weekly deals just came out yesterday!  Check them out here: http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/ItemList.aspx?categoryid=1634

Enjoy the rest of your day!