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Stampin’ Up! First Frost Get Well for Happy Inkin’ Thursday combined Hop

{HOLD EVERYTHING!!! Today’s blog is NOT part of the combined Inkin’ Krew/Happy Stampers hop! I don’t know what happened. I had a deadline by which to post my link for the rest of the hoppers, and I posted well ahead of the deadline. However, for some never-to-be-known reason, my link disappeared. It is probably floating around somewhere out there in cyberspace, which does my hopping friends and me no good at all! At any rate, by the time this was discovered, it was too late to join the hop. My apologies to everyone. I will put a link at the bottom for the person who follows me on the hop, so if you care to hop along, you can do so without me.}

Good Morning, Everyone. I hope this finds you all done with your Christmas cards and they are all in the mail. What? You still have a few to do? Join the club..I do, too!

Today’s card is not a Christmas card though. I have a couple of friends who are ill and hospitalized, though they are improving and should be dismissed sooner rather than later. I took time out from my Christmas activities to make cards for them.

Today we are joined with our friends from Canada, and have both a color and and a sketch we can use. I chose only the sketch this time, as I just wasn’t ready to make a bright, springlike card. Here is our sketch

sketch

And here are the colors colors

I created my card from colors my friends like, rather than using the challenge colors.

I began today’s card with a Smoky Slate base and added Blackberry Bliss, Whisper White, Soft Sea Foam and Petal Pink. This is a top-folding card. Here is my creation.

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To make the two toned front, I cut one piece of Blackberry Bliss and a smaller one of Petal Pink, then taped them together on the back. I then used my Tufted Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder to dry emboss the front. Before I embossed this panel, I VERY lightly spritzed it with water. This seems to make a clearer, deeper impression. I then set this aside to dry.

After it had dried, I wrapped a length of Gray Granite 1/2″ Textured Weave Ribbon around the joint, taping it on the back also. This panel was then adhered to the card base with Tear & Tape.

The sentiment is from Healing Hugs and is stamped in Blackberry Bliss on Whisper White, then cut with the third largest Stitched Shapes Framelits oval. I backed this with a scalloped Smoky Slate oval from Layering Ovals Framelits. To this, I placed several Stampin’ Dimensionals and wound some Silver Metallic Thread around. Set aside for the moment.

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Behind the sentiment I arranged pieces of die cuts from the First Frost Bundle, cut from Soft Sea Foam, Gray Granite, Petal Pink and Whisper White. The only piece NOT from First Frost is the detailed embossed leaf, which is from the Wonderful Romance Bundle (available Jan. 3). It is such a pretty leaf, I will use it a lot. Oh, yes, and one of the die cut pieces was stamped (First Frost) first in Blackberry Bliss on Whisper white. I cut several of each piece, not knowing exactly what I would want in the final production and will save the leftovers for another project.

I dry arranged these over the ribbon, then used Glue Dots to secure them before attaching the sentiment oval. Add the sentiment oval and the card front is finished.

For the inside, I stamped a single image, a duplicate of the die cut one on the front, from First Frost Bundle, in Blackberry Bliss on whisper White and matted it on a panel of Petal Pink. This was then adhered into the card base. Liquid Glue did both panels. As this card would be signed by several people, I did not add a sentiment, thus leaving room for multiple messages.

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The envelope received the same stamped image on the front and a piece of the First Frosted Floral Specialty Designer Series Paper on the flap. 2

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{To join the hop, click here}

Host Code for December: KUCX27E2

Just click here for information on my customer loyalty program and when to use the host code.

Don’t forget the Year End Closeout. There are some great things to be had here, some at reduced prices.


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CARD CUTS: Smoky Slate: card base 4-1/4″ x 11″ scored at 5-1/2″, sentiment oval mat 2-1/2″ x 4-1/2″, die cuts 1-1/2″ x 4″; Petal Pink: top of front 1-1/4″ x 4-1/8″, die cuts 1-1/2″ x 4″, inside mat 4-1/8″ x 5-3/8″; Blackberry Bliss: bottom of front 4″ x 4-1/8″; Whisper White: sentiment oval, die cuts 3″ x 5″, inside liner 4″ x 5-1/4″; Soft Sea Foam: die cuts 3″ x 4″; Frosted Floral Specialty Designer Series Paper: envelope flap 2-1/2″ x 6″

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Stampin’ Up! Very Vintage

Good Saturday, Everyone! I hope you are on your way to a great weekend.

Today my card fits the Color Throwdown Challenge #515

color Throwdown 515

I am using Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Whisper white and Old Olive today. The first order of business was to rip apart a piece of White copy paper and wad it up. I had 2 pieces, one for the card and one for the envelope. After crunching it up I spread it out as flat as it would go and stamped the Sheet Music stamp on the pieces in Soft Suede. I used the Stamparatus to do this, so if I didn’t get a good stamping the first time I would be able to repeat it. Of course, I needed to repeat it.

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When I had a good enough image (I wanted it to look distressed and old) I tore it to fit the card, then sponged all over it with Soft Suede ink. I started with a very light hand, then added more as I thought it needed it. There is a little bit of Early Espresso sponged on here and there as well. Some of the edges got curled up a bit, also adding to the aged look.

My Thick Whisper White card base has an Olive Green mat adhered to it with Liquid Glue.

Next, my base panel of Crumb Cake was stamped all over with Versamark in in the pattern of the Very Vintage flowers. More sponging with Soft Suede around the edges  add to the aged look. I did not re-ink to sponge this panel. To this I adhered the music with Liquid glue.

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Across the bottom of the panel I added a bit of old cotton crocheted lace and taped it on the back. Some Linen Thread was wound around a couple of times and tied in a bow. To make sure the bow stayed in place, I put a Glue Dot under it.

Another piece of Crumb Cake was the basis for my focal point…the flowers again from Very Vintage, this time embossed with White Stampin’ Emboss Powder. I then cut it out with one of the Layering Ovals Framelits. Again, Soft Suede sponged all over, and darker at the edges. I then used a tissue to wipe the color off the flowers. Stampin’ Dimensionals adhere this to the card front.

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For the sentiment, I chose to stamp it on Old Olive in Soft Suede, using the square and sentiment from Very Vintage. I do not have the Darling Label punch, so I used my trimmer to cut it to size, then fussy cut the corners with my Paper Snips Scissors. More sponging with Soft Suede ages this piece as well. Stampin’ dimensionals on 3 corners adhere this in place over the oval. This card front was then adhered to the Old Olive mat with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

For the inside of the card, I adhered a mat of Old Olive with Liquid Glue after sponging this with Soft Suede and my trusty Stampin’ Sponge. On a panel of Crumb Cake, I stamped the Very Vintage flowers and sentiment in Versamark Ink, then heat embossed them in White Stampin’ Emboss Powder and heat set it.

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I used one of the dies from the Delicate Lace Edgelits to cut the bottom of the Crumb Cake panel to coordinate with the lace on the front of the card. More sponging with Soft Suede ages this panel, which was then adhered to the mat with Liquid Glue.

To finish the front, I attached a wooden butterfly (also sponged with Soft Suede) with a Glue Dot and this card is finished.

The Whisper White Medium Envelope has a Soft Suede floral image from Very Vintage on the front, and more stamped, distressed, and sponged Sheet Music on the flap. The sheet music stamp isn’t wide enough, as it turns out, to cover the flap, so I put it sideways. It was either that, or make a new piece, and I didn’t have time to do that. Next time I will remember to stamp the image side by side using the Stamparatus for placement., I am ok with it sideways. To me, the important thing is the distressing.

The Host Code for the remainder of October: EV7ETS99

Go here to learn the details on using the host code and my customer loyalty rewards program. You can earn bird eggs toward free stuff, and more! Check it out.

CARD CUTS: Thick Whisper White: 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ scored at 4-1/4″; Old Olive: Cut 2 for mats 4″ x 5-1/4″, front sentiment 1-1/4″ x 1-1/4″; Crumb Cake: front panel and inside liner 3-3/4″ x 5″, front art oval 3″ x 4″

Non Stampin’ Up! products used: copy paper to stamp Sheet Music, wooden butterfly embellishment, old lace

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Stampin’ Up! Southern Serenade Birthday

Good Friday morning to you all! It is a pretty day today here in the heartland. What a Blessing God has given us. We have had a week of glorious weather, though it is warmer today than I prefer. My prayers go out for all those in the path of Florence…they are not having such a glorious day.

My card today is for a woman’s birthday, so I used the very feminine Southern Serenade stamp set. The sentiments are from At Home With You (front) and Beautiful You on the inside.

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I began by stamping the floral bouquet in the Southern Serenade set in StazOn Black on Whisper White. Using my Blender Pen and Blueberry Bushel stamp pad (squeezing the closed pad to get some ink in the lid), I colored in the flowers, then gave them a Daffodil Delight center with my Stampin’ Write Marker. The Soft Sea Foam Stampin’ Write Marker filled in the leaves. I then used the Subtle Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder to emboss the whole panel before cutting it with the largest of the scalloped Layering Ovals Framelits.

This was adhered with Liquid Glue to a Blueberry Bushel oval cut with the largest plain one from Layering Ovals Framelits.

wild wing creations-1

My card base is Blueberry Bushel. A mat of Daffodil Delight was first embossed with the Swirls and Curls Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing folder. I wrapped a length of Polka Dot Tulle Ribbon around this and Liquid Glued it to the front. Stampin’ Dimensionals adhere the Oval to the yellow mat.

I stamped the sentiment in Blueberry Bushel on a Whisper white scrap and used my Paper Snips to cut the ends. The Blueberry Bushel Stampin’ Write Marker edged this piece nicely. It is attached over the ribbon with Stampin’ Dimensionals. A small Polka Dot Tulle bow is attached with a Glue Dot.

On the inside I stamped the sentiments from Beautiful You in Blueberry Bushel and flowers from Southern Serenade in StazOn Black in each corner. These were colored the same as the front. This liner was Liquid Glued to a Daffodil Delight mat and into the card base.

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For the envelope I used the Swirls and Curls embossing folder to do the flap and stamped the floral image from Southern Serenade in Blueberry Bushel on the front.

I hope you like this card. I think it very feminine. Please leave comments below.

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And, don’t forget to use you Bonus Days Coupons earned last month. You have the rest of September to use them. If you need more information please contact me.

Host Code: RKS93T47 for the rest of September

Using this code with an order of at least $50 earns you free goodies. For more information on customer rewards please click here.

Card Cuts: Blueberry Bushel: card base 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ scored at 4-1/4″, oval mat 3″ x 4″, Whisper White: inside liner 3-3/4″ x 5″, front oval 3″ x 4″, front sentiment 1/2″ x 1-1/2″; Daffodil Delight: front embossed mat 4″ x 5-1/4″, inside mat 4″ x 5-1/4″

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Stampin’ Up! Sweet Little Something

Good morning All,

A couple of days ago I had so much fun making these cards, I could have just kept doing it all day!!! I have been invited to a baby (girl) shower and decided that a gift of thank you cards and stamps would be appreciated by the new mommy. See what I did.

wild wing creations-1

Actually, there are 8 cards. I guess the Wisteria Wonder with stripes got buried somehow and I didn’t catch it soon enough to take another photo.

I used the NEW Stamparatus, with great success, to stamp the bunny and the sentiment on all the cards. Since the bunny, from Sweet Little Something  (which will retire at the end of May) is a three step stamp, the Stamparatus gives you perfect placement for every layer on every card. A-maz-ing! I have never been able to be this accurate, and to do it so quickly. So. much. fun!

There are 2 cards each of Pink Pirouette, Soft Sky, So Saffron and Wisteria Wonder. I had some leftover Subtles Designer Series Paper Pack that I thought appropriate for a baby thank you, so those went on each card. The papers are double sided, so one side did one card and envelope and the other side did the other card. I used two patterns and their opposing sides. This was a totally enjoyable process. I urge you to get a Stamparatus if you haven’t ordered one yet. It is an amazing tool.

And, while I am talking products, all of those colors except So Saffron are going to retire at the end of May. If you like them and want to stock up, I wouldn’t wait as they are only available as long as supplies last. There may be a discount on them later in May, if there are any left, but I wouldn’t chance it if you really want ink, refills or card stock.

Details on making the cards: card base with matching DSP mat. I cut all the card bases first, then all the DSP. Likewise the front panel and the inside liner. Envelope flaps I did last. The mat is liquid glued to each card base. The whole process was done assembly line style.

wild wing creations-5

The bunny is stamped in three colors on Very Vanilla card stock with the darkest first: Soft Suede, then Crumb Cake and lastly Sahara Sand. The bow on her head is from Bear Hugs stamp set and coordinates with the card base. The sentiment is from Heartfelt Blooms and also is stamped in coordinating color. All this was done on the Stamparatus and was so quick and easy.  I did all the bunnies first, then just changed ink color for the sentiment and bows as needed. There are plenty of instructions out there for using this tool, so I won’t go into that here.

This panel was Liquid Glued to the card base and the front was done. Quick, like a bunny!

On the inside, I used the largest little flower in the Sweet Little Something stamp set to stamp the flowers along the bottom of one card of each color,

wild wing creations-6

and in the four corners of the other card in each color. They are all the same, yet they are all different. The bunny and the sentiment are the common element, and the papers all coordinate, giving the set a cohesive look. I did not add a sentiment to the inside to leave room for the mom to write a personal note.

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I think this makes a nice set of different, yet coordinating, cards for a special gift.

The envelopes have the same little flowers on the front as on the inside of the card, in the proper color, and a strip of the DSP on the flap. wild wing creations-4

This is the way they look in the box, which is tied with a length of 1/2″ Powder Pink Finely Woven Ribbon. The box was in my storeroom.

wild wing creations-3

So! What do you think? I think I will make more card sets to give as gifts, now that I have the BEST TOOL EVER for making stamping easier, quicker and a whole lot more fun!

The HOST CODE is good for the month of APRIL: 7XJPHBSC. To get details on my customer rewards, go here. Card cuts and supplies needed are listed below. Please leave a comment as well.


The new catalogs will be out soon, and I have seen a sneak peek. I can’t reveal too much, except to say that there will be several items retiring and the colors are getting re-vamped. I think you will like the changes.

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Select products from the 2018 Occasions Catalog and 2017-2018 Annual Catalog are retiring—and this is your last chance to get them! Check out all the details below, then get busy stocking up on your favorites before they’re gone!

Here’s the details:

  • Promotion dates: April 9–May 31, 2018 beginning at 1:00 PM (MT)
  • There is no minimum purchase required to participate in this promotion.
  • Retiring items may be added to all order types: demonstrator, workshop, customer, and online.
  • All retiring items are only available while supplies last and will be discontinued after May 31.
  • Due to high demand for retiring stamp sets, retiring stamp sets will be guaranteed available until May 25; all other products are not guaranteed and are only available while supplies last.
  • Retiring items are eligible for Stampin’ Rewards with qualifying orders.
  • Retiring host sets can only be purchased using Stampin’ Rewards from a qualifying party.

Possible further priced reductions….

  • Depending on inventory levels, discounts on select products may be introduced on or after May 8.
    • These discounts will not be pre-announced.
    • If you buy a product at retail price and then it is later discounted, Stampin’ Up! will not refund the difference.
    • If there is a product you want, we recommend buying it right away and not waiting to see if it’s discounted later or you risk it being sold out.
    • If you start an order before a discount is announced, the order will not include the discounted pricing. If you want to order a product that has been discounted, you will need to start the order after the discounts are announced.

Order Deadline:  May 31, 2018, by 11:50 PM (MT)

PDF lists of retiring items for the Annual Catalog and the Occasions Catalog are below. Just click on the link to download the list, then open it from your downloads.

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Card Cuts: Wisteria Wonder, Pink Pirouette, So Saffron, Soft sky: cut 2 of each color for card base 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″, score at 4-1/4″; Very Vanilla: art panel 3-1/2′ x 4-3/4″, inside liner 4″ x 5-1/4″; Designer Series Paper: (double sided 12″ x 12″) cut one of each pattern mat 4″ x 5-1/4″, envelope flap 2-3/4″ x 6″, also one of each pattern

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A special gift.

Good morning, Everyone, or is it afternoon???

I get busy and forget to look at the clock unless my stomach says it is time to eat!

Today I do not have a card for you, but something just as special. I made a book for a special little boy using images I took in Africa. It is an alphabet book. He isn’t two years old yet, so there will be plenty of time to enjoy this book.

Our family is pooling the money we would have spent on gifts for each other and giving it to a hurricane victim. None of us NEEDS anything, as we have all been blessed with plenty. However, I still have made something for most of the family, so there will be a FEW gifts under the tree (if I have time to get it up!)

A friend commented that she is on a pace for Christmas…if it was still September!! I am in agreement. How is it that Christmas sneaks up on me, every year it seems! Where does the time go????

Anyway, here is the cover of his book. I will show you a few inside pages as well.

Wild Wing Creations-book cover

This is the front and back of the cover. I blanked out his name purposely for this post.

I so enjoyed putting this book together. Here is one of my favorite animals from that trip. We saw her several times. Shortly after this image was taken she was stalked by a lioness and barely got away! I have images of the whole scenario! Very special. A couple of days later we found her and her 4 babies and spent the whole afternoon photographing their antics.

Wild Wing Creations-book cheetah

What a beautiful animal. The next page I will show you is not an animal nor a bird, but what I chose to use for the letter Q. Q and X are difficult as I had no images for either letter. So, I used my imagination. For the X I put in an Xtra image of a W (warthog).

Wild Wing Creations-book quiet

This next image is of an owl that very few people ever see. We had FANTASTIC guides who knew where to look for various critters. They knew I especially wanted to see birds, so were constantly on the lookout for them. I was able to photograph good quality images and identify 119 species of birds I had never before seen. And, most people who do see the owl don’t get to see the eyelids!

Wild Wing Creations-book owl

Our Photographer leader asked which was our favorite animal and I was hard pressed to answer. I loved them all. However, I said, “Elephant”, as I have always loved the big Pachyderms. I think, though, now that I have been in their realm, I would have to include the Zebra as among my favorites. They are so unique.

Wild Wing Creations-book zebra

So, there you have it. Some samples from my gift for a special little guy. I hope he cherishes it as much as I cherish the memories of that trip and the wonderful animals of God’s creation. Every time I see something new, I am overwhelmed by an Awesome God and what he did for us mere humans.

The gifts of the Creation pale in comparison to the Gift sent to earth on the day that we celebrate as Christmas. Honor Him by trying to be more loving and kinder to your fellow humans, even when you don’t want to do so. You will be Blessed!

Thank you for stopping by. I would appreciate your comments.

If you are looking for Stampin’ Up! products, you can order them by clicking the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher button (it says order online) at right.

TTYL

 

 

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Stampin’ Up! Good Tidings

I hope you all are going to have a good weekend. It doesn’t seem like a Saturday to me, but that’s what the calendar says, so I guess I will believe it.

My card for today uses the Good Tidings stamp set found in the holiday catalog. I had not had an opportunity to use it before, but had seen some nice cards online and have been itching to try it.

I love holly, and this set makes pretty realistic looking holly with a two step stamp. Actually, it is a four step if you include the berries-two step for the leaves and two step for the berries. Stampin’ Up has made it easy to use by labeling each piece, 1-a, 1-b, 1-c, etc, so you know which stamp to use first. The stem is another two step. Sounds like a dance doesn’t it? I digress.

card front

The card base is Whisper White to which I Liquid Glued a panel of Old Olive.

I began stamping with a panel of Merry Music Designer Series Paper on which to do my stamping. As I had not previously used this set, I did a few practice stamps on scratch paper to get the hang of it. I am glad I did though the end product is far from perfect. Maybe the next card will be perfect!!  HA!

Using the solid leaf stamp I stamped the design in Old Olive, then over stamped using the detail stamp in Garden Green. Next, I used Real Red for the solid berry and Cherry Cobbler for the detail. These stamps really do give detail and depth to the design. There are two more stamps to this design which I couldn’t figure out at first. They are the stems and dots on the berries. I had a bit of difficulty lining them up and wished I already had the brand new Stamparatus! For these I used Crumb Cake, then Soft Suede for the second stamp.

stand up and envelope

On with the show, I mean, the stamping. Using the smaller holly leaf I used the same technique, putting one in each corner. This panel is Liquid Glued to a mat of Cherry Cobbler.

Using a length of Candy Cane Bakers Twine left over from last year (now retired), I wound it around this panel three times, securing it on the back with tape. The bow is made by wrapping the twine around three fingers three times and around two fingers three times, then pinching it together. Cut a small (5″) piece of twine to wrap around the middle, securing the loops, then tie it in a knot. You can then arrange the loops to your liking. A Glue dot holds the three strands of twine together and holds the bow as well, making it look like you tied the bow around your strands.

This panel is adhered to the card base with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

For the sentiment I stamped the Good Tidings from the stamp set of the same name in Cherry Cobbler on Whisper White and die cut it using a Layering Circles Framelit. I cut a second circle from Cherry Cobbler using one of the Layering Circles scalloped edged framelits. Liquid Glue adheres these together, and Stampin’ Dimensionals secure it to the music panel. A rhinestone colored with my Real Red Stampin’ Write Marker finishes it. Card front done!

detail

On the inside I pretty much repeated the front, only I did not stamp the larger holly leaf. Stamp the holly as before on the music, Liquid Glue the three panels together and into the card base.

I thought the music would make it difficult to read the sentiment, so it, also from the Glad Tidings set, is stamped in Cherry Cobbler on Whisper White and punched out with the Pretty Label Punch. Using my Old Olive Stampin’ Write Marker I edged the piece to make it stand out from the music background and Liquid Glued it in place. On to the envelope.

inside

A small holly and berries, stamped as before, adorns the front while more Merry Music Designer Series Paper finishes the flap. Enjoy!

I like this set and will use it again and again, I think. I hope you like it too.

For card cuts and products used, scroll down to the end of this post.

If you do not have a demonstrator and wish to order supplies, click on the Order online button at right to order from me.

November Host Code: E347UAHJ

If you apply that Host Code to your online orders under $150, you’ll get a free gift from me. If your order is over $150, please don’t apply the hostess code (you’ll miss out on your own Stampin’ Rewards/Host $$ if you use it), but you’ll still get the free gift, too!

For more information on my rewards program click here.


Online Extravaganza Starts Monday!!

The Stampin’ Up! annual Online Extravaganza begins Monday, November 20 and runs through Sunday, November 26!!  Yay for a great sale just before the holiday rush!  There are some stamp sets that will be on sale for 20% off on Monday, November 20 only.  The rest of the items on the list will be on sale for the entire time!

Here is the list of stamp sets that will be on sale for 20% off on Monday, November 20 12:00 AM MT until 11:59 PM MT (click on the list to open a full size PDF for easier viewing and printing):

Here are the items that will be on sale from November 20-26!  Click on the list to open a full size PDF for easier viewing and printing:

Let me know if you have any questions.  Don’t forget that the stamp sets on the first list will only be on sale for 24 hours on Monday, November 20 so be sure to order that day if you’re wanting any of them!!

Card Cuts: Whisper White: card base 4-1/4″ x 11″ scored at 5-1/2″, inside sentiment 2″ x 2-1/2″, front sentiment 3″ x 3″; Cherry Cobbler: cut 2 mats 4″ x 5-1/4″, scalloped circle 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″; Old Olive: cut 2 mats 4-1/8″ x 5-3/8″; Merry Music Specialty Designer Series Paper: Cut 2 3-3/4″ x 5″

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Stampin’ Up! Musical Season

Good Monday morning Everyone! Wow! Where does the time go? I am already frantic and it is still 8 weeks until Christmas. I will NEVER be ready! Perhaps someone is trying to tell me something? Like, I need to get out of some of my (self-imposed) responsibilities?

I have not blogged for almost two weeks. Between a couple of special events in which I was VERY involved that took 6 days out of my life, altering two bridesmaids dresses and making great-granddaughter’s mermaid costume for Halloween, I only made it to my craft room yesterday for the first time in 8 days. This is ridiculous! However, yesterday I resumed, not cardmaking, but reorganizing the area. I am not finished, but am making headway. The card for today was done in about 3 short sessions of stolen moments over a period of days.

That said, I am SO glad to be back to making cards. I decided that I would limit myself to one stamp bundle and chose the Musical Season set and the coordinating Musical Instruments dies. I also wanted to try the Eclipse method, of which I have seen a lot lately. Usually, if everyone else is doing it, I shy away from whatever it is. Call me a rebel! The eclipse method is intriguing, so try it I did. Here is my card for today.

front

After choosing to use Night of Navy for my card base, I picked one of the sheets of Merry Music Designer Series Paper for the background of my card. First, I used the Softly Falling Textured Impressions Embossing Folder to emboss it.

Next up I used the little drummer boy die from Musical Instruments to cut him out of the music. Then, I adhered the music to a sheet of the Champagne Foil Sheets (with the middle cut out, of course. For those of you new to following me, I normally cut the center out of a foil mat to conserve this more expensive paper. It is from this that I then cut smaller pieces and you would never know that there is not a whole sheet behind the art piece) with Snail. This was adhered to the card base with liquid glue.

I also used the drummer boy die to cut three in Night of Navy. Liquid glue adhered all four pieces together, then back into the background. My eclipse part of this card is finished. Perhaps I will try it again using the Large Letters sometime, but this will do for now.

drummer detail

I really wanted to use the lyre in the set, but just couldn’t make it come out right, so those pieces are waiting to be used on another card sometime. The sentiment banner is cut from Night of Navy and heat embossed with white. I rubbed my Embossing Buddy over the card stock to eliminate static, then used the sentiment stamp from Musical Season, stamped it in Versamark and heat embossed. I cut the ends with the Triple Banner Punch. On the back I added Stampin’ Dimensionals, then whacked off a length of Silver Metallic Thread and wound it around, sticking it to the Dimensionals. This was then adhered to the front of the card.

The dies in the Musical Instruments set are really nice and I would love to use all of them. However, I limited myself to the spray of leaves and berries and the treble clef for this card.

The leaf design was stamped in Old Olive, four times, on Whisper White. Using my Stampin’ Blends, (which you will be able to order tomorrow…..just click on the Order Online button at right) I added color to the leaves and berries. I used the lighter of both Old Olive and Night of Navy to fill in the design, then die cut them. These were arranged rather like a wreath around the sentiment and liquid glued in place.

The clef is cut from the Champagne Foil Sheets as well as Night of Navy, and glued together with liquid glue. I offset these a bit to make a shadow, added some Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals and added it to the front of the card. A bit of liquid glue adhered it to the sentiment label. The front is finished!

detail

On to the inside. I repeated the Champagne Foil mat and Merry Music DSP, then cut two labels from Lots of Labels framelits for my sentiment. The larger one is in Night of Navy and the sentiment one is Whisper White, stamped with Night of Navy. The sentiment is also from the Musical Season set.

inside

Just so we don’t have a naked envelope, I added some of the DSP to the flap and

flap

stamped the drummer boy in Night of Navy on the front.

envelope front

I hope you like this card. If you haven’t tried the eclipse technique, try it. It is fun to do. However, my friend Mary did it using the Happy Birthday thinlits die, which has a gazillion pieces. I am not ready for that. She did a live video which you can see here.

There was a problem with the live feed, but the part with the eclipse technique is there.

Card Cuts: Night of Navy: card base 7″ x10″ scored at 5″, sentiment banner 3/4″ x 5″, drummer boy and clef 3″ x 5″, large label 3″ x 4-1/2″; Champagne Foil Sheets: front mat and inside mat (2) 4-3/4″ x 6-3/4″, clef 1-1/2″ x 2-1/2″; Whisper White: leaves 4″ x 6″; Merry Music DSP: front art and inside liner (2) 4-1/2″ x 6-1/2″.

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Stampin’ Up! Deck the Halls

I hope you all are having a Wonderful Wednesday, unless of course you are in Texas or Louisiana and dealing with Hurricane/tropical storm Harvey. If that is the case, I am sure you have had better days! I cannot imagine what you are going through down there, but many of us are praying for your safety and the strength to deal with everything.

My card for today looks ahead to brighter days, happier days, days where we can sing again. Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la. Yes, this is my Deck the Halls card, using elements from the Carols of Christmas stamp set as well as some others. Front

The mat for the music is from the Petal Garden Designer Series Paper stack. The music is from the Merry Music Specialty DSP.  I love this paper! These were liquid glued together, and Linen Thread wrapped around three times and taped on the back. This was then glued to the Basic Black card base on an angle.

For the sentiment, the Deck the Halls, from Carols of Christmas, is stamped in Basic Black with a stamped-off-once Old Olive pine branch and Soft Suede pine cone from Christmas Pines. All this is on a panel of the white Wood Textures DSP. This was liquid glued to a Basic Black mat, then glued to a scalloped Old Olive mat cut from the Layering Squares framelits.

“But it isn’t a square”, you say. You are correct. I only ran the square about halfway through the Big Shot, then turned the paper and moved the die to the opposite end of the needed rectangle and finished cutting it. If you carefully place the cutting ridge in some of the previously cut scallops, it will hold the die in place to finish the cutting. A magnetic plate helps also.

detail

Next it is time to do a dry assembly with the sentiment mat and all the pieces of the pine and holly. Two of the pine boughs and the holly leaves are cut from Old Olive. One pine branch is cut from Always Artichoke. The pine cone, stamped in Soft Suede on Soft Suede card stock is from the Pretty Pines thinlits, as are all the pine boughs.

The holly leaves and berries are from the Holly Berry Happiness stamp set and cut with the Holly Berry Builder punch. The berries are in Real Red ink on Real Red card stock. After all, the halls were decked ‘with boughs of holly’, so I thought the card should reflect the song. I just added the pine because I like it.

After dry assembly, I used glue dots to hold the pieces in place and adhered them to the music with Stampin’ Dimensionals. The sentiment panel is also adhered with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

I made a bow from the Linen Thread and added it to the front with a Stampin’ Dimensionals. This completes the front of the card.

On the inside another panel of the Wood Textures DSP was stamped with a Soft Suede pinecone. Using a mask of the pinecone I had cut previously, I laid it over the stamped pinecone and stamped the Old Olive Pine branch, all from Christmas Pines. A bow, stamped in Real Red on Real Red card stock was punched using the Holly Berry Builder punch.

inside

The sentiments, also from Christmas Pines, were stamped in Basic Black. This panel was liquid glued to an Old Olive mat and into the Basic Black card base.

The envelope front also was stamped as the inside with an Old Olive pine branch and Soft Suede pinecone. A leftover piece of the Wood Textures DSP was glued to the envelope flap. No naked envelopes here, no siree!

I hope you like this card.

Thought for today: Today will never come again. Be a blessing. Be a friend. Encourage someone. Take time to care. Let your words heal and not wound.

Card Cuts: Basic Black: card base 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ scored at 4-1/4″, sentiment mat 2-7/8″ x 3-11/16″; Old Olive: scalloped rectangle 3″ x 3-13/16″, inside mat 4″ x 5-1/4″; pine branches, holly leaves 2″ x 3″; Wood Textures DSP: front sentiment 2-3/4″ x 3-1/2″, inside sentiment 3-3/4″ x 5″; Petal Garden DSP: mat for music paper 3-1/2″ x 4-3/4″ ; Merry Music DSP: 3-1/8″ x 4-3/8″; Soft Suede: pine cone 1-1/2″ x 2″; Real Red: holly branch and berries 1″ x 2″, bow 1″ x 1-1/2″; Always Artichoke: pine branch 1″ x 2″

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