Inspiration

This card was made for my 10 year old grandson, because I am so very proud of him. He fasted for 30 hours to raise money for World Vision. Right now he is truly an inspriation to me, because he is doing exactly what we all are called to do - sacrifice for the good of others .

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This card just takes a few minutes to make. The base is the standard 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", scored and folded at 4 1/4", in Sahara Sand card stock.
A 2 1/2" x 5 1/2" piece of Early Espresso DSP was glued on the bottom of the card front. A 5 1/2" piece of Early Espresso was punched with the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border. The result was adhered to the top of the DSP. The definition of inspire was stamped on the top, right of the Sahara Sand. This sentiment came from the "Define Your Life" stamp set.

A 2 5/8" scallop was punched out of Early Espresso. A 2" circle was punched out of Crumb Cake. The owl from the "Punch Bunch", which is in the "sale.a.bration" catalog, was stamped on the Crumb Cake circle. This circle was glued onto the scallop and then embossed with the "Square Lattice" folder.

Where ever you are I hope that your days are blessed and filled with much happiness.

Learning To Think Out of The Box

I love looking at cards that other people have made and one of the things I have observed is that that most creative card makers think out of the box. They look at a product and think of as many different ways to use it as possible. Lately I have seen multiple people turn the oval punches into vases. Stampin Addicts showed a technique of inking acrylic blocks and stamping directly onto card stock to add texture or color. So I tried both of these techniques on this card:

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First, I formed a 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" card base out of Very Vanilla card stock.

The second layer is Baja Breeze and measures 5 1/4"x 4". I embossed it with the Elegant Lines folder and attached it to the center of the card base.

The third layer is a piece of Very Vanilla, 4 3/4" x 2 1/2". I placed an acrylic block on a Baja Breeze ink pad and then stamped the block directly onto the Very Vanilla panel. Then I sponged the ink around the edges.
Next I colored the flowers from the Nature Walk stamp set with the Riding Hood Red and Garden Green Stampin' Write markers and stamped them in the top middle of the panel. I repeated this 2 more times. Then I used the Regal Rose anad Garden Green markers to color the berry stem from the Autumn Days stamp set and stamped it among the flowers.

I used the 2" x 1 3/8" oval punch to form a Baja Breeze oval and snipped off the ends to form the vase. I painted it with Frost Whie Shimmer Paint to give the vase a look of frosted glass. I used dimensionals to attach the vase over my flowers.

Finally, I added Basic Pearls to the vase and the embossed Baja Breeze.

Try to think of multiple ways to use your Stampin'Up products. You can come up with some cool looks and make your investment really pay off.

Beautiful Butterflies

Wow! I just got my "Beautiful Wings"embosslit die and had to try it out. I absolutely love it. It cuts and embosses 5 butterflies, the distance bewteen wing tips range from 5/8" to 1 7/8". I put 2 on the outside and 3 on the inside.

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I formed a Pink Pirouette card base. I cut out a piece of Basic Gray card stock and adhered a piece of 1/8" Pretty in Pink Taffeta ribbon 1 3/4" from the top and a second one 1 1/2" from thte bottom. The I centered and attached this panel to the pink card base.

Then I stamped the Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set rose in Basic Black ink on the top part of my Very Vanilla card stock. I stamped a second rose onto a sheet of copy paper, cut it out, and used it as a mask. I then stamped the lily from the same stamp set on the bottom of the vanilla card base, making sure part of it overlapped the rose. I created a mask for the lily. I coverd both the rose and the lily with their masks. Finally,I stamped the last flower from the set between the rose and lily.

I colored the rose with Pink Pirouette and Pretty In Pink inks and the lily with Melon Mambo, Peach Parfait and Basic Black. I cut the flowers out on the right side only and then attached the resulting piece on the top left of the gray panel.

I cut the butterflies out of Whisper White scraps with the embosslit and sponged them with Pretty In Pink ink .

I punched out 1 3/8" x 5/8' oval in the Pink Pirouette and stamped my sentiment on it. I dotted a border around the oval. Then I placed the oval between the ribbons.

Materials:

5 1/2" x 8 1/2 " Pink Pirouette card stock scored and folded at 4 1/4", plus a 2" x 1" for punch

3 1/2" x 4 3/4" Basic Gray card stock

2" x 4" & 2 1/4" x 2 1/4" Very Vanilla Card stock

2 - 4" pieces of 1/8" Pretty In Pink taffeta ribbon

Basic Black, Mellon Mambo, Pretty In Pink, Pink Pirouette, Peach Parfait and So Saffron Inks.

Beautiful Wings embosslit

1 3/8" x 5/8" Oval Punch

Stamp, Sponge, Brayer and a Water Color Video

Before I show you my next efforts I have a request to make. Please keep Kerry in your prayers. He is a 20 year old dance instructor who has stage 4 brain cancer. He is such a delight, but is really having a hard time. Also, pray for his mom who is his primary care giver. She is so tired and her heart is breaking that her youngest child is having to go through this.

Well this card needs much improvement, but I want to encourage all of you to try new techniques. The only way to learn is to try things out. This card has multiple techniques.

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Materials:
1. Whisper White card stock: 5" x 3 3/4"; Cajun Craze card stock 8 1/2" x
5 1/2" scored and folded to form a 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" card base.

2. Inks: Bashful Blue, Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive, Cherry, Cajun Craze,
Chocolate Chip, VersaMarker(pen)

3. Stamp Set: Countryside, Plant Hope, Teeny Tiny Wishes

4. Other: Sponge, clear embossing powder, Aqua Painter, brayer

Steps:

1. Stamp truck on white card stock. Color the truck with Cajun Craze.Use
the aqua painter to pick up ink from Cajun Craze Stampin Write
marker. Use markers to color apples, their stems, bumper, etc

2. When you have finished coloring allow ink to dry and then coat all
of the truck image, except for the windows with VersaMark pen. Heat
emboss with clear embossing powder.

3. Brayer Bashful Blue ink on the top two thirds of the card. Whip ink
off of the truck.

4. Brayer Tempting Turquoise ink diagonally from the top left corner,
covering about two thirds of the horizontal space. Wipe ink off of
truck.

5. Apply Old Olive ink only to the grassy area on the truck stamp. Stamp
grass behind and in front of truck to form road.

6. Sponge bottom part of card with Old Olive to form grassy area.

7. Apply Old Olive ink to trees and stamp behind truck and along
horizon. Use Chocolate Chip marker to draw in in trunks of
trees.

8. Stamp sentiment in Chocolate Chipor Black on the bottom right
of panel. Center and attach it to Cajun Craze card base.

Below is a video I found on how to use your aqua painter and classic ink pads to watercolor. I thought some of you might enjoy it!

Double Stamping

I saw a technique on line that I wanted to try. So, the card today is an experiment. I like it overall, but have decided if I use this techniques again I will use brighter colors. The card seems a little dark to me.

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Materials:

1. Chocolate Chip cardstock(8 1/2" x 5 1/2", scored at 4 1/4") and a
scrap 2 1/" x 3/4"; Whisper White Card stock (5" x 3 3/4" and a 2"
x 3/4"scrap)

2. Inks: Crumb Cake, So Saffrom, Tempting Torquoise, Early Espresso

3. Punches:Word Window, Modern Label

4. Elements of Style and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets

5. Snail Adhesive and Inl Applicator.

5. Stamps:

Steps:

1. Fold large piece of brown card stock to form at 5 1/2" x 41/4' card
base.

2. Randomly stamp floral pattern on white card stock, using Crumb Cake
ink.

3. Using an ink applicator lightly apply So Saffron, Crumb Cake and
Tempting Turquoise over floral images.

4. Load the floral stamp up with Early Espresso and stamp it diagonally
from the top left to the bottm right hand corner of the above panel.
(Refer to photo).

5. Punch out Word Window in white card stock. Sponge So Saffron and
Tempting Turquoise onto paper. Center and stamp sentiment of this piece
in Early Espresso.

6. Punch out Modern Label in Early Espresso card stock. Adhere above piece
to it. Attach resulting tag in the top right quadrant of the card.

7. Center and mount this panel onto the front of the brown card base,

Cupcake Birthday Card

Whew! I am just not running fast enough! The days are really short since Wayne and I are on the road or at his treatment for 4 -4 1/2 hours everyday! It really makes me admire the women who are working at full time jobs and can still create and post a cards everyday. My hat is off to them!

The card below was designed for my church's Cards for Christ ministry. This group of women makes and sends cards to the ill, grieving and our shut-ins to assure them of our love and of God's. They are an amazing group of women and I am so blessed to be in their midst.

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Materials:
1. Whisper White cardstock (cut at 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" and scored at 4 1/4",
3"x3", punched 1 1/4" circle; Pear Pizzaz (3 1/4" x 3 1/4",
4 1/4" x 1 3/8"), punched 1 3/8" scalloped circle; 4 1/4" x 1" Pear
Pizzaz DSP.

2. Crazy For Cupcakes and Teeny Tiny Wishes, stamp sets.

3. Melon Mambo, Pear Pizzaz, Bashful Blue and So Saffron classic ink pads.

4. 1 1/4" circle punch, 1 3/8" scallop punch.

5. Aqua Painter, snail adhesive

6. 6 1/2" Pear Pizzaz 1/4" grosgrain ribbon.

Steps:

1. Fold white card stock to from 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"card.

2. Center and adhere the Pear Pizzaz DSP on top of the Pear Pizzaz strip.
Glue this combined strip so that the bottpm edge is 1/4" from the
bottom of the card.

3. Stamp "happy birthbay" in the center of the white punched circle
and then attach it to the green scalloped circle. Glue this circle to
the center of the Pear Pizzazz strip.

4. Stamp stacked cupcakes onto the center of the 3" x 3" white square and
color with Aqua painter by picking up ink from the lid of ink pad.
(Remember to depress the lid to the ink pad before opening. That way
you will have the ink where it can be easily picked up with the Aqua Painter).

5. Adhere ribbon to the left side of the above piece.

6. Center and attach your focal image with the ribbon on the green square,

7. Center and attach this piece between the Pear Pizzazz strip and the
top of the card

Stone Coaster

I love stamps. The more I use them the more uses I find for them.
Lately, one of my favorite things to do with them is to make coaster sets for my friends. They end up with a nice gift that is one of a kind, made just for them and is not too expensive. I have made coasters sets with the following stamp sets: Dream Gardens, Crosses of Hope, Make A Monster. The possibilities are endless! Whatever you do,HAVE FUN! Here is an example:

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Materials:
1. Travertine tile squares. Found at such places as Home Depot, Lowes, etc.

2. An Aqua Painter

3. Classic ink pads: Certainly Celery and Pretty In Pink or with colors of your choice.

4. Piece of copy paper.

5. Spray sealer - glossy or matte.

6. Growing Green stamp set

7. Cork Sheet

8. Spray Adhesive.

Steps:

1. Wash and dry stones.

2. Stamp flower image in black on the stone tile and on a piece of thin paper such as the copy paper.

3. Cut the image out of the paper and position over the flower on the stone so that it is completely covered.

4. Stamp fern frond over flower and then remove the paper.

5. Depress the cover of the Pretty In Pink stamp pad and open. There will be droplets of ink on the lid.

6. Pick up this Pretty In Pink ink with an Aqua Painter and paint your flower.

7. Clean the Aqua Paint by rubbing the brush on the copy paper until there is no color.

8. Using Certainly Celery ink use the same technique to paint the fern frond.

9. Allow the ink to dry and then spray with your sealant. Be sure to do this in a well covered and ventilated area . I did mine outside.

10. Cut a piece of cork to cover the back side of the stone tile. Spray adhesive on the back of the stone and apply the cork.

There are numerous ways to color your images on stone. Don't be afraid to experiment. One hint: If you decide to use StazOn ink you will not need the sealant.

Scrap Day Card

Well, today was the day to dig out all of those scraps and see if I could stick them together to make a card. I just couldn't do anything right. Everything was off center or stamped crooked. I had to keep adding layers to cover the mistakes up. But, I am not one to give up. So, here is my slightly askew card.

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I am not going to try to list everything I used, but did want you to know that I used the level two hostess set Apple Blossoms. I used the stem, flower, and circle patterned background.

Dig your scraps out and see what you can make.

I would love to see what you come up with. If you have time e-mail a photo of them.

Faithbooking - Bountiful Blessings

I am finally finding time to do some scrapbooking. The page below is actually a form of faithbooking - at least according to my definition. I believe faithbooking is about sharing our love for God and just how wonderful He is. It also is a way to tell our families how much we love them and more importantly,how much God loves them. I want to tell them that for as long as they live and long after I'm gone. I hope that can be accomplised with the words and pages I leave behind.

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I used Crumb Cake and Cajun Craze cardstock, the same color inks and the stamp set Season Of Friendship. I stamped the tree twice with a light coat of Crumb Cake ink to lengthen the tree. I then used the brown pencil from the Stampin'Up watercolor pencil to even out the truck area and darken the limbs. I then use the aqua painter to smooth things out.

I hope you have a wonderful day!

Bliss Thinking of You

Here is another card using a Sale.A.Bration stamp set called Bliss. I really liked the way this one turned out.

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Materials: Card Stock Pear Pizzazz (5 1/2" x 8 1/2"), Blushing Bride (5" x 3 3/4"), Whisper White (1 3/4" x 4 5/8") In Color Pear Pizzaz DSP (1 5/8" x 4 5/8"), plus a small piece of Whisper White, which will be used to stamp and clear emboss 2 butterflies ans 5 flowers.
Ink: Basic Black, Blushing Bride, Melon Mambo, and VersaMark.
Other: Basic Pearls, clear embossing powder, heat tool.
Stamp Sets: Bliss from sale.a.bration catalogue and Sincere Salutaions from Idea Book and Catalog.

Once you have gathered you tools, all you have to do is:
l. Fold Pear Pizzazz to form an 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" card base.
2. Center and adhere pink card stock to the front of the green card.
3. Attach DSP at the top of the pink paper leaving an even pink border.
4. Load "Thinking of You" stamp with VersaMark and then black ink and stamp onto the right side of the 1 3/4" x4 5/8" white paper. Clear emboss.
Then stamp flowers in a random pattern partially around the sentiment. Attach to the the bottom of the pink paper,leaving an even border
3. Load up 1 butterfly and 5 flowers with VersaMark and then Blushing Bride. Stamp onto the scrap of white paper. Clear emboss. Load up the butterfy stamp a second time, using VersaMark and Melon Mambo. Stamp onto a scrap of white paper. Clear emboss.
4. Cut out the 5 flowers and 2 butterflies. Add pearls to make the butterflies' bodies. Attach pieces to card as show in the above photo..

5th Avenue Rose Thank You Card

Materials:
1. Cardstock - Very Vanilla 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 in., Whisper White 4 x 4 in., , Pear Pizzazz DSP 5 1/4 x 4 in. and 5 1/2 x 1.

2. Stamp Sets - 5th Avenue Floral, Baroque, En Francais, Perfect Punches

3. Ink: Crumb Cake, Garden Green and Stampin' Write Markers - Pink Pirouette and Pretty in Pink.

4. Other - Aqua painter, sponge dauber, VersaMark,  clear embossing powder, heat tool