Distressed Dots - Retirement card class card

This card is CASEd off of a card from a fellow demo that I met at Convention, standing in line at Memento Mall.  She lives in Maryland too.   900 miles from home and we meet at Convention!
She sent me a card after I got home, I kept it on my desk, ordered the stamp, but never used it!! Do you ever do that? get stamps and don't use them?  I have started a system.   I put a post it not on the stamp set  and write the date and reason I have used it.   This way I will be more aware of the sets I am using and ones that I am not....and use some of those virgin stamp sets.

Here is my version of the card she sent me.

I used Baja Breeze for my card, a layer of Summer Starfruit and Whisper White  for the Distressed Dots background.   I inked the Distressed Dots stamp in Summer Starfruit and sponged the edges of the stamp with Baja Breeze, then stamped onto the whisper white cardstock, after it dried a minute, I sponged the edges of the whisper white cardstock.   I wrapped the Baja Breeze Seam Binding and taped it to the back of the whisper white layer.   I was going to tie a knot on the seam binding, but changed my mine.  The greeting layer is first stamped with white ink on baja breeze cardstock using the floral label stamp, embossed with white embossing powder and heat set.   THEN, I stamped the greeting in white ink and embossed with white embossing powder too and heat set.  I used the Stamp a ma jig to make sure it was straight.    Then I ran it thru the Big Shot using the Label framelits that match the size of the flower stamp.  I used dimensionals to adhere it onto the card. 

ENJOY! 
  

Retirement Class - Countryside Stamp Set

This set reminds me of the "Olde Days" where life was simpler, or so it seemed.   This set is a great masculine set and I will be keeping this set.

I used Not Quite Navy  and Riding Hood Red cardstocks (both retiring).  I used some retired confetti white cardstock, but you could use watercolor paper, or the naturals white or ivory cardstocks, they have more "fiber"  and can handle the water in markers, blender pens, inks, and aquapainter.  If you use our Whisper White or Very Vanilla cardstocks, adding too much water will cause the cardstock to disintegrate.   I inked the truck with versamark and embossed with Early Espresso embossing powder and using the aquapainter and my ink pads and markers, colored the image in.  The embossed image shows more detail of the whole image than if it was just stamped.   I added some brass brads, also retired and of course out beloved dimensionals.

I hope you get to do some stamping this weekend, and it doesn't matter whether it is retired, retiring or brand spankin' new.   JUST USE IT! 

ENJOY!

Christmas - Memorial Day??? Beautiful Season

Another share from the Retirement Card Class on Saturday...

I just love this image from this set.   and  decided to help my ladies attending the Class get a head start on some Christmas Cards.  

This card is a Crumb Cake card base and I used Riding Hood Red cardstock as a layer, embossed with the petals plenty embossing folder.  The image was inked in Early Espresso ink and embossed with clear embossing powder.   SO easy to do with the new ink pads!  I colored the image using blender pens and markers.  I used the decorative label punch and stamped my greeting on vanilla cardstock and then punched out the label with espresso cardstock too, cut in half and layered behind the greeting.   Added some espresso 1/8 ribbon.  1st Christmas card done! and it isn't even June!

ENJOY!

Easy Events and bonus 3d project

This is the last card in the Retirement Card Class.   I used more mustard as the card base (retiring color) and stamped the flowers with black staz on and used the aquapainter to color in the flowers with pool party ink.  Tying some pool party ribbon around the front.   I used Spice Cake DSP, retired to decide what colors I would use, matching the colors of the DSP.

 Here is a bonus 3d project from the class.  I used the retiring 2 Tags Big Shot Die.  BOY, have I gotten my money's worth out of this die.   I have used both shapes for many projects, Church, Holiday.   So versatile. Cut 2 of the smaller shape for this project and run thru the Big Shot with the Vine embossing folder (a FREEBIE from Sale a bration).    I used the new pinwheel emboslit from the Spring catalog, which makes putting the pinwheel together really quick.   The greeting uses Itty Bitty banners stamp set and framelit to cut it out. Use glue dots to adhere the pinwheel and dimensionals for the greeting.

 

I hope you have enjoyed these projects over the last for days.   Want to purchase any of the items from this class?  I will placing an order on May 31st which will be the last day to order from the 2012-2013 Catalog and the Spring Catalog, the Single Stamps too.   The Hostess Code is 7FKJAB6T, just enter that code when ordering online...The orders will all be listed under this "party" and I will draw names for the "Hostess Benefits" and pick name(s) to win Shopping Sprees with me.


ENJOY!!!

Stampin' Up's Nature Walk....card from Retirement Card Class

As promised in the last post, I am posting pictures of the cards we made in the Retirement Card Class on Saturday. 

This card uses another favorite set, Nature Walk

When I made this card, I couldn't decide whether to use the color Crumb Cake for the base of the card, or Early Espresso.   SO, I made both and asked my husband to decide, so he picked the Early Espresso card, and promptly used it for his brother's birthday card.   The card the ladies made at the class was Early Espresso.  I did some faux layering too.  The card is 5 1/2 x 8 1/2, folded and the very vanilla is 5 1/4 x 4.  On top of the vanilla layer on the left side is a strip of First Edition DSP (retiring too)and the edge is torn on one side.  I turned it over and on the opposite side, sponged some regal rose ink (retiring too), then turned the DSP over and adhered it to the layer.   I stamped the greeting first so that I knew where to start the sponging.  I used a retired background stamp, Sanded and inked it in Crumb Cake, stamped off first then stamped onto the small layer.   I inked up the flower image using Always Artichoke and Regal Rose markers, added the "no. 147" at the bottom in Crumb Cake ink.  Of course I used Stampin' Up!'s Amazing dimensionals to "pop up" the flower image layer and added some Artichoke seam binding.  


ENJOY!

Best of Everything!!!

Over the next few days I will be showing the cards we are making at the Retirement Card Class.   I used 6 different retiring sets and made a card from each set.   I thought that I would have the cards really simple cards, but as I started putting them together, I added and changed them.   SO not all 5-10 minute cards, but not too hard either.  

This first card is my favorite set of all that is retiring this year....I will be keeping it! 

I used Baja Breeze cardstock...also my favorite cardstock and it is retiring~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YIKES! I did get a few packs to use to help me transition til I find a new LOVE.   The card is 4 1/4 x 11 and then I took another piece of baja breeze 4 x 5 1/4 and ran it thru the Big Shot with the woodgrain embossing folder.  The layer behind the white layer is Basic Gray 4 x 3 1/2 and the whisper white is 3 x 3 1/4.   I inked the tree branch using the markers Gumball Green and Chocolate Chip and the flowers using the rose red marker.   The bird is Calypso Coral.   I tried (and I tried hard) to not have to cute those flowers out by hand.....I used 2 sizes of the flower fusion embosslit, but it just would not work whether it was stamping first, then cutting or cutting and then stamping.   I gave up after about 30 mins and just cut them out.   I put a brad thru them, I only had some silver ones, but my Stampers Club order came a little while ago and I now have brights too.  They are on the Retired List and on sale for just a few days longer.  So I bought the other color families too, they should match most of the colors.   I attached the flowers using a mini glue dot, rolled up to give it a little more dimension.  I wrapped Linen Thread around the bottom of the Basic Gray layer and attached to the card using dimensionals.   Oh how I love Stampin' Up!'s dimensionals, they are the best for "popping up" an image and so easy to use.   I stamped the verse in Basic Gray. 

What is your favorite Stamp Set on the Retirement List?  Favorite Color retiring?  or Accessory?  Leave a comment for me and  if I have the set, color, accessory, I will make a card or project and post it.  ALSO send me a email with your snail address and I will send that card or project to you.   BUT you must first leave a comment here.


ENJOY!

May's Stamp Club Cards

This month is the last month in this round of my Stamp Club.    These ladies meet the 3rd Sunday and 3rd Friday each month, make a few projects and place an order.  They build their stamp supplies, month by month and stamp too, making great projects and cards.   One of the months, they are the hostess and receive the Hostess benefits.   FREE stamps and accessories.   They also receive the catalog FREE and after Stamp Club today, they received their new catalog!!!

If you want join in the Stampers Club, or want to know more about it, contact me at sbjcarol@yahoo.com or leave a comment on this blog post.   I still have space for you to join.

Here are the two projects for this month.   Usually I have a 3rd project, and I had one planned, however, with my husband's urgent surgery this week, I didn't get it prepared.   SO, when their orders come in, the extra project will be in their bags, already done!

This first card, I had pretty much designed and I was searching for something else, and found a card made using the bird build punches, both the wing and the branch.   I thought that birds wings looked SO cute on this owl, so I added the wings to my owl too.

 

 

Items used:  Cardstock - River Rock, Not Quite Navy (both colors are retiring), Chocolate Chip and Whisper White.   DSP - Paisley Petals (also retired, last year) and the stamp "Happy Birthday" is from a retired Hostess set, but it fit perfectly on the card.   Lots of Punches: The Owl builder, the Bird builder,  2 3/8" scallop circle and the scallop border punch.  I used Chocolate Chip ink for the greeting and the marker to make the eyes.  Also used the White Taffeta ribbon and of course, dimensionals!   You could make this card for a Graduate too.

 

 



 This 2nd card, I copied off a SWAP I received from Cindy Sheets at Leadership Conference in Orlando, FL earlier this year.    Seeing the SWAP, I just knew I had to get this butterfly stamp.   I copied the SWAP and only changed a few things, the ribbon and the greeting and how the greeting was put on the card.   It is hard to see, but there is Dazzling Diamonds over the whole butterfly and boy does it look Stunning!!!

Items used:   Cardstock - Sahara Sand, Island Indigo and Whisper White.  DSP - Twitterpatted (retiring soon) Stamps - Swallowtail and the greeting is from the Pop- Up Posies Designer Kit in the Spring Catalog.  Ink - Island Indigo, Accessories - White organza ribbon, dimensionals, Scallop oval and large oval punches, 2 way glue pen and dazzling diamonds.

The items that are retiring and items in the Spring catalog are only available for 10 more days, SO don't delay get your order to me today! 

Gift for Nurses...Chalk Talk stamp set

This last week, my husband had some urgent surgery to remove his gallbladder.   He had some great nurses that made his time there tolerable.  Kelly, the Preop nurse kept us busy talking and not worrying or waiting.....   Martha, the PACU nurse, kept me informed of my husband's progress throughout the afternoon and even his admission.  Missy was his nurse on 3South when he arrived to his room and kept his IV going instead of having to restart a new one, plus attending to him all night.   His day nurse, Debbie getting him some "real food" and being attentive.

I know that these gals work hard, and a lot of times, people are so quick to complain, but not as quick to compliment.   I waned to do something, but getting home at 9pm  and going back to the hospital the next morning, not sure what I could come up with.....

I made these coffee cake muffins, not made from scratch, but from Krusteaz box.   I packaged them up using a cello bag and a tag made from a new stamp set, Chalk Talk .   I love this set and can't wait to get the framelits that match.   I got the set FREE as one of the benefits of being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.   I used the Apothecary Accents Big Shot framelits after I stamped and embossed the image in white ink and white embossing powder.   I used Baja Breeze cardstock (boo hoo, retiring) I have a stash!!! and I had some retired Baja Breeze ribbon from a few years back and tied a bow, then used white baker's twine to put the tag on.

Only 13 days left to get Stamp sets and accessories that are retiring!  Contact me to get those items.

New Catalogs are Here -  Want a new catalog?  You will be able to purchase from them on May 31st!  Contact me to get yours.

I have a few spots open for my Stampin' Retirement Class next Saturday, May 25th.   Scheduled to start at 10am, but will I am starting it earlier for those that want to come earlier... at 9am and go til you are finished your cards and extra gift project.   Only $10.

Contact me at sbjcarol@yahoo.com to register for this class.



ENJOY the Day!

Retirement Cards

The catalog year is coming to a close and you know what that means.......If you want a stamp set or accessory that is retiring, you better get it before it is gone forever!   Accessories are "while supplies last" only and stamp sets will retiring May 31st.  Contact me to get your favorites before they are gone.

Speaking of the Retired Stamp and Accessory Lists, I am holding a Retirement Card Class, Saturday, May 25th 10a - til you finish.   You will make 6 cards and a 3d item, each card will use a different stamp set that is retiring.   Cost is $10.   Please bring your favorite adhesive, all other supplies to make the cards will be provided, embellishments, dimensionals, sticky strip.   Please RSVP.

Here is a sneak peek at those cards:

I know, it's not a great picture, but the clouds are all around and I just want to give you a peek anyway.....



ENJOY!

Become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, and Demonstrator meeting cards

To become a Stampin' Up! demonstrator it only takes the desire to Make a Difference.  You can learn all the stampin' techniques along the way or you may already know them and more.   The cost for the Starter kit is only $99 and from now until May 30th, you get an additional $30 in merchandise to choose from for your kit, That is $155 in merchandise for only $99.  You design your whole kit! Your Way!  

Join my team by May 30th and I will give you a set of In Color Markers, the 2013-2015 colors.  That is all five luscious colors that include, Baked Brown Sugar, Coastal Cabana, Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding and Strawberry Slush. 

Have Questions?  Want to Learn More?  Just give me a call, 410.382.4874 or email me at sbjcarol@yahoo.com, or go to my Stampin' Up! website, www.stampergirl.stampinup.net. and click on the join now button just under my name.   SO SIMPLE!

Every month, Connie Heisey (upline to many demonstrators) holds a meeting in Hanover, PA and I try to go every month. There are great demonstrations, project displays, business tips all shared by fellow demonstrators and some great Make and Takes too. This is just one more perk of being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator. Connie has given us (her group of downline demonstrators) a challenge of sharing what we love with others and having them join our team.

Now here are a few of the Make and Takes from the meeting last Thursday.  These are my cards and they don't look exactly like the samples, cause sometimes I ask a question after I have already done a step too far!!!!

This first one uses the stamp set, By the Tide that is in the Spring Catalog AND in the New Catalog, WOOHOO!!!!  This card took probably 20 mins to make, because I had to cut out the seahorse and fish cause there are no framelits for those!!!!hint hint Stampin' Up! The sample card had the fish half on the inside so you really didn't have to cut him all out, and since I went thru the trouble of cutting him out, I put him on the outside for all to see.

 This next card uses the Serene Silhouettes stamp set that is NOT retiring.   I have used this set SO much.   I love the birds on the branches.   I didn't follow directions for this one either, the sample card had the stamped image cut on straight lines.  I cut mine on straight lines too, but when I put them together, it was diagonally on the image!  

 This 3rd card uses the image from Just Believe and it IS retiring, so if it is on your Wish List, you better get it by May 31st! or it will be gone!  Yep, I didn't follow directions here either. 

 

All three cards used sponging techniques on them and I am pleased how they turned out. Since, I didn't follow directions, you could say these are ORIGINALS!

 

 

ENJOY!

 

 

Bloomin' Bouquet Kit

About a week ago, Stampin' Up! sent out a video and information on a Bloomin' Bouquet Kit, to make 13 flowers and I wasn't sure if I would like it or not, but decided to order it anyway.   Three of my friends ordered it too, an the kits arrived the other day and today one of them came to pick up her order.   While she was here, I took my kit out, popped the flowers out, got my hot glue gun out and started making some flowers.   When I did the first one, and put it in a "vase", I wasn't sure, but when I had 3 or 4 in there, then I knew I LOVE IT.   They just bring a smile to my face.  

Here are the ones I have completed.

 "My White Photo Box area" where I take pictures, I guess I should have zoomed in!???

 Looking straight down

 and another front view

6 are done and there are 13 in all.   I am sure these are going be great to hand out, just because.....
These kits are still available and they are only $12.95.   Contact me to get yours!

I hope you have a Great Day!  A Great Mother's Day weekend


ENJOY!

Stampin' Baby wipe Technique

Let's try this again!  I think it worked!!!!!!

Stampin' Baby wipe Technique video

I can't believe this is my 20th try at putting my baby wipe video on my blog....I hope it works this time!

Congratulations Carrie Rhoades and video...NOT AGAIN!

Congratulations Carrie Rhoades, you won for your comment on the Wedding Invitations  last week.   SO, I need you to email me your snail address so I can send you your Goodies.


Here is the video I have been trying to upload for a few days.....ENJOY


Well, not again...another 2 hrs trying to upload the video ....unable to locate the video.

SO, I uploaded the video to Youtube and will try and upload it here in the morning, because it won't work tonight.

 

Club Cards for April and video on how to!

Today I am sharing the Stampers Club Cards for April... 

This first one uses the stamp set, By the Tide from the Spring Catalog.   I just had to have this set and  never used it.   SO, I decided to start using sets and not letting them just sit on the shelf.  This card uses the BabyWipe Technique....SO EASY! 

 

Colors used:   Pool Party, Crumb Cake, and Calypso Coral, Early Espresso.   Stamp sets, By the Tide, and Wacky Wishes ( Hostess Set).  BS Square lattice embossing folder, Linen Thread, paper snips and of course, dimensionals.

 

 

WELL, after 3 hrs of trying to upload my video, I gave up and went to bed.  I will work on it again tonight and maybe it will get posted.

 

Here is the 2nd  project for stamp club.   I have been cleaning out my stamp room!!! getting ready for the new catalog year, pulling retiring cardstock, and stamp sets ! YIKES!!! too too many and I can't keep them all!   

I came across a picture of a treat holder, held a tiny candy bar, I just made sure I punched the space for the candy big enough.   I used the swirl (you can barely see it) from Creative Elements, Baja Breeze ink on Baja Breeze cardstock (boy am I going to miss that color). I also used Baja Breeze taffeta ribbon at the top.   I stamped the This too shall Pass in Early Espresso on Very Vanilla Cardstock and the "Hang in There" with those colors too.  I sponged both pieces with Baja Breeze ink.   Sponging is a great way to disguise a whole lot of things like...not cutting the cardstock straight, ink is smeared, not an even color on stamped image, a "spot" on your stamped image that doesn't belong!

This is for a friend of mine who had knee surgery, I thought it appropriate!   She is a Stampers Club member but has not seen this yet since she had her surgery the day of Stamp Club.  Hopefully I will get to see her in a few days and give it to her.

 

  

I hope you get to stamp today.  It is rainy and foggy here, so I will get a little stamping done between my errands today. 

ENJOY!

Anniversary Card

A few weeks ago a friend asked if I could make a 70th Anniversary card for a relative of theirs.   I said sure!   I went into my stamp room and started to create.   I liked a card we made at a Proverbial Stampers gathering a while back and decided to make my card using the design (as I remembered, because I had already sent that card).  I started to look for my number set, and I did not have a single number stamp set in my collection of hundreds of sets!  Does that ever happen to you?   Well, I quickly went through the catalog and found Memorable Moments set on page 139.  I placed my order for the set and a few more items I needed and waited for it to be delivered....In the meantime, I started making the rest of the card.  When it arrived, I realized the set had Happy and Anniversary in the set!  I decided to use those words with the numbers and I think it turned out pretty good.  What do you think?

I gave my friend the card and realized I never took a picture of it, so I emailed her and asked her if she hadn't given the card, would she take a picture and send it to me.

I used Midnight Muse cardstock for the base card and I used 2 different pieces of DSP from Paisley Petals DSP (retired last year).   I use the white organza ribbon to cover where the two pieces of DSP join.  I stamped the flowers from Secret Garden stamp set in Midnight Muse and embossed with clear powder.  I cut them out with their matching framelits!!!!!!!  Our great new ink pads are so juicy it is easy to emboss in all the gorgeous colors we have.  I  did some water coloring on the flowers with my aqua painter and embossed the greeting in Midnight Muse ink too.  I used the label framelits for the Greeting and Midnight Muse layer behind it.  I used a bunch of dimensionals and when I had the card completed, I added some Crystal Effects to the centers of the flowers.


So, what do you think?  Do you have any questions about how I did something on this card?   Leave me a comment and I will pull a item from my retiring items and send it to you.

NO COMMENT, NO FREEBIE!!! 

Coming SOON, my first video!