Pretty Fall Card: It’s A Wrap!

Are you ready for cooler temps?  I’m not talking snow (brrrrr!) but 70’s would be nice!!  It’s been a long, humid and hot summer here in Jacksonville, Florida and we’re supposed to get a welcome break from the heat beginning early next week, can’t wait!

Today’s card features the “It’s A Wrap Holidays” stamp set from page 14 of the Holiday Mini Catalog.  The seven piece set is meant for covering chocolates and works particularly well with Hershey Nuggets!  The images cover six holidays, and one just says 4You… so we’ll call that an ‘all occasion’ cover.

Just because it’s meant to cover chocolate, doesn’t mean it HAS to cover chocolate, right?

Although a very simple and classic design, there’s still a lot of color and texture going on here!  The “Give Thanks” image was stamped onto So Saffron Card Stock with Soft Suede Classic Ink. 

I didn’t get too great an impression, as some of the saffron color showed through.  But I liked it that way!  I used markers in fall colors to color and outline the oak leaves and acorns, and a white gel pen to accent the edges of the band, and sentiment.

Behind the sentiment, is a piece of square lattice embossed brushed gold card stock which was sanded lightly, and then sponged with soft suede classic ink to give more depth.

Very Vanilla Card Stock was embossed with the new Herringbone Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, and three neutral Glimmer Brads were added to the lower left corner of the card.

Still loving my Mocha Morning Specialty Designer Series Paper!  It’s perfect for making fabulous masculine cards, or simple elegant cards too.  LOL, I’ve ordered a ton of it but I bet there’s still some available at my online stampin’ up store! 

A pretty double loop bow with proper tails finishes off today’s simple fall card.  Hope you liked it!

Tomorrow is the annual World Card Making Day Event!  I’ll be here (virtually,LOL) with a new Super Saturday Tutorial! I’m meeting myself coming and going these days, so at this writing don’t have a clue what it will address, but I’m pretty sure it will be a card!   Hope you’ll stop by to check it out anyway!

Two more days until my Mica Flake Jewelry Blog Candy give-a-way… I’ll be announcing a winner on Sunday!  You have to be in it to win!  Read the Blog Candy Post HERE.

Hugs,

Sharon

Technorati Tags: masculine cards,cards for guys,mocha morning specialty,thanksgiving,it's a wrap holidays,double loop bow,brushed gold,glimmer brads,herringbone,square lattice,textured impressions embossing folder,Jacksonville,Florida,stamping

Pretty Field Flowers Get Well Card

Putting Wisteria Wonder, Lucky Limeade and Whisper White together in a card is such a fresh and crisp color combination!  Today’s card for the Creative-Sketches Design Team challenge also features the Field Flowers and Perfectly Penned stamp sets and Silver Glimmer Paper.

Do you have that combination set in your mind… well to that, how about adding Organza Ribbon, Flirtatious Specialty Designer Series Paper, lace border punch accents and a few pearls.

LOL… now… what does that look like?

Not quite what you pictured?  I didn’t think so, LOL… this card also holds another surprise… It’s a tri-fold card, and inside there are additional elements from the Creative Elements Stamp set!

Two-step stamping was used to create the pretty central stamped image… I get a lot of questions about two step stamp sets… and the main question is which one to stamp first!

That can be confusing… but if you turn the stamps over and really look at the rubber, you’d see pairs of images… one is a more dense design with a lot of stamping surface, and the other will be more of an “outline” with less red rubber that will actually touch the ink pad.

The answer to the question… pick your lightest ink, and start with the more dense stamp image.  Then you can pick out a darker or accent ink to add the fine line design.  If you’re really picky about how your images line up, I would suggest using a stamp-ma-jig positioning tool… that will help you stamp the images perfectly atop one another.

Doesn’t the organza ribbon make a pretty triple loop bow?  It’s made simply by adding one more loop around your fingers as when we make the Double Loop Bow.

“Get Well” was punched out, stuck on a post it note, and punched again.  The biggest tip I can give you on this process is to always punch the lower half of the image on your first go around.  On the second pass with the post it note, you’ll be able to better line up and punch the rest of the smaller punched image.  (Read this post for more details and video link.)

Opening up the first layer of the card, you see a pretty butterfly and sweet sentiment from the Creative Elements Stamp Set…

And when you open up the second panel, the inside/bottom of the card is decorated with another image from the Creative Elements Stamp Set, and a scrap of DSP.

A profile low enough to go in a regular envelope… an extra piece of card stock or fun foam placed on top will keep the pearls from poking through.  Even with the extra card stock or foam, this card still weighs less than an ounce since most of the layers are very lightweight Designer Series Paper.

The original creative-sketches design team sketch was to do a scrapbook page or tri fold card… that’s why there’s a photo in the middle.  I decided on the tri fold card… duh!

Play along with the design team this week!  We’d love to see your pages or tri fold cards!

Hugs,

Sharon

Technorati Tags: wisteria wonder,lucky limeade,field flowers,creative elements,silver glimmer paper,flirtatious specialty,designer series paper,dsp,pearls,organza,ribbon,sketch,design team

Beau Chateau Sweetheart Card SQSC06

Today I’m playing with the Beau Chateau Designer Series Paper (DSP)!  The soft pinks, vanilla and suede colors remind me of a little girl’s birthday party dress!

Today’s card for the Stampin’ Queens Sketch Challenge Design Team is party dress and vintage inspired, using sketch elements and a vintage theme… hope you like it!Oops… and a little Mocha Morning Specialty DSP too… that would be the soft suede and very vanilla tiny polka dotted pattern!

Some people have trouble putting a lot of patterned papers together on one card, or project… but quilters can do it all the time! LOL… I’ve been quilting for 24 years or so… and here’s a tip from quilting that may just help you put those patterns together.

Pick out one of each:  a Large, Medium, and small print pattern.  Then pick a neutral and a pop of color to accent them.

In my card the large pattern would be the filigree soft suede and blushing bride pattern.  The medium would be the chicken wire, the small… tiny polka dots, neutral was very vanilla, and the pop of color would be provided by the Pretty In Pink Card Stock, along with Hemp Twines, safety pin and buttons/brad embellishments.

The 5/8” very vanilla satin ribbon was layered and knotted with hemp twine, merging soft and rustic elements represented in the papers (chicken wire, and flourish/polka dots)

One Vanilla, one suede button are also accented by a pink button layered antique brad… another somewhat rustic element, accenting the chicken wire aspect (in my brain, LOL).

A teeny tiny vintage trinket safety pin fastens a jewelry punched tag from sentiment which is from the teeny tiny tags stamp set… perfectly coordinating with the Jewelry Tag Punch.

I wish Stampin’ Up! would make a larger and nested Jewelry Tag Punch, don’t you?  They’re pretty awesome about listening to suggestions, maybe if we all started calling in… hmm…

With all the buttons, brad, and layered bow, this card has a not so friendly post office profile… better suited for hand delivery. 

Here’s the sketch for the SQSC06 challenge….

Basically, the Stampin’ Queens Sketch Challenge #6 features three designer series papers, layered ribbon, three circle elements and a sentiment… you can do that, right?

Would love to have you play along with us this week… you know the drill!

See you tomorrow with a new sketch and challenge from the design team at Creative-Sketches!  Hope you will stop back by to say hello!

Hugs,

Sharon

Supplies for Today’s Vintage Inspired SQSC06 Card:

Stamps: tiny tags (cm)#118592, (wm)#118091; Card Stock: Pretty in Pink #100459, Very Vanilla #101650; Designer Series Paper: Mocha Morning Specialty #122366, Beau Chateau #122357; Classic Ink: Soft Suede #115657; Accessories: Neutrals Buttons #119743, Subtles Buttons #119745, Antique Brads #117273, Vintage Trinkets #118764, 5/8” Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon#117291, Hemp Twine#100982, Jewelry Tag Punch #117190, Open Scallop Border Punch #118402, Mini Glue Dots #103683

Technorati Tags: designer series paper,mocha morning specialty,antique brads,quilting,jewelry tag,open scallop border punch,beau chateau,vintage,buttons,ribbon,hemp twine,very vanilla,soft suede,pretty in pink

Kidoodles Utah Divas Color Challenge 55

Put Wisteria Wonder together with Basic Gray, and what do you have?  LOL… today we have a t-shirt clad rhinoceros!

The rhino is from the stamp set Kidoodles… and one of my least favorite to color.  Nothing against rhino’s… I just don’t like water coloring with basic gray!He just wouldn’t cooperate, and I finally just gave up… but I liked the way the bluebird came out!I chose simple embellishments for my rhino get well… basic black brads and polka dot scalloped ribbon.  The square lattice embossing folder and colors lend a very masculine theme to this get well card, don’t you think?

Nice and flat, with a low profile too.Did you know that the USPS is selling stamps just for hand cancelled items now?  the 64 cent stamp is available in booklets and rolls too.. how cool is that?  Guess I don’t go to the post office enough.   But next I go, you can be sure I will pick up a roll or two!  Luckily I have my very own postal scale at home… saves me the extra trips!

The colors for today’s challenge were:

• Wisteria Wonder
• Pacific Point
• Basic Gray
• Whisper White

Hope you’ll play along with the Utah Divas International Design Team this week, LOL…  You know the drill!

See you tomorrow with a new challenge from the Stampin’ Queens Sketch Challenge Group!

Hugs,

Sharon

Technorati Tags: masculine,get well,kidoodles,square lattice,embossing,brads,color challenge,udi,divas,water coloring

Do you make ATC’s?

ATC’s… Altered Trading Cards are also known as miniature works of art.  They can be especially challenging creatively as the canvas limitations are just 2.5” x 3.5”. 

LOL… but I happen to love creative challenges!

Recently, I’ve been participating in a challenge / swap for ATC’s.  Each month we have a theme and technique, and I always try to think “outside the box” of normal the ATC parameters.

While many would dismiss ATC’s as useless, it’s important to realize that whether you are an avid collector, scrap-booker, or card maker they can be a fabulous starting point for your personal pages or cards providing an artistic focal image!

Today I’m sharing two of my miniature Artworks and ATC’s for recent swaps.

This first one features my New Faux Flannel  and Dryer Sheet Technique, with a CAT theme…

Here are a few details about this Cat ATC:

• The background color was done with a brayer, sponges, and various inks. 
• The new faux flannel technique was used on Wisteria Wonder card stock, and then punched with the Lace Border Punch.
• After snipping just one long side of the narrow grosgrain ribbon, threads were removed to create a carpet or fringe along the bottom
• Two stamp sets were used:  “C is for Cats” and the lovely tree is from “Forever Young”

The next ATC had a theme of “childhood days” along with the masking technique… LOL, each of my ATC’s are one of a kind and I totally forgot to take a photo before mailing it.  Luckily, the graceful recipient happily emailed me a photo of my own art!!

After masking the moon, this ATC was sponged with Bashful Blue Classic Ink. 

• Dazzling Details were used to add ‘extra’ sparkles to the white signo gel pen snowflakes, barely visible in the background.
• Additional ‘snow was added beneath the children… and more dazzling diamonds too.
• Stamp sets used:  Welcome Christmas (the sledding children), Petite Pairs (sentiment), and Plant Hope (trees).
• Snow was added to the marker-ed and stamped trees using a white signo gel pen.
• The ATC was mounted on Silver Glimmer Paper, and then a basic black background.
• Pretty Pewter Stampin’ Emboss Powder and versamark ink were used on the sentiment.

Tomorrow we’re back to the design team challenges, and the Utah Divas International Color Challenge… It’s another crazy combo this week, but I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the DT art!

Hugs,

Sharon

Technorati Tags: ATC's,Swaps,ATC,welcome christmas,plant hope,c is for cat,dryer sheet,technique,tutorial,tutorial requests,art,miniature art,sliver glimmer paper,gel pen,forever young

A Silver Glimmer Paper WOW Flower!

Welcome back!  Did you enjoy yesterday’s Silver Glimmer Paper WOW Technique Tutorial?  If you happened to stop by the craft show at the Neptune Beach Senior Center yesterday, you got to see the gift bag from yesterday’s Super Saturday Tutorial, and today’s share too!

So for today, I’m sharing a BONUS tutorial showing you how to craft a Silver Glimmer Paper WOW Flower which can easily be made into a pin or clip (or both).   And It would make an absolutely FABULOUS Christmas Gift Too!

I happened to stumble upon a combined finding in a local big box hobby store here in Jacksonville, Florida.  It was found in the scrapbooking section, which surprised me because I would have expected to find it in the jewelry section.  Although I wasn’t quite sure what I would do with the interesting combo clip/pins at the time but knew I would soon find a good use for them.

Whether it’s an embellishment for a special card, 3-d item, hairclip, bow, or pin… I think you’re really going to like today’s Silver Glimmer Paper WOW Flower! 

Is it a clip, or is it a pin?  LOL… here’s another profile view…

The back has a dish shaped ‘cup’, clip AND pin back attached!  Wouldn’t this make a fabulous Hostess Gift?

On to this week’s BONUS tutorial!

Silver Glimmer Paper Wow! Flower

Stampin’ Up! Tools and Supplies:

• 12” x 12” Silver Glimmer Paper #124005  2-pieces $4.95
• Crystal Effects (acid free 2oz.) #101055 $6.25
• Paper Piercing Tool #116631 $3.50
• 1-3/4” Scallop Circle Punch #119854 $$16.95
• 2-3/8” Scallop Circle Punch #118874 $16.95
• Heat Tool #100005 $29.95
• Table Top Paper Cutter #106959 45.95

Other Supplies:

• Pin/clip combo, clip, or pin back jewelry finding
• Post it notes (3”x3” or larger)
• Tweezers (long nosed, or small pliers)

Step by Step Silver Glimmer Paper Wow! Flower Tutorial:

1. Cut a 2-1/2” x 12” strip of silver glimmer paper with your table top paper trimmer or trimmer of choice.
2. Follow yesterday’s Super Saturday Silver Glimmer Paper WOW Technique Tutorial to separate the glimmer layer from the paper backing.
• NOTE:  This technique must be done in a well ventilated area as the process emits plastic fumes.
3. Place the glimmer layer on a post it note, and punch two scallop circles, one 2-3/8” and one 1-3/4”.
4. With the glimmer layer facing you, fold the 1-3/4” silver glimmer punch in 1/2 and then 1/2 again (glimmer layer to glimmer layer) and then roll so that there is one point where you can pinch the closed end with your tweezers.
5. Turn on your heat tool, and heat from the back of the folded circle (your tweezers should be closer to the heat tool than the open end of the folded glimmer layer).  Do this cautiously, rotating so that a different part of the bud encounters the heat and  bringing the glimmer layer bud into and out of the heat.  The edges will begin to curl and roll. 
6. Continue until you are satisfied with the curls and size of the glimmer layer bud.  Briefly turn it around so that it is facing the heat stream, and the but will shrink just a bit more. 
7. This is what my finished glimmer layer bud looked like..
8. Use a paper piecing tool to pierce a hole in the center of the 2-3/8” scallop circle.  Briefly expose the pierced hole on the paper piercing tool to the heat stream.  The glimmer layer will spin, and the hole will enlarge… don’t let it get too big though!  Mine was only a little less than 3/8” diameter.
9. Now, repeat steps 4 through 7 for the now pierced 2-3/8” scallop circle punch glimmer layer.  The photo below shows both heated glimmer layers side by side.  You can see that my hole is no longer right in the middle of the flower...but that’s ok!
10. Add a little Crystal Effects to the pointed tip of the smaller bud, and insert into the larger flower, through the hole, set aside to dry.This photo shows relative size of the two layer bud.
11. Now cut a 2-1/2 square from the remaining glimmer layer strip.  Grab the middle/back of it with your tweezers and heat just for a moment from the back so it curls slightly on all edges.
12. The pin/clip finding I was using had a large saucer shaped dish on it, so at this point, I used Crystal Effects to attach the glimmer layer to the cup.  IF you are using a regular clip or pin back, skip this step.
13. Rotate  the square in/out of the heat stream, forward and backwards until the glimmer layer curls and shrinks just slightly larger than the cup, pin back or clip you will be using.
14. When you’re satisfied with the shape and size of the heated glimmer square, attach the bud layers to the center of it using Crystal Effects and allow to dry overnight.
15. After it has dried, you can now attach your Wow Glimmer Flower to a clip, pin back, or even a head band using Crystal Effects.  (LOL.. unless of course, you’ve got a dish clip like I did!)

This is another profile view of the finished Silver Glimmer WOW Flower.I hope you enjoyed today’s BONUS Super Saturday Tutorial for a Silver Glimmer Paper WOW Flower.It’s been quite a busy week for me… writing tutorials for some of my design teams as well as the ones you find here on Created By You!  Here are some highlights you may have missed:

• Upcoming FREE 12 Weeks of Christmas Newsletter Sign Up HERE or use the sign up box in the left side-bar.
• The Fabulous Mica Flake Jewelry Blog Candy give-away winner will be announced next Sunday (October 2nd).  You still have time to enter CLICK HERE.
• Tomorrow’s CAS Christmas Card Class will be held at Christ The King on Arlington Expressway.
• Tuesday is the first of two make-up classes for the All Occasions Card Class.  Check the Classes and Events Tab for more classes, events and opportunities!
• And don’t forget..  Stampin’ Up! Supplies used in today’s Bonus Tutorial are available in my online Stampin’ Up! Store!  You can order online 24/7 and have your supplies delivered right to your door!

Thank you for stopping by today!  Orders and comments are always greatly appreciated!  See you tomorrow with some NEW card shares!

Hugs,

Sharon

Technorati Tags: 3-d,hostess,silver glimmer paper,heat tool,crystal effects,online stampin up store,hostess gift,Christmas gift,class,technique,tips,tools,tutorial

Silver Glimmer Paper WOW! Technique

Don’t you just love the new Silver Glimmer Paper?  LOL, I can’t seem to get enough of it!  I’ve been playing with the Silver Glimmer Paper for a while, with one goal in mind… and was finally able to pull it off this week.

“Pulled it off” literally… I wanted to remove the glitter from the paper backing, to experiment further with the ultra shiny and glittery paper. 

After trying a number of different methods to remove the backing, I finally got it!  LOL, and then I had to come up with something interesting to DO with it!

If you don’t have your glimmer paper yet… take a peek at my online stampin’ up! store to get yours delivered right to your door!  Two 12x12 sheets are packaged together with a very nice piece of thick chipboard, and sell for just $4.95 (item #124005).

Here’s today’s Silver Glimmer Wow Technique Project:The scrunchy pretty paper flower is really easy to make… You’ve probably seen all the pretty layered paper flowers being shared on blogs… there are a ton of FREE tutorials on how to make the multi-layered paper flowers, I think most people call them a “scrunch flower”.  I’m not going to bore you with yet another… here’s the very easy step by step tutorial I followed when making today’s Glimmer Paper Wow Flower gift bag embellishment:  InkPaperArt.  (Be sure to leave her a sweet comment on her lovely tutorial too!)

Now… on to MY Tutorial, LOL…

Silver Glimmer Paper Wow Technique Tutorial

Supplies:

• Silver Glimmer Paper
• Post It Note
• Heat Tool
• Paper Trimmer or Table Top Paper Cutter (my personal favorite)

Step by Step Silver Glimmer Paper WOW Technique Tutorial

NOTE:  This technique must be done in a well ventilated area, as some fumes are produced during the process.

1. Cut a strip of Silver Glimmer Paper 1/4” wider than you need for your finished project.  I knew I was going to punch the 2-3/8” Circle, Scallop, and Boho Blossoms Punches and so started with the largest size:  2-5/8”.
2. Turn on the heat tool, and aim it at one corner of you’re silver glimmer paper.  Don’t try to heat the whole thing.. you just want to carefully heat the corner. it’s ok to get up close...
3. Watch it carefully, and just as the glimmer pulls from the paper STOP.
4. Pick it up, and gently pull the glimmer away from the paper.  You may have to use your finger nail to start it peeling a bit. You want to work quickly while the Glimmer Paper is warm.   The Glimmer Paper never seems to get very hot… but the backing paper will, but it cools very quickly... just  handle it carefully.
5. Once you get it started, turn on the heat tool, and heat the back of the glimmer paper in half second shots…
6. The glimmer paper almost seems to have a “grain” like fabric… and it may be easier to peel along one edge than the adjacent edge.  Keep working with 1/2 second heat shots, and continue pulling the glimmer from the silver glimmer paper.  Once you get the ‘hang’ of it, it goes rather quickly!
7. I just left my heat tool running, heating in 1/2 second shots, moving the paper from the heat stream and removing more glimmer… repeat.
8. If your paper backing is leaving a white shadow on the back of the glimmer paper, it means you are working with it too cool, or pulling too fast.  Don’t worry about that too much, it really won’t affect the end results. 
9. Once you’ve completely removed the backing paper, you’re left with an ultra shiny and somewhat sheer layer of plasticized glimmer that you can cut or punch.  It’s sheer enough that you can see the color of the post it note through the glimmer layer… and of course, you can’t see the white residue on the front of the paper.
10. In order to punch it, you’ll need to align one edge with the sticky edge of a post it note.  This will allow you to easily slip the glimmer layer into your punch.

For the scrunchy pretty paper on today’s bag, I also used layers of Brushed Gold Card Stock.  After running them through a paper crimper, I was able to separate each Brushed Gold punched piece into two scallop Circles to use with my glimmer paper layers.

The Flower on my gift bag had the following punches and quantities:

2-3/8” Scallop Circle Punch and Scallop Circle Punch

• (2) Silver Glimmer Layers
• (1) Brushed Gold, separated into two pieces

Boho Blossoms Large and Small Daisy Punches

• 1 silver Glimmer layer
• 1/2 Brushed Gold (separated) layer

One Silver Metallic Brad pierced the centers of the Boho Blossoms Layers, and then attached to the next silver glimmer layer using a stampin’ dimensional.

All remaining alternating layers of brushed gold card stock and silver glimmer were attached using Stampin’ Dimensionals.

A pretty loop bow  with a translucent glow was also made using the sliver glimmer layers cut at 3/4” wide.  You can’t really tie a bow very easily as the glimmer layer is a bit fragile… so I just made a loop, stapled it in the center, and then covered it with additional glimmer before adding two tails.

An additional 7/8” strip of silver glimmer layer was punched using the Open Scallop Border Punch, and glued to the double crimped brushed gold card stock header on my gift bag. 

Every bag is a bit different, so you need to measure before cutting… always… and cut approximately 1/4” wider than needed.  The crimping will change the size of the card stock.  My Brushed Gold header finished layer was 5-1/4” x 2-3/4” but I started with a layer that was 5-1/2” x 2-3/4”.

Because this was otherwise a plain brown paper handle bag, I also mixed up a double strength application of Champagne Shimmer Mist and sprayed it on the bag front as well… very pretty in person!

LOL… but you can’t see the Champagne Shimmer Mist application in the photo above!!

ONE IMPORTANT NOTE: 

This technique ONLY works with the Silver Glimmer Paper!  I tried to do it with the Red Glimmer Paper, but it doesn’t work at all, just burns and leaves behind a red semi-glossy surface!

My head is still spinning with possibilities… now that I’ve managed to separate the backing paper!  I’ve got more up my sleeve, and will share another project using the silver glimmer layer technique tomorrow too… hope you’ll stop back by to say HI!

Hope you enjoyed today’s Super Saturday Tutorial!  LOL, I had no idea what I was going to make for you until Thursday!!

Hugs,

Sharon

Technorati Tags: silver glimmer paper,scrunchy flower,pretty paper flower,heat tool,brushed gold,card stock,glimmer brads,technique,WOW technique,silver glimmer layer,Super Saturday Tutorial,Free Tutorial,InkPaperArt,punches,scallop circle punch

Monday Class: 5 CAS Christmas Cards

Today I’m sharing a sneak peek and preview of Monday’s Christmas Card Class at Christ The King!  We’ll be making FIVE Clean and Simple (CAS) Christmas Cards… each one can be made in 5 minutes or less! 

New Stampers Are Welcome!! 

We have a really big room reserved at Christ the King, so there’s lots of space for crafting and creating too!  Sign up by the end of the day on Saturday to ensure your cards will be cut and ready for you to simply stamp and assemble!

Stop by and say Hello!!

Never stamped before and want to find out what it’s all about?  Just want to place an order?  Orders are always appreciated and although no orders are demanded, there is no pressure, just stamping fun with crafty friends… everyone is welcome, it’s a friendly group!

Speaking of Christmas… have you signed up for the ALL NEW 12 Weeks of Christmas 2011 newsletter yet?  You can sign up using the little box in my side-bar or scroll down to last night’s post and fill out the form… no fees, it’s free to you! 

Stamps:  The Sounding Joy

Classic Inks:  River Rock, Cherry Cobbler

Card Stock:  Brushed Gold, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla

Accessory: Cherry Cobbler Quilted Satin RibbonStamps:  Petite Pairs, Lovely As A tree

Card Stock:  Very Vanilla, Always Artichoke, Real Red

Classic Ink:  Always Artichoke

Accessories:  Big Shot Machine, Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Crumb Cake and Early Espresso Stampin’ Write Markers

TIP:  You can color basic Jewel Rhinestones with a Sharpie Marker all over the top of the rhinestone!  It’s permanent when dried too!

Stamps:  Bright Hopes

Card Stock and Designer Series Paper (DSP):Whisper White, Real Red, Garden Green, Frostwood Lodge DSP

Classic Ink:  Garden Green, Real Red

Accessories:  1/8” Real Red Taffeta, Mini Glue Dots, Basic Rhinestone Jewels, Red Sharpie MarkerStamps:  God’s Blessings, Dasher

Card Stock:  Cherry Cobbler, Brushed Gold, Whisper White

Classic Ink:  Basic Black

Accessories:  Big Shot Machine, Snow Burst Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Double Scalloped Ribbon Border PunchStamps:  Comfort and Joy

Card Stock and DSP:  Whisper White, Marina Mist, Subtles DSP Stack

Classic Ink:  Marina Mist

Accessories:  Ticket Corner Punch, Marina Mist Taffeta Ribbon (retired)

Don’t forget to bring your adhesives and basic tools, hey.. why not bring along your neighbors and friends too?  You’ll have a really great time, and they’ll thank you!

Check out this and other stamp camps and opportunities on my upcoming Classes and Events Tab!

Short and sweet today with very quick and simple 5 minute CAS cards… now I’ve got to go back to work… but I’d love to know which one is YOUR personal favorite I have mine! 

See you tomorrow with a new Super Saturday Tutorial!

Hugs,

Sharon

Technorati Tags: bright hopes,frostwood lodge,comfort and joy,dasher,gods blessings,quilted satin ribbon,lovely as a tree,The sounding joy,brushed gold,very vanilla,whisper white,marina mist,cherry cobbler,classes and events

12 Weeks of Christmas 2011 Newsletter

NEWS FLASH!!!

Last year, the 12 weeks of Christmas Newsletter was such a hit, I’ve decided to offer it again!  With all new projects and ideas, just in time for your pre-holiday crafting, be sure to sign up for the newest version and weekly newsletters!

NOTE:  This sign up list is totally separate from my regular newsletter service, you must sign up here to receive the 12 weeks of Christmas!!

Subscribe to our mailing list

For your convenience, a QRL code sign up form has also been added to my side–bar… you can receive updates on your phone too!

The first edition will go out on Sunday, October 25th.  Content in the 12 Weeks of Christmas Newsletter will NOT be available on my blog Created By You as this is an exclusive offering for subscribers only!

Hugs,

Sharon

Technorati Tags: newsletter,12 weeks of Christmas,holiday projects,subscribers only,created by you,Chirstmas Newsletter,Sign Up

CS49H–Lovely Thanksgiving Trees

Wow, we’ve almost completed a whole year of Creative-Sketches Design Team challenges!  This week we’re on #49!  The challenges change from week to week, and this week we’re using a sketch PLUS a theme:  Thanksgiving or Halloween (the H in CS49H stands for holiday, lol).

I have only a few Thanksgiving orientated stamp sets, and thought I’d use something a little different or non-traditional, so I used two stamp sets, “Lovely as a Tree” and “Hand-Penned Holidays”.  Lovely as a Tree has been around for many years… you may already own it, it’s a very well loved and versatile stamp set.  Hand-Penned Holidays mimics traditional calligraphy, and is currently a limited time offering, available only in the Holiday Mini Catalog!

Both stamp sets, and all supplies used in today’s card are available at my online stampin’ up store.  The high quality exclusive products can be delivered to a crafty friend, your workplace, or right to your door!

Here’s my CS49H Challenge Design Team entry:  What’s the first thing you notice on this card?  I’m not sure I can guess!Could it be the elegant calligraphic sentiment stamped in cajun craze classic ink and turned side-ways?Or perhaps the lovely as a tree landscape images set askew and backed by mocha morning specialty designer series paper?The ‘sky’ was sponged with Bashful Blue classic ink onto the very vanilla card stock base… and the ‘grass’ was sponged with old olive classic ink.The background was sponged with bashful blue and old olive classic ink.

I think the multi-color dotted trees are my favorite!  I used the brush tip of several different stampin’ write markers and allowed the ink to soak into the card stock until the dots were just the right size.  It’s a really easy technique… but, just a word of warning… the dots are placed in a random fashion… there is no methodology or pattern here.  Secondly, if you choose to do this, keep thinking “LESS IS MORE”… a very important thought, or you’ll have quite a collage of color!

The brush tip of an old olive stampin’ write marker was also used to highlight the stamped landscape mounds and grasses.Bravo Burgundy Card Stock and Mocha Morning Specialty Designer Series Paper are unlikely partners, but in today’s sketch and offset design, I think they worked well for a fall card… what do you think?You’ve heard me before… I LOVE antique brads!!  There are four designs in each container, and this is perhaps my least favorite of the four.  It seems to work well on today’s fall / Thanksgiving card embraced by Lucky Limeade Ruffled Ribbon though… But when I look at the brads, all I can see is that pitchfork and sun… a bit too astrological for me perhaps.Today’s challenge card has a lower profile... but those brads, I think the USPS is not going to like them too much!  Even with my traditional thin fun foam sheet as a protector, it’s going to be too thick for standard mail! LOL… took a couple liberties with today’s sketch challenge… had to fit that greeting/sentiment on my card some how!!  But that’s just the fun of sketch challenges!  You can flip them, turn them, reverse them, even change the size and the components… whatever works for you! 

Hope you will join us and have fun with the design team this week… you know the drill!

1. Create a card, project or scrapbook page using today’s challenge colors:  Bashful Blue, Marina Mist, Always Artichoke, Old Olive and Whisper White
2. Photograph or scan your art work.
3. Upload to your blog, an online forum, or photo site. (Splitcoaststampers, Photobucket, Flickr, Stampin’ Connection, Stampin’ Addicts, etc.)
4. Copy the URL of your art work.
5. Visit the Creative-Sketches Design Team Blog and use the linky tool to add your URL to today’s Color Challenge Post.

Ta Da… (Been a little ill, and a little tired today, sorry!)

Stamps and Supplies Used in Today’s…

CS49H – Lovely Thanksgiving Trees

Stamps:

Hand Penned Holidays

Lovely As A Tree

Card Stock:

Lucky Limeade	Very Vanilla
Bravo Burgundy	River Rock
Early Espresso	Mocha Morning Spec. DSP

Classic Ink:

Chocolate Chip

Cajun Craze

Big Shot Machine and Textured Impressions Embossing Folder:  Square Lattice

Other Accessories:

Stampin’ Sponge	Stampin’ Write Markers
Antique Brads	Lucky Limeade Ribbon
Mat Pack	Paper Piercing Tool
	Stampin’ Dimensionals

So… have you entered my latest blog candy give-away yet?  The rules are simple, it’s easy to win.  Check out this WOW Mica Jewelry POST from earlier this week!

Tomorrow I’m sharing the Clean and Simple cards we’ll be making on Monday (9:30am) at the Christ the King Stamp-In!!  It’s a great event for new stampers, the cards are quick and easy too!  Be sure to register by Saturday evening if you plan on attending!  Contact Me to register! 

Hugs,

Sharon

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