Elegant Paisleys & Posies with Copper Heat Embossing

By | September 27, 2016
0 Comment

paisleys-posies-zoom

 

With its raised shiny effect, heat embossing adds elegance to papercrafts. Today’s gratitude card is no exception.

I must add that heat embossing — especially with the super cool copper embossing powder in the Holiday catalog — is challenging to photograph. Lighting is either too dark to highlight the shine, or so light that it blows out the non-embossed images.

Still, I like the heat embossing technique combined with the Paisleys & Posies 18-piece stamp set. The coordinating Framelits Dies and Specialty Designer Series Paper are breath-taking. All together, this makes a beautiful set for fall and Thanksgiving.

Just Stamp Tips

Stamping the center panel using the VersaMark was tricky. I broke the process into small steps, stamping and embossing the paisleys, then stamping and embossing the flowers and leaves in separate steps. This made image placement much easier. It’s too difficult to create a pattern when everything is nearly invisible.

To add color to the images, I grabbed a Blender Pen. To create the paint palette, I just squeezed the closed ink pad. Once opened, there’s a puddle of ink. Dip the Blender Pen in the ink and apply small amounts at a time to the image.

The Project Life Corner punch created a simply layer for the Night of Navy sentiment.

Two elegant embellishments, Mint Macaron 3/8″ Sheer Linen Ribbon and Basic Pearls add perfect accents.

 

paisleys-posies-3

 

Click here to hop over to my store and check out the Holiday Catalog.

September Paper Pumpkin is Here!

By | September 20, 2016
0 Comment

 

Test Tube Treats are Irresistible

Mid-month always brings anticipation. I receive my email telling me that my Paper Pumpkin is on the way. By the 17th of the month, I’m checking down the street to see if the mail carrier is delivering in my area. It’s a sweet time.

Sadly, MY  kit is not here and I’m disappointed because I’ve read many great comments  telling how sweet this kit is. You decide. Click on the video above to view.

Buy One, Get One Offer

If you’re not a Paper Pumpkin subscriber, it’s a great time to try it out. Buy one month, get the second month FREE. There is no commitment. You can cancel anytime after your second month.

pp_bogo_facebook_us_with-end-date

Click on the image to hop over to my store.

 

It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

By | September 18, 2016
0 Comment

wonderful-time-ghoulish-grunge

Wonderful Halloween Season

Is the Most Wonderful Time of the Year Halloween? Christmas? Back to School? I’m sure it depends on who’s asking who (or is it whom?).

No doubt in my mind, as soon as Back to School arrives, I’m looking forward to Halloween. It’s Back to Peep season, right?

Christmas is wonderful, but if you’re a sugar fiend like me, you can’t beat Halloween. Think of all the treats. And the Peeps!

So the 6-piece stamp set in the “I Want It All” Holiday Catalog named Wonderful Year is probably referring to Christmas. The smaller sentiments mention Christmas and New Years.

But I paired it with another of my Holiday Catalog favs, Ghoulish Grunge, and inked it up for a quick Halloween card.

wonderful-time-ghoulish-grunge-zoom

Just Stamp Tips

Ghoulish Grunge, just five pieces, packs a huge punch. The gauze, the web, the deteriorating brick wall, the runny blood and the worn net — all are fab backgrounders.

Did you catch the Pumpkin Pie Glimmer Paper on the last-but-not-least page 55 of the catalog? (Sigh) Stampin’ Up! pushes all my buttons.

Grab the Banner Triple Punch to create the banner with a wee 1 1/2 x 3″ slice of Pumpkin Pie Glimmer. Split it after punching for easy handling.

Delicate White Doilies become creepy Black Doilies with a few runs of Basic Black ink and the Sponge Brayer.

Dip a Stamping Sponge onto the Basic Gray ink pad and sponge the edges of the 2 1/2 x 4″ Very Vanilla cardstock to create the vintage look.

 

Frighteningly Perfect Halloween Treats Class

halloween-treats-class

I would love for you to join me and other Halloween fans to make fun treat holders and greetings to share. Here are the details:

WHEN:  Saturday, October 15, 2016

TIME:  1 pm – 4 pm

WHERE:  Studio 5425, Riverside, CA

Deadline to register is October 1!  To register, click here.

 Supply List for Today’s Project

Click on any image to shop.

 

 

Frighteningly Perfect Halloween Treats Class

By | September 14, 2016
0 Comment

halloween-treats-class

Make Fun Treat Holders with New Halloween Stamps and Tools

Every year when I first get my paws on the annual Stampin’ Up! Holiday Occasions catalog, the first section I flip to is the Halloween section. It’s my favorite section, and Stampin’ Up! never disappoints.

This year, I swooned over three products in particular. One: the Cookie Cutter Halloween set that coordinates with the Cookie Cutter Builder Punch is stinkin’ cute. I dare you to resist. Two: the Home Sweet Home Thinlits Dies and coordinating Sweet Home stamp set makes me smile every time I eye it. Three: Jar of Haunts. Floating eyeballs, peeking mummy. Coordinating Everyday Jars Framelits. Must I say more?

I may as well acknowledge Ghoulish Grunge, the cool Pumpkin Pie Glimmer Paper, and Halloween Night Specialty Paper.

Every one of these products is included in my upcoming Frighteningly Perfect Halloween Treats Class. I would love for you to join me and other Halloween fans to make these fun treat holders and greeting.

WHEN:  Saturday, October 15, 2016

TIME:  1 pm – 4 pm

WHERE:  Studio 5425, Riverside, CA

Deadline to register is October 1!  To register, click here.

Awesomely Artistic for a Fall Celebration

By | September 6, 2016
0 Comment

Awesomely Artistic Celebrate

Crushed Curry, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie and Cherry Cobbler + Awesomely Artistic = FALL

So long summer.

Boo hoo. With the passing of Labor Day, summer is unofficially over. True, it’s a couple more weeks on the calendar before fall, but the crisp mornings and slightly cooler temperatures mean fall to me. Although I hate to say good-bye to summer, fall is my favorite season.

I love the colors. Crushed Curry, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie and Cherry Cobbler. The colors are one of the most amazing parts of fall. Picture falling leaves and a changing landscape.

 

Awesomely Artistic Celebrate Zoom

 

For today’s birthday card, I combined the fall palette, the eclectic art of Awesomely Artistic and the Global Design Project layout. The result is a design that would suit birthday greetings, a thank you note, a thinking of you or sympathy card.

Just Stamp Tips

Designer Series Paper Stacks offer versatile prints that don’t overpower stamp art. I chose the Regals stack with a sheet of Crushed Curry script. Specifically, it measures 5 1/4 x 4″.

Fall colors were borrowed from both the Brights and Regals collections. The Old Olive layer measures 4 x 3 1/2″.

Baker’s Twine is sweetly understated. A slight hint of Crushed Curry with a twist of neutral white forms a simple bow.

A floral spray was inked in Memento Tuxedo Black onto a 4 x 3″ layer of Very Vanilla.

Project Life Cards & Labels Framelits snipped the ornate border created with a simple sentiment borrowed from Thoughtful Banners, a collection which includes 47 words to create a ton of sentiments. The transparent photopolymer stamps make spot-on placement easy every time.

Blender Pens unleash the artist in everyone. Press the ink pad when closed to create a color palette and dip the pen a little, or a lot.

 

SpecialOffers_Shareable-2_Sept2016_ENG

Save 25% on select annual catalog products through September 21. Click here to check out what’s on sale this week.

Friday Thank You with Jar of Love

By | August 30, 2016
0 Comment

Jar of Love Thank You Note

 

Dapper Denim Flowers in a Jar Stamp Up Clean and Simple Thank You Notes

G’Day Mates. It’s Tuesday morning and I’m either a three days late and a dollar short, or three days early with my Friday thank you notes. Considering the school year I’m having so far, I’m going to be my own BFF and claim myself three days early.

Jar of Love and the coordinating Everyday Jars Framelits have been sitting on my shelf patiently awaiting some action. While relaxing with Pinterest, I came across the color combo of Dapper Denim, So Saffron and Old Olive and decided they were the perfect colors for posies in a jar.

Jar of Love Zoom

Just Stamp Tips

Designer Series Paper Stacks are a great go-to for patterned papers. The clean and simple double-sided designs and uncomplicated color schemes make them easy to coordinate with tons of stamps and design styles. I cut the Old Olive diagonal stripe to measure 4 x 2″ and adhered it directly to the Dapper Denim card base.

The original Whisper White cardstock is the best weight for layering. I cut the layer to measure 4″ x 4.5″ then angle-trimmed a short side to 3.5″.

Two-step stamping gives the flowers dimension in two quick inkings. I used Pool Party and Dapper Denim.

Shimmery White cardstock creates a glistening jar that’s half full thanks to a few strokes of Pool Party with the Aqua Painter.

Lots of Labels Framelits created a wee hanging tag that’s held in place with Linen Thread.

All flowers and jar are adhered using mini-glue to ensure this thank you card is mail-able with no additional postage due.

 

 

Thoughtful Branches Share

 

Reminder! August 31 is the final day to order Thoughtful Branches. Click here to shop.

Make Someone’s Day with a Places You’ll Go Card

By | August 22, 2016
0 Comment

 

 

Places You'll Go Zoom

Dr. Seuss’ Words of Wisdom are Perfect for Off to School

Back to School makes August and September exciting months. Like many moms, I’m sending my offspring off on a great adventure. How apropos that Stampin’ Up! offered me Places You’ll Go this catalog year. It’s perfect!

 

Places You'll Go

Just Stamp Tips

Heartfelt sentiments and globe basics create a clean and simple canvas for expressing warm wishes.

2016-18 In Color Dapper Denim suits both the XX and XY genders, and it pairs strikingly with Delightful Dijon.

The Lucky Stars Embossing Folder adds an array of textured stars to support the “reach beyond the stars” theme.

Gold Embossing Powder for the globe stand and a wee Gold Foil star add just the right shine.

Oceans and continents were easily improvised with a stroke of Pool Party with an Aqua Painter, and a second generation inking of Garden Green splatter from the Gorgeous Grunge collection.

A swish of stars from the Holiday Catalog Star of Light stamp set provides the background for the Dimensionaled globe.

A penny for your thoughts. Click on Comment at the top of this post to send your thoughts. I’d love to hear from you.

 

Reminder! Thoughtful Branches and the coordinating Beautiful Branches Thinlits Dies are available through the end of this month only. Click HERE to order today. 

Thoughtful Branches Share

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday Thank You Notes

By | August 12, 2016
0 Comment

Kate Spade Inspired Flower Patch

Flower Patch  and Flower Fair Pair for Awesome Thank You Notes

The end of another week means it’s time to catch up on Thank You Notes. This week’s card features the bold black and white stripe from the Pop of Paradise DSP that whispers the name of my fav fashions, Kate Spade . Funky flowers in vibrant Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Pink Pirouette and Gold Foil round out the style.

Kate Spade Inspired Flower Patch Zoom

Just Stamp Tips

No Fuss Snips — The tropical blooms are cropped in a jiffy thanks to the coordinating Flower Fair Framelits and Flower Patch stamp set.

The Best Tool for the Job — The Magnetic Platform holds the framelits in place over the stamped image for precise alignment easy peasy.

The Perfect Frame — Everything’s better with Gold Foil. Here, it frames the heartfelt sentiment in total style.

Comments are most welcomed. Just scroll to the top of the post and click “Comment.”