Stamp Club Projects

Happy Tuesday,

Last night was my monthly stamp club and so I thought I would share the projects we made. We had a great time stamping, it's always more fun stamping with others. Thanks again to the ladies who attended. :)

We made this first card using Tart & Tangy and the Summer Picnic DSP. I just can't get enough of this set and everyone at club seemed to enjoy it as well. We also made a matching sour cream container filled with Skittles, but my husband has since opened the one I made. So you'll need to use your imagination! :)



For this next project we used the stamp set Unfrogettable to create a slider style card. This was fun to make and everyone chose to stamp something different on the front image and the slider. So we all had unique cards!


We did a single slider instead of the double and I think I like this better. It was easier and it seems to work better too. I'll be making more of these!








For the last projects, we created a card with a matching gift card holder using the stamps from Pun Fun. The card layout was taken from an old sketch challenge from Beate's blog, Fresh and Fun.


The gift card holder is super easy to make. Here are the details for that...

supplies:
One piece of cardstock 4 1/4" X 11" scored at 3", 5 1/2", and 8", Coordinating cardstock for the front of the gift card holder to embellish as desired, Word Window punch and a Circle Punch, ribbon for the closure, and adhesive.

1. Fold your cardstock along the score lines accordion style.
2. On the back side of the cardstock, run adhesive along what will be the bottom and two sides of the pocket (between the 5 1/2" score and the 3" score). Leave the 5 1/2" score line free of adhesive.
3. Fold your gift card holder again on the scores to adhere the pocket together. Now open the card. You will need to use your Word Window punch to cut an opening for your gift card holder. I started at one end of the 5 1/2" score line, punched and then punched again right next to the first punch. Be sure to leave about a half inch on each end. Check for proper fit using your gift card.
4. Next, use the Circle Punch to make a half circle or smaller notch in the middle of your punched area. This will make removing the gift card a bit easier.
5. Embellish the front as desired and use ribbon to tie the card holder closed.

Thanks for looking, have a great day. Happy Stamping!! :)

Weekly Tutorial - Simple Backgrounds

Happy Monday!

Hope everyone had a good weekend. It was nice again here, actually got to go outside and do some yard work. The snow is almost all melted away. Hope the weather is nice where you live.

I just recently learned a new stamping technique called Direct To Paper. I'd never heard this phrase until visiting Desiree, on Stamp with Desiree. She made a beautiful card with this technique.

Direct to paper actually just means putting your ink pad right to the paper. This is probably the easiest technique for creating a background for your card. You can use either the edge of the pad or the corner or even the entire ink surface. Each way will create a different effect.

For the top right card, I used the very edge of my ink pad to create a random "line" effect as the background. I stamped Sahara Sand ink on Sahara Sand cardstock. I was going for a masculine card style, I never make masculine cards, but I have a couple birthday's coming up for which I'll need these cards.

For the bottom left card, I used the entire ink pad surface to create a weathered appearance. I stamped Night of Navy ink on to the Night of Navy cardstock. I don't have a lot of background stamps so this technique will come in handy!

Hope you have a chance to give this a try sometime. Happy Stamping!! :)

Weekly Tutorial - Baby Wipe Technique

Happy Monday!

Hope you all had a good weekend. The snow is finally starting to melt where we live, maybe that means Spring is actually here!

I've been meaning to share this technique for a while now and with the Stampin' Up! Free Wheelin' promo, this is a perfect time. This card was made using the baby wipe technique. This is a really fun and simple way to create a beautiful card in just a few minutes.

You will only need a few supplies; a baby wipe, a few different colored re-inkers, a stamp or wheel, and paper. For my card I chose re-inkers in colors of the rainbow, but you can use any color combo you want. Just be sure that you don't choose colors that will blend and turn brown or black. You won't be happy with that result!

First, fold your baby wipe in half and in half again, just to make it a little thicker. If you are working on a surface that you don't want to get ink on, I suggest putting a paper plate under the baby wipe. Next, starting with your darkest to lightest re-inkers, randomly place drops of ink on the baby wipe. I make a circular pattern and drop 6 to 8 drops of each color, allowing the colors to just barely touch. Once you have all your colors randomly dropped onto the baby wipe, you are ready to stamp. You have basically created a custom ink pad with the baby wipe.

For my card, I used the Doodle wheel as my main image instead of a single stamp. I rolled the wheel over the ink on my baby wipe, being sure that the entire wheel/stamp was inked up. Then stamp the paper. What you get is a multi-colored image.

To finish my card, I used some retired cranberry cardstock cut 6x3, some retired stitched cranberry ribbon, and a hemp twine tag. I also stamped a sentiment. If you would like a more detailed tutorial for this technique, Splitcoast has a great one with photos for each step. You can find that tutorial HERE.

Have a great Monday. Happy Stamping! :)

Weekly Tutorial - Card Folders

It's weekly tutorial time! I posted a project on Friday with card folders and I promised that today I would post the tutorial for how to make them. I got this creative idea from Jo and I believe she found the idea from Katharina. These are great for sending stamped images in the mail without having to worry about them getting ruined or falling out of the envelope when opened. Give them a try, I think you'll like them as much as I do!

For supplies you will need...

8 1/2" X 11" cardstock

scoring tool

sticky strip tape or another strong tape

scissors
embellishments to finish the folder

First you need to score your cardstock at 5 1/2" as shown in the photo. Then slide your paper and score at 1/2" on the left and 1/2" on the right. These will make the tabs for adhering your folder together.

Next, turn you cardstock and score at 2 1/5" as shown in the photo. Now you are finished the scoring.

Fold your cardstock in half along the 5 1/2" score and cut off a triangular section at the bottom. Make the cut from the 2 1/5" score line and cut down at an angle as shown in photo.

Then cut the 1/2" scores from the top of your cardstock to the 2 1/2" score line. Cut this section completely off from your cardstock as shown in the photo. Do this to both the 1/2" score lines.

*Be sure NOT to cut off the 1/2" X 2 1/2" area. These will be the tabs used to adhere the folder together.

This is how your folder should look before you adhere it together.

Fold the 1/2" tabs down over the 2 1/2" area and place sticky strip or tape on both tabs.

Now, fold the 2 1/2" section up and adhere your tabs.

Fold in half to close and embellish if desired.

This is my completed folder. I used Bloomin' Beautiful for the image and watercolored that with an aquapainter and Bashful Blue and Close to Cocoa ink. The cardstock under that is Bashful Blue stamped with Canvas BG. I distressed the top corners on the white cardstock and tore the bottom. For final touches I added some brads to the corners, some sponging to the white, and ribbon to close the folder.

*For the ribbon closure, I punched holes on both the left and right sides of the folder while it was closed. Then threaded the ribbon through the holes and tied in a bow. This folder is filled with stamped Bloomin' Beautiful images and some embellishments. It was one of the PIF blog candies that I sent out this past weekend.

Hope you have a chance to try making one of these folders. Sorry the photos don't match up with the wording perfectly, Blogger is giving me a hard time this morning. Happy Stamping! :)

Paper Piecing

Happy Monday!

I've seen a lot of projects that use paper piecing lately, so I thought it would make a great tutorial for this week. Paper piecing is a quick and easy way to add detail to your stamped images.

The first thing you need to do is choose an image, preferably a line image. Then choose some designer printed paper. Stamp your main image on neutral cardstock and then stamp it again on your desinger paper. Here I used some left over paper from the Creative License Simply Scrappin' Kit. I cut the cracked egg from the DSP and pieced that over the cracked egg on my main image. To finish off my little chicky, I colored him yellow and added detail to his beak, feathers, and feet with an orange marker.

My finished card uses the weekend sketch challenge on Beate's blog, Fresh and Fun. My son's new favorite color is orange so I wanted his Easter card to be bold and bright. I'm happy to say that this card was made entirely by using scrap papers. Remember to keep them, they do come in handy sometimes. Happy Stamping!! :)

Recipe: Stamps: A Good Egg Cardstock: Soft Sky, Pumpkin Pie, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White, Creative License DSP. Ink: Apricot Appeal, Pumpkin Pie, Garden Green, Chocolate Chip Accessories: Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, Photo Corners Punch, Scalloped Circle Punch, Circle Punches, Brads, Ribbon, White Gel Pen.

Pocket Card Tutorial

I'm working on making save the date cards for my aunt's wedding. I think I've made about 4 different versions on this card now, all using different color combos. Her wedding is going to be this Fall and she likes a color combination that she saw in a wedding magazine. I think that these two colors, Ruby Red and Blush Blossom, are the closest I can get to the ones she likes. Of all the different combos I've tried, this one is by far my favorite. What do you think?

I also thought since I was working on these cards and making this pocket fold design, I would use this for the tutorial this week.

To make a pocket fold card, you will need...

For the card base: 1 piece of 4 1/4" X 11" cardstock, here I used the Blush color. 1 piece of 4" X 4" cardstock in a coordinating color, 1 piece of 3 3/4" X 3 3/4" neutral cardstock both of these pieces are for the front of the card.

For the insert: 1 piece of 3 1/5" X 5" cardstock in the same coordinating color as the front piece, 1 piece of 3 1/4" X 4 3/4" cardstock in the neutral. Here I used Ruby Red and Very Vanilla.

Lastly, some embellishments to dress up your card, sticky strip, scoring tool, punches.

1. Score your 4 1/4" X 11" cardstock at 5 1/2" and 1 1/4". Then fold along the score lines. I added some scalloped edging to the front flap of my card using the corner rounder punch.

2. Round the top 2 corners of the card base, this is optional.

3. Adhere the front piece to the back piece using sticky strip tape. Add the tape from the bottom score line to the top score line, fold and stick. Be sure to stay right along the edge of the card. This will be your pocket. Do not adhere the 1 1/4" flap at this time.

4. Add ribbon to the front flap. Embellish the flap to your liking.

5. Glue your two front pieces together. You can stamp images here or do as I did and dry emboss the neutral piece. Once they are finished the way you want them, glue them to the front of the card.

6. Glue the ribbon flap piece down to the finished front of your card. Set this finished card aside.

7. Corner round the two insert pieces (optional). Stamp and embellish you neutral insert piece and then glue to the colored cardstock insert.

8. Add a tab punch if desired. Embellish.

9. Finish your card by putting the insert in the card base.

Pretty simple and fun! Happy Stamping! :)

There's still time to enter for the blog candy, scroll down and post a comment!

Stamping on Walls

Happy Monday,

I wanted to share a project I did a short time ago. It's an easy way to add a decorative touch to any room.

We recently re-painted our daughter's bedroom, it's a sage green color. Although from this picture, that's hard to see. Once the room was finished though, it still needed something. I decided to use some stamps to add focal points around the room.

To complete the look I wanted, I used the Two Step Stampin' set Bold Butterfly from Stampin' Up!. (Note that this stamp set is now retired)

To stamp on walls you will need clean rubber stamps, acrylic paint, a paper plate, and a sponge applicator brush. Also keep a wet cloth near by for cleaning the stamps and for touch ups if you make a mistake.

First, put a few different paint colors on your paper plate. You won't need much of each color, plus you can always add more. I used pink, yellow, and white for my images.

Then, using your sponge brush, lightly sponge paint on the solid image stamp. Be sure not to over load the stamp with paint as it will squish and make a mess.

Once your stamp is ready, stamp the image on wall. Be sure to stamp straight and pull off straight, don't wiggle the stamp.

Reapply the paint for each new image and stamp the wall. Allow the paint to dry completely before adding the line image detailing.

Once the solid images are dry. Add paint to your line image stamp and add this detail to the solid images.

This photo is part of the finished wall. A few scattered butterflies to add a touch of whimsy to a little girls bedroom. Give this technique a try! It's easy and fun. This would be a great project to do with a child too. Happy Stamping! :)

Criss Cross Card Tutorial

I recently posted a criss cross card and then was asked if I had a tutorial. I actually followed Beate's tutorial on SCS, but here is my quick version!

You will need...
2 pieces of cardstock 4 1/4" x 11" for the criss cross base
1 piece of designer printed paper 4" x 5" for the front of the criss cross
1 piece of cardstock 3 3/4" x 5 1/4" for the insert
1 piece of neutral cardstock 3 1/2" x 4 3/4" for the insert
1 strip of cardstock or paper 1 1/2" x 12" for the band around the card

1. Score both pieces of 4 1/4" x 11" cardstock at 5 1/2". Then cut one piece, from the score line out, on a diagonal to the left and cut the other piece on a diagonal to the right. You will be left with a 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" surface next to each diagonal section.

2. Adhere the two 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" sections together so that you have one piece with a left flap and a right flap.

3. Cut the designer printed paper in half on the diagonal and adhere to each flap. Be sure to adhere to the front of each flap. **Also note, that depending on the way you cut, you may need to use one of each side of your printed paper. The triangle sections don't always go in the direction for each flap. At least that's what happens to me every time! If this happens you may need to use two pieces of 4" X 5" printed paper, saving the other cuts for next time.

4. Adhere the flaps closed. Leave enough room for the criss cross to still open at the top. Be sure that you don't glue the flaps down enough that the insert will no longer fit inside.

5. Decorate your neutral cardstock and then adhere to the 3 3/4" X 5 1/4". You may add embellishments such as a tab or ribbon. Fit inside the finished criss cross base.

6. Lastly, wrap the band around the completed card and adhere. Embellish it if you choose.

For a more detailed tutorial with photos, check out this link. Have fun trying this neat card fold! Happy Stamping! :)

Contained!

Yeah, It's Finally Friday!!

Today on Erin's blog, the Finally Friday Challenge is to create a container of some sort. I had my stamp club last night, which turned out to be just two friends chatting while stamping and loads of fun too and we made a couple sour cream containers as possible wedding favors. My friend is getting married in June and has totally planned everything on her own in record time on top off making the invitations and favors herself!

So today, when I saw Erin's blog challenge, I just had to make another sour cream container! These are super easy and they look great! Plus, you can fill them with whatever you want. Totally customized gifts for very little cost!

This particular container uses Whisper White cardstock that has been embossed with the Cuttlebug. Totally love that Cuttlebug! My friend was kind enough to leave it with me for the weekend to play around. I think I need to get my own! After putting together the container, I used Bashful Blue Taffeta ribbon and a scalloped circle punch to embellish.

Thanks for looking, hope you get a chance to take this "contained" challenge! Have a great weekend! Happy Stamping! :)

SCS Color Challenge 150

Here's my card for today's SCS color combination challenge. The challenge was to use Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, and Real Red as the main colors for your project. I chose to make a z-fold card so that I could combine this challenge with my tutorial for this week!

To make a z-fold card you need to cut your cardstock to 4 1/4" X 11" and then score on 2 3/4" and 5 1/2". Then cut your main image papers to fit over half of the front flap, this way it over laps onto the bottom of the card. Only adhere about half of your main image to the card base. When you open the card all the way, your front image will lay flat and still be visible.

Here is the recipe for making this card...

Stamps: Happy Heart Day

Cardstock: Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, Real Red, and White

Ink: Bayou and Close to Cocoa, the image is colored with watercolor pencils and an aqua painter

Accessories: Photo corners punch, eyelets, ribbon

Weekly Tutorial - Card Accents

Good Morning,

Hope everyone is fully recovered from the holiday season and getting back to normal routines! I'm happy to report that I'm back and ready to start stamping and posting again!

This week I thought instead of the typical tutorial, I would show you how to jazz up your cards by adding embellishments and paper accents. We can all make a simple card, but we can also turn these simple cards into much, much more. So what do you say, let's kick it up a notch!

As you can see, the cards on the left are pretty basic, but with a few accents added, they become whole new cards! For these cards, I chose the colors from the new style watch section of the Spring/Summer Collection. The cards on top are the BoHo West color combos and the cards on the bottom are Eastern Eclectic color combos. Both sets of cards are made using the new Embrace Life stamp set.

For the card on the upper right, I added paper piercing to the main image, brads and ribbon for some embellishments, and some paper accents for color. For the card on the lower right, I added faux stitching with the All in a Row stamp set, paper piercing to the main image, dry embossing to the bottom of the card, paper accents for color, and finally brads for added embellishments. Now it's you turn, kick those cards up a notch!

Weekly Tutorial - Nugget Tins

This week's tutorial is putting together a simple candy gift idea using Hershey Nuggets Candies and metal tins. I found a great tutorial on SCS, here's the link, if you don't have or can't get the tins in time for the holidays. The SCS tutorial shows you how to make your boxes.

My tutorial will be a quick "how to" using the tins I found at specialtybottle.com. These tins are size code THN8. They cost me approximately $1.35 each with the shipping charges.

Supplies:

Hinged cover metal tin, Hershey Nuggets Candy, printed/designer paper, cutter, adhesive, ribbon, embellishments

How To:

1. Cut your printed paper (for mine I used Dashing DSP from Stampin' Up!) into strips. Each strip will need to be 1 inch X 3 1/4 inches. You will need 12 strips to complete this project.

2. Adhere one strip to each nugget, creating a new sleeve or cover for each piece of candy. You will need 12 nuggets to fill each tin.

3. Once your candies are covered, put them into the metal tin.

4. Wrap the tin with ribbons and add some embellishments. I used a tag with a stamped image and a little hemp twine to attach the tag.

It's really that simple! I plan to leave one for my postman and some for the UPS delivery guys. Just a little something to wish them a Merry Christmas! Quick and easy and very inexpensive!

Weekly Tutorial - Stamped Tile Coasters

This week's tutorial will involve stamping on tile to create a set of Tile Coasters. You will only need a few supplies to complete this simple project.


Supplies: Stamps, tile (natural stone works best), StazOn Ink and StazOn Cleaner, ribbon.


I purchased my tile at Home Depot. This tile is available in a box of 9 for about $6 or separately for less than $1. The tiles used here are 4x4 Travertine tiles. When used as coasters, these natural stone tiles will absorb water from glasses without needing to be sealed.


1. Clean all tiles with a damp cloth and set aside to dry for a few minutes. This will help to remove some of the dry dusty grit that coats the tiles.


2. Using your StazOn ink (this is a permanent ink that will not need to be sealed), ink your stamp image and then stamp the tile. Repeat for the desired look. StazOn ink can be found at your local craft store in a variety of colors. Currently, Stampin' Up! only carries Jet Black, Timber Brown and White.

3. Stamp excess ink on a piece of scrap paper and then clean with your StazOn cleaner. The quicker you clean this ink, the easier it is to remove from the stamp. Some staining will occur.

4. Repeat steps 1 through 3 to make a complete set of Tile Coasters. I would stamp at least 2 or 4 tiles per set.

5. Stack your tiles and wrap in ribbon to complete this project. This simple, inexpensive project makes a great gift.

For more information or project ideas with stamped tiles, visit this link.

Microscope Slide Ornaments

I thought I would go with a project idea other than a card for this week's tutorial. I hope you like it!

You will need microscope slides for this project. I purchased mine online at microscopedepot.com. They were about $4.00 plus S/H for 36 slides. I mistakenly bought ground edges instead of all clear. They work good, but I think next time I would go with the totally clear ones. I've heard you can also get slides at craft stores, but I haven't ventured out to see if this is true.

Supplies:

Acetate (you can also use cardstock if you don't have the acetate), 2 microscope slides, sticky strip tape (super sticky tape), embossing powder (here I used Iridescent Ice), versamark, ink, glitter, heat tool, ribbon, and stamps.

Tutorial:

Cut 2 pieces of acetate the same size or a little smaller than your slides. Stamp images on one sheet. Heat with your heat tool to set the ink. Stamp versamark covering the other sheet of acetate and sprinkle with embossing powder. Then emboss with your heat tool.

Next, sandwich your acetate pieces between the slides.

Cut a piece of ribbon for the hanger and sandwich that as well.

Cut your sticky strip to go around the outside of the slides. This will adhere the slides together. Running it along the slides and pinching it over the edges.

Next, roll the edges in glitter to cover the sticky strip.

Have fun, these are super easy and pretty. They would make a nice inexpensive gift.

Winter Joy Shaker Card

This card used acetate, glitter, and foam tape to create a 3D window.

1. Cut a piece of cardstock for your card base, here white was used.

2. Cut a piece of cardstock for the background, here I use Soft Sky, then stamp a background of images onto this cardstock.

3. Cut another piece of cardstock (here I used Soft Sky again) for the window piece, cut a piece of acetate and a piece of neutral cardstock ( here I used white) slightly smaller than the window piece.

4. Then punch out a "window" in the colored cardstock, and adhere the acetate with glue or tape.

5. Cut pieces of foam tape, adhere to back side of window/acetate cardstock, be sure that all foam tape edges touch each other. You don't want the glitter to leak out when you shake the card.

6. Sprinkle glitter onto the acetate and set aside. (When placed on the finished card it will look like snow inside the window)

7. Stamp an image on the neutral cardstock so that it will show through the window. Adhere this piece of the cardstock to the foam tape to complete the "shaker window".

8. Adhere the window cardstock to the back ground cardstock.

9. Add ribbon to the completed background piece and then adhere to the cardstock card base.

10. If desired, add glitter embellishments to the finished card. I added icicles under my window and trimmed JOY in glitter.

Supplies needeed for this card...

Cardstock: White, Soft Sky, Acetate

Ink: Soft Sky

Accessories: Ribbon, Glitter for window, Foam Tape, Crystal Effects, Dazzling Diamond Dust, square or circle punch for making the window

Halloween Acetate Card

In honor of Halloween, this week's card tutorial uses the stamp set Haunting Halloween and for a neat effect, I used acetate as the card base.

1. Cut acetate for card base and stamp with permanent ink, such as Stazon. This ink will dry quick and not smudge or run.

2. Cut 2 squares of cardstock for the front, and back of your acetate card. For best results, this cardstock should be colored.

3. Cut 3 smaller squares of neutral cardstock to fit over your colored squares. Stamp images on 1 for the front of your card, then 1 for the inside left and leave the inside right blank for you to write your personal message.

4. Adhere front neutral cardstock to the colored cardstock and adhere to front of card base. Then adhere next neutral cardstock to the inside left of cardstock base over the colored cardstock, this will hide any glue from the other side.

5. Close your card and adhere other colored cardstock square to back of card base, be sure to line it up over the front piece. When you look at the front of your card, you should not be able to see the back piece.

6. Open card again and adhere last neutral square to the inside right over the colored cardstock that you glued to the back. This again will hide the glue from the back piece.

7. As a finishing touch, you can tie on ribbon or add another embellishment to jazz up the front of your card.

Now it's your turn to try an acetate card! Make one for Halloween or another event, just give it a try. Have fun, Happy Halloween!

Supplies used for this card example:

Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, and acetate (overhead projector transparency)

Ink: Black Stazon

Accessories: ribbon, tag punch, markers

Santa Holiday Card

To make this holiday card:

1. Fold a half sheet of cardstock for your card base and stamp with a background.

2. Cut two layers of cardstock to desired size. Use different colors with one being neutral.

3. Stamp image on neutral cardstock and then color it in. Use corner tool to make decorative edges, here the ticket corner punch was used, adhere to colored cardstock.

4. Use slit punch or corner rounder punch to make a scalloped edge for a decorative accent piece and then stamp.

5. Adhere under the colored cardstock.

6. Adhere finished colored cardstock to the base card.

7. Use a bead of glue and glitter to add some dazzle to your card. Here it was used on the trim of the Santa suit.

The stamp set used here is retired, but the card idea can be used with any other holiday stamp set. One suggestion would be It's Snow Time (page 37, Fall/Winter Collection catalog).

Cardstock: River Rock, Bravo Burgandy, Always Artichoke, and Very Vanilla.

Accessories: glitter, slit punch, ticket corner punch, and crystal effects.