Category Archives: cards

They’re called challenges for a reason

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I spend some time this weekend playing with some challenges.  The latest Splitcoast Color Challenge was really a stretch for me!  I saw it when it posted on Wednesday and thought I would pass, but after returning to it a couple of times and looking at the gallery samples I decided to give it a shot.  Wouldn’t you think twice about Dusty Durango, Barely Banana and Basic Gray?

  • Upsy Daisy and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets
  • Whisper White, Barely Banana, Basic Gray cardstock; Dusty Durango Designer Series Paper (Hostess level I)
  • Dusty Durango and Barely Banana Classic ink pad; Basic Gray Stampin’ Write marker
  • Latte buttons, paper piercing template and tool
  • Gray taffeta ribbon, linen twine, Dusty Durango classic ink refill

Do you like the twine?  I colored it with the ink refill and waiting for it to dry was the hardest part for me!  The floral image was stamped with Barely Banana ink and I removed the color from the stems before applying the Basic Gray marker.  It’s a very easy technique – just remember to “huff” on your stamp to moisten the ink before impressing the image.

This layout is also a Splitcoast challenge layout.  If you check back tomorrow you’ll see the same concept with a completely different stamp set.  Til then!

Late Night Stamping

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In November I discovered a stamping forum called Late Night Stampers.  Since I’m

  1. a chronic late-night crafter and
  2. a minimum of 2 time zones earlier than the Continental U.S.

this group seemed tailor made for my style.  I could be Late Night with them and even get to bed on time!!  I’ve hovered around their forum for some time and finally am participating in a stamping challenge.  How could I not?  The challenge was to use brads and I couldn’t ignore such a simple offer.  Without further ado, here is my entry to LNS Challenge 51:

Vintage Vogue LNS Challenge 51

  • Stampin’ Up! Vintage Vogue Clear Mount stamp set
  • Stampin’ Up! Very Vintage Jumbo wheel
  • Crushed Curry, Barely Banana, Mellow Moss and Whisper White card stock
  • Crushed Curry, Barely Banana, and Mellow Moss Classic ink pad
  • Scallop Trim Border, 1/2″ circle punch, 1/16″ hand held punch
  • Circle Rhinestone brad, white taffeta ribbon, stampin sponges, paper snips

Did you notice that bit about the Clear Mount stamps?  Stampin’ Up! is taking the leap, and the best news of all is that we now have two options.  All the new stamps in the Ocassions Mini Catalog running January 5 to April 30 are offered in your choice of clear mount or wood mount.

I’ve spent some time with those clear mount stamps and love how easy it is to position your image through the clear block.  These stamps are rubber, not acrylic, and they give the same crisp, beautiful image that classic wood mounted stamps yield.  They also store more compactly in a clear DVD-style case and I know I’m going to use that fact to justify just a few more sets!

Hey – did you click on the Ocassions Mini link a couple of paragraphs above?  It will take you to a pdf of the new Mini Catalog so you can see for yourself!  Happy browsing.

Wait! Don’t toss those cards…

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Re-use, reduce, recycle.

If you love paper and paper crafts, then it’s likely you save old cards – even commercially printed cards.  I’m guilty as charged, and further guilty of saving pretty ribbons from Christmas packages as well.  In the past, I’ve used a hand-held tag punch to create small gift tags, but this year I stepped it up.

Recycled cards from Two Tags Bigz

I certainly hope you bought the Stampin’ Up! Two Tags Bigz die (#115954, $21.95) when it was on sale during the 12 Days of Holiday Sales promotion, because that’s what I used to make these tags.  A stack of old cards, a pile of Christmas ribbon and about half an hour with the Big Shot yielded a bunch of tags ready for duty next year.  Here’s a closer look:

Recycled Santa tag

To encourage my family to wrap their own packages, I have gift wrap, ribbon and tags readily available around the first of December.  The tags and some stamped gift card holders are in a basket and everyone knows it’s first come, first served – this year we ran short on the afternoon of the 24th!  Getting a head start on next year’s tags avoids panic in December and keeps me from looking like a crazy bag lady when my family discovers packages of old cards stashed with the Christmas decorations.  Be sure to check that there’s nothing written on the inside of your image; someone else’s message about their kid’s moment of glory at the band concert shouldn’t compete with “To Kimo,  Love Tutu”.

I think there’s another stash of old cards somewhere.  Off to crank out a few more tags.  Re-use.  Reduce.  Recycle.

Happy New Year.

Poinsettas a Plenty

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‘Twas the night before Christmas…and the elves they ‘twer flying!

A quick post and a quick card for a busy day…I think this one could use something more, but everything I tried annoyed me.  My creative muse is a fickle creature (no relation to me, of course) and cannot be rushed.   I’ll leave this one as a simple card and be satisfied with that.

Poinsettas a Plenty

  • Berry Christmas stamp set
  • Real Red, Glorious Green, Brushed Gold and Whisper White card stock
  • Real Red Classic ink pad and Encore Gold ink pad
  • Scallop Trim punch
  • Big Shot and Petals a Plenty Embossing folder

Just one more sleep ’til Christmas!

Looking back, looking ahead

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I know I repeat myself…certain persons in my household have accused me of it on multiple occasions just to be sure I’m aware of that flaw.  Guilty as charged.

There are some sets on the Stampin’ Up! Dormant List that will retire in January which I will be very sorry to see leave.  One of the challenges of being a demonstrator – yes, we DO have challenges – is when a stamp set retires, we have to decide if we will allocate precious storage space to stamps we can no longer demonstrate.  If you’ve followed this blog at all, you know I don’t often do a very good job of letting go of retired things.  It’s partially because I get attached to the images, and partially because I’m something of a pack rat.  Eventually, I have to let go to make room for all the wonderful images being released.  It’s that time of year.

Wonderful Watercolors SC 260

  • Wonderful Watercolors and En Francais stamp sets
  • Whisper White, Regal Rose, and Pretty in Pink card stock
  • Mellow Moss Designer Series Paper from the Hostess Prints Pack III
  • Mellow Moss and Regal Rose Stampin’ Write Markers and Ink Refills
  • Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint and Aquapainter
  • Mellow Moss taffeta ribbon and Mini Glue dots
  • Scallop Trim Border (SAB  sneak peak) and Stamp-a-ma-jig
  • Big Shot, Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die and Elegant Bouquet Embossing folder

This is a SplitCoastStampers Sketch Challenge layout, SC260.  I’ll add the sentiment later when I’m ready to sent the card.  The little flowers look like the flowers on what I only know as Butterfly Bush, although I think the originals only come in lavender.  Artistic license! There’s Shimmer Paint mixed in with the Regal Rose ink refill on those little flowers.

The crazy Mainland weather has created some chaos in our household.  My middle daughter had an epic journey home from university in Boston, and her dear roomie who was to spend Christmas with us will instead arrive Christmas night.  They’re laughing about it now, in agreement that it will be one of their best college memories, but on Sunday as they dealt with cancellations, delays, and planes that loaded and de-planed without going anywhere, none of us were laughing much.

Safe travels.

Trendy Little Birthday Trees

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I saw a card posted the other day that made me stop and think.  The creator of the card said she didn’t think it looked like a birthday card, but since it didn’t seem to suit any other occasion, she chose a birthday sentiment.   I’m sure there are exceptions, but in my opinion just about any card is a suitable birthday card.

  • Trendy Trees and Upsy Daisy Stamp sets
  • Not Quite Navy, Real Red, Soft Sky (retired) and Whisper White card stock
  • Retired Designer Series paper
  • Real Red, Not Quite Navy, Soft Sky (retired) and River Rock (retired) Classic ink pads
  • Riding Hood Red (retired) taffeta ribbon, Scallop Border punch, and Stamp-a-ma-jig

I have to admit that it took me a while to find the right sentiment for the birthday greeting.  It wasn’t so much the words as the font that I struggled with.  I also confess to struggling with retired colors.  I get really attached to some of them!  River Rock was one of those colors that I didn’t especially care for until I started using it.  If Stampin’ Up! revises their standard color palette, I really hope River Rock gets a permanent slot.  Oh, and Baja Breeze.  And Kiwi Kiss.  And Riding Hood Red.    I guess I have some issues to deal with, don’t I?

Earning their keep

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I really like stamps that earn their keep.  If they’re going to stay in my stamp room f0r very long, they need to be either versatile or extraordinary, and preferably both.  When  I first saw this Autumn Days stamp set as a demonstrator sneak peak,  I dismissed it because I thought I wouldn’t use a fall-themed stamp set very much.  In Hawaii, we mark our seasons not by the standard set of four, but in recognition of what is plentiful:  Mango Season, Whale Season, and of course, Tourist Season.  Well, we used to have that last one, but the Hawaii Visitors Bureau has done such a fabulous marketing job that we don’t seem to have a Tourist Season any more – we always have lots of visitors.

Ah, back on topic…Autumn Days.  I borrowed it from Crystal and was pleasantly surprised to find it inspired me in many different ways.  Today’s card is a variation on THIS card.

Autumn Days Christmas Wreath

  • Autumn Days, Woodgrain, and Christmas Punch (Level II Hostess) Stamp sets
  • Real Red, Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss and Whisper White card stock
  • Old Olive, Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke and Real Red Classic Ink pads
  • Petals-a- Plenty embossing folder and the Big Shot
  • Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint and  Sponge Daubers
  • Red Gingham Ribbon, and the Double Rectangle punch

    Do you have the Double Rectangle punch (105088)?  It’s only $5.95 and I’m telling you, it’s a workaholic.  When I add a knot or a bow to ANYTHING, I punch a double rectangle and tie through the openings.  It’s much more secure than a glue dot.  It’s the perfect stocking stuffer.

    Forgotten favorites

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    How quickly one set of images is forgotten on the shelf!  When Eastern Blooms appeared in the Fall 2008 catalog, it sat on top of my craft table and saw regular use.  It was a bold companion for Embrace Life – one with bold images, one with line images – and it suited our Asian influenced culture here in Hawaii.  Seems like ages since it’s seen a bit of ink, and when a customer asked me to re-design a card using a floral image instead of cupcakes, I reached for these two old friends.

    • Eastern Blooms, Embrace Life, and Dotted (retired) stamp sets
    • Close to Cocoa, Cameo Coral, Bashful Blue, and Very Vanilla cardstock
    • Close to Cocoa, Cameo Coral and Bashful Blue Classic ink pad
    • Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, Aquapainter

    It’s fitting to reflect on how much we have this week of Thanksgiving, to be grateful for our abundance.  As a good friend said to me recently, “I’m thankful that my needs are met, and a few of my wants as well.”   I wish the same for you.

    Happy Thanksgiving

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    Every day is Thanksgiving Day…sometimes we just forget to say thanks.  I’m grateful for so many things, large and small, significant and insignificant.  I hope your day will be filled with things that make you feel thankful.

    • Autumn Days, Teeny Tiny Wishes, Inspired by Nature and Woodgrain stamp sets
    • Dusty Durango, Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron and More Mustard Classic ink pad; Chocolate Chip Stampin’ Write marker
    • So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, Dusty Durango, Pumpkin Pie and Very Vanilla card stock
    • Chocolate Chip corduroy button; latte button assortment
    • Dusty Durango grosgrain ribbon; Linen thread; Stamp-a-ma-jig

    Happy Thanksgiving.

    Who’s that in my Pear Tree??

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    Yesterday I had a big ol’ lightbulb go on.  I was playing with Cheep Talk and thinking about some submissions I’d seen in response to this week’s Color Challenge at SplitCoastStampers.  One card in particular kept coming to mind – I liked the geometry and the color balance.  Suddenly, it got really, really bright inside my head:

    • Cheep Talk and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets
    • Old Olive, Pretty in Pink and Bermuda Bay Classic ink pads; Encore Gold ink pad; Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint
    • Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Old Olive and Bermuda Bay card stock
    • Pretty in Pink Taffeta ribbon, Clear Embossing powder and heat tool, and the Stamp-a-ma-jig

    I gotta tell you, there is no way I could have done this without the SAMJ.  I ruined my first attempt because I stamped a pear the wrong color and that was enough for me.  It makes me cranky to make a mistake like that at the end of the process, which of course is the logical time for that to happen.  It’s just paper though – I say that often.  Stamping is so forgiving that way.  Make a mistake and start over.  No big deal.