A Touch From the Heart

So Long for Now

If you've already visited the Stamping 411 blog, then you've already heard the news.  The operators of the Stamping 411 have decided to take an extended leave of absence.  The Stamping 411 has been a papercrafting resource for over three years now.  It's been a wonderful journey, but honestly, we just need a break.  Whether we've been experiencing lifechanging circumstances or we are just being pulled in other directions, it just seemed right rather than letting the blog suffer.  We hope you'll understand!!!!

So, here's my last Stamping 411 project before our extended break......

I used this card for my Christmas Card Bonanza class.  The ladies loved it because it was simple to make yet so elegant to look at!!!!

It all starts with the Always Artichoke base card.  

Layer #2 is Crumb Cake.  I ran this layer through the Big Shot using the Delicate Designs embossing folders.  Although this embossing folder was designed to coordinate with the Large Scallop Edgelits, I think it works beautifully all by itself.  A length of Crumb Cake Seam Binding over the top transitions the embossing into the card perfectly.

Layer #3 is a 1/2" x 5" strip of Cherry Cobbler cardstock.  I used my 1" square punch to create the banner edge.  Banners are still hot, hot, hot!!!!

My focal layer starts with the stamp.  It's from the Christmas Lodge stamp set.  It was a favorite of mine from last year's Holiday Mini, and I am thrilled that it's been carried over to this year's big catty.  I inked up the image with Cherry Cobbler ink and stamped it onto Very Vanilla cardstock.  I used one of the Apothecary Accents Framelits to cut the image out.   After sponging the edges with Crumb Cake ink, I added some red rhinestones.  What?  You didn't know that Stampin' Up! carried color rhinestones?  Well, technically, they don't.  But, you can make ANY color rhinestone you want by coloring it with a permanent marker (i.e. Sharpie).  See, you learn something new every day!!!!

Well, my friends, it's time to get this weekend started.  I've been in bed most of the week sick with strep throat.  I am SO ready to get out of the house!!!!  I wish all of you a wonderful weekend!!!  Have fun and be safe!!! 

Freaky Friday

It's the last Friday of our summer vacation.  The kids start college on Monday, and I go back to work on Thursday.  During this past week, I've been shopping with Amanda for new clothes.  The clothes that I wore back in May are now a size too large.  Don't get me wrong....it's a good problem to have!!!  My weight loss journey is so close to ending.  I have 2.8 pounds left until goal.  It seems surreal that my body is now 75 lbs lighter.  To celebrate my weight loss, I made a big change when I got my haircut today.  I've been itchin' to try something new.  Amanda's exact words when she saw it was "Mother, what did you do?  It's short".  Now, my hair was already kinda short.  I just went shorter.  Dennis loves it, and I'm pretty sure Christopher (my son) is going to freak!  Oh well!  I like it!!!

Anyhoo, how about a vintage Halloween project?  Oh, I had lots of fun getting inky making this week's Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge project.

It's a square card......my favorite!!!

The Elegant Eggplant card starts with a 4 1/4" x 8 1/2" piece of cardstock folded in half.   The edges are sponged with some Frosty White Shimmer Paint.  

 

I start building my texture by running a 4" x 4" piece of Elegant Eggplant cardstock through the Big Shot using the new Lacy Brocade embossing folder.  I love how it resembles wrought iron scrollwork on a fancy gate.  Could that gate be located at a haunted mansion?  Hmmmmmmm!    The thought of the iron inspired me to grab my Frosty White Shimmer Paint.  I sponged some on very sporadically all over this layer. 

The next layer is some striped Elegant Eggplant dsp from the Regals Patterns dsp stack.  This layer has been sponged with the Frosty White Shimmer Paint as well!  

Now, it's time to build the focal layer.  I had a Crumb Cake doily sitting on my desk.  It was cut using the Paper Doily Sizzlit.  I trimmed it to the size I needed to fit my card.  I then dragged some Basic Gray ink all over it.  I wish the photo could catch how dramatic this looks.  It looks SO cool in person!!!!!  

I then grabbed my Toxic Treat stamp set.  I stamped the image onto Whisper White cardstock using Jet Black StazOn.  I then grabbed my sponge daubers and ink pads to start building the background.  The ink pad colors I used are More Mustard, Old Olive and Pumpkin Pie.  I then sponged over it with Basic Gray ink to tone down the brightness.  

Following the sketch, I added a length of Elegant Eggplant Scallop Dots Ribbon and tied it into a classic knot.  

All that's left is my scallop circle element.  I used the brand new 1 1/4" Scallop Circle punch.  I love it's fun size.  It coordinates perfectly with the 1 " circle punch.  I chose to use the "boo" and a flourish from my Tiny Tags stamp set.  

I just love how I can combine two of my loves into one card:  vintage and Halloween.  

Well, I am off to start this weekend!!!!!  We are mattress shopping.  Our backs are going to thank us!!!!!!

I wish you a fabulous weekend!!!

 

I Scrapbooked!!!!!

Hold onto your hats folks!!!!  I scrapbooked!!!!  Although scrapbooking is how I got started in the art of papercrafting, I haven't really played around with it for such a long time.

Today's project for the Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge isn't really considered traditional papercrafting because I created this page digitally using My Digital Studio.

Here's this week's sketch:

Here's my project: 

Digital papercrafting is so addicting!!!!  I love how I can combine paper patterns, ribbon, punches, stamps and fun embellishments all without leaving the confines of my couch!!!!   Fun for the creative side of my brain while the family watches TV.

I kept this page pretty simple to let the photos shine.  My brother and his family have a brand new family member......a cute little golden retriever puppie named Chewy (short for Chewbacca).  Do you think they are serious Star Wars fans?

Chewy joined the family for our annual family 4th of July BBQ/pool party.  As you can see from the photos, the little pup got quite wet on this adventurous day.  Isn't thay spiky hair the cutest?  She partied hard, and finally fell asleep in the arms of her sister Alex.  Chewy and Dimples got along famously.  It was funny to watch Chewy follow Dimps all around like she was her mother.  

Here's a tip for you:  use the colors from an element in the photo to use for your background.  In my layout, I used the colors from Alex's swimsuit.  See how the pictures just pop.  Just be careful that the background papers don't overpower your photos.  If you patterned paper is very bold, they tend to work better as smaller elements on your pages.  Just play around and have fun!!!  That's the best part about digital papercrafting.  There's no waste of product when you are experimenting!!!!

Well, I am off to hopefully enjoy a relaxing weekend.  We just returned from a two week roadtrip visiting family and friends on the east coast.  As much as I love visiting everyone, the trip is exhausting.  We decided to take the 16 hour drive home in all one shot.  We're all still recovering from being overtired and in everyone else's space.  Ahhhhhh.....family togetherness!!!!  

Tomorrow is my first weigh in since I left for vacation over two weeks ago.  I only need a loss of .2 to reach the 75 lb mark.  That will leave me with 3 lbs left to lose until I reach goal!!!!  Goal.....what an exciting word!!!!!  I sure hope it comes soon!!!!

I wish all of you a fabulous weekend.  Be sure to check out the fabulous projects on the Stamping 411 blog.  My fellow operators always make the prettiest projects!!!!!

 

Be Careful When Opening this Jar

Okay, folks!!!!  It's my first Halloween card of the year, and I love, love, love it!!!!!

When I first spied the Perfectly Preserved stamp set, I knew I wanted to put all kinds of fun things in the jar........a spider included.  LOL!!!!!

My Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge card all begins with a Basic Black base card.  

Layer #2 utilizes the Inlaid Embossing technique.  It starts with a 4" x 5 1/4" piece of Rich Razzleberry cardstock.  I then added a 2" x 4" strip of some Daffodil Delight dsp from the Polkadot Parade dsp pack.  Run all of layer #2 through the Big Shot using the Spider Web embossing folder.  

One of the exciting new products in the Holiday catalog is the 7/8" Natural Cotton Ribbon.  You can stamp anything you want on it.  For my card, I grabbed a sponge and my Rich Razzleberry ink pad to change the color of the ribbon.  I then stamped "spooky" (from Spooky Bingo Bits stamp set) using my Jet Black StazOn ink.  

My focal image begins with some Basic Gray cardstock being cut with my Window Frames framelits.  I used the new Festive Piercing Pack to perfectly poke holes inside this die cut.  

Now, comes the jar.  I stamped the jar image using Jet Black StazOn ink onto some Whisper White cardstock.  The image is cut using the coordinating Cannery Framelits.  Using my aquapainter and some Pool Party ink, I colored just inside the lines on the jar to make it look like glass.  The spider and the web (both from Spooky Bingo Bits) are stamped with Rich Razzlberry and Jet Black StazOn ink, respectively.  The jar is then sponged with some Daffodil Delight ink.

All that's left is my sentiment.  I grabbed a scrap of Daffodil Delight and stamped the greeting from Teeny Tiny Wishes.  Using my 1" square punch, I can create a cute little banner edge.  Some dot work with a Basic Black marker adds just the right finishing touch!!!!  

Isn't it cute?  Don't get me wrong......I don't EVER want to find a spider and it's little web in a jar (ewwwwwwwww), but maybe it would'nt be that bad if he were as cute as this little devil!!!!

Perk Up, My Friend

Are you ready for a bright card?  Well, even if you're not, guess what?  You're going to get one anyway!!!!  LOL!!!!

I am definitely not afraid of color!!!!  I think a great color combination can define a card.....especially on a card meant to make someone's day a little brighter!!!

This is also this week's Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge project.

The base card is Real Red.

Layer #2 starts with a 4" x 5 1/4" piece of Tempting Turquoise cardstock.  My banner element is made Daffodil Delight dsp from the Polka Dot Parade specialty pack.  I cut the banner edge using my 1 3/8" square punch.  Once the banner is glued down, I ran all of layer #2 through the Big Shot using the Square Lattice embossing folder.  This is called the Inlaid Embossing technique.  Isn't it sweet?

My focal image begins with the Delicate Doilies sizzlit die.  Atop the Tangerine Tango doily sits an Old Olive circle punched using my 2 1/2" circle punch.  In the center of the circle sits a steamy cup of comforting coffee.  This stamp comes from the brand new stamp set called Scentsational Season (in the Holiday catalog).  There's also a matching Framelit (called Holiday Collection) to make cutting out this image a piece of cake!  Here's a tip for you:  stamp the entire mug of coffee with Real Red ink.  Afterwards, color in the coffee portion with an Early Espresso marker.   A rhinestone sits in the center of the mug.

To finish off the card, I stamped the sentiment (from Morning Cup stamp set) using Early Espresso ink onto Tangerine Tango cardstock and punched it with the Word Window punch.  I then wrapped a length of Daffodil Delight Stitched Grosgrain ribbon around the card and tied it into a classic knot.  It still needed something.....so I grabbed my Tiny Tags stamp set and made a little tag to dangle from behind the knot.  Much, much better!!!!

Well, that's about it for my "perk up" card!!!!  I sure hope the person who received it felt better just by looking at it.  She's been through a lot, and I just wanted to make her day just a little bit brighter!!!!

Christmas in July

Happy Friday!!!!   It's been an exciting week here!!!  Amanda danced on stage at Mall of America in an organized flash mob to celebrate the premiere of the Step Up Revolution movie (opening at theaters today).   She had to learn the dance via internet videos recorded by the choreographers for the movie!!!  It was so much fun to watch her do her hip hop thing!

Okay, now that I've got the proud mama thing done, let's check out this week's Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge card.

This week it's all about a funky Christmas card!!!  Isn't this sketch 'da bomb?

Selene calls me the queen of square cards!!!!!  So, of course, that's what I made here!!!

My base card is Gumball Green!

Layer #2 is Gumball Green too!  I ran it through the Big Shot with my well-loved Square Lattice embossing folder.

Now, the focal image is all about squares too!!!!  My squares are made out of Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla and a piece of this fun dotted dsp from the Be of Good Cheer pack!

My focal image is from the Merry & Bright stamp set.  The image is inked up with my markers and stamped onto Very Vanilla cardstock.  I created a mat by punching two Decorative Labels.  Cut each of the shapes in half (one length-wise and one width-wise).  Put adhesive on the back of your focal image and use the cut pieces (you will need to trim a bit to fit) to form the mat.  

All that's left are the two rhinestones!!!

Voila!  Christmas card is done!!!!

Well, what are your plans for the weekend?  Whatever you choose to do.....be safe, have fun and enjoy family and friends!!!!!  Be sure to check out the Stamping 411 blog to check out all the inspiration from the operators.  We love when you stop on by!!!!

Stained Glass Daisies

Whew!  It's been a hot week.  I don't think our pool has ever had quite a workout as it's had this year.   Then again, I don't think our air conditioner has either.  I dread thinking about our electric bill!!!   When it gets really hot, I like to head into my Stampin' Studio.  It's in the lowest level of our house where it's nice and cool!!!!  

Speaking of cool.......have you seen this week's Stamping 411 latest sketch?  Wow!!!  It's a keeper!!!!

This is the second project we made at Stamp Club.  We played with the Stained Glass technique!

Would you like me to teach you the Stained Glass technique?

1.  Stamp a line image onto vellum using Versamark ink
2.  Sprinkle with Black embossing powder, shake off the excess and melt powder with heat tool (make sure to only heat until melted)
3.  Flip the vellum over and color the image using Stampin' Write markers
4.  Mat the vellum onto Whisper White cardstock

That's it........so simple......yet so breathtakingly beautiful!!!!

The "Reason to Smile" stamp set works perfectly with this technique.  This stamp set can be purchased for $5 with a $50 order.  Contact your demonstrator today to order this fabulous stamp set!!!!  Then you can use the Stained Glass technique too!

Card Recipe

stamps:  Reason to Smile,  Delicate Dots, Tiny Tags
paper:  Daffodil Delight, Primrose Petals, Raspberry Ripple, Whisper White, Vellum Cardstock
ink:  Versamark, Jet Black StazOn
accessories:  Stampin' Write Markers (Primrose Petals, Lucky Limeade), Delicate Doilies sizzlit, Daffodil Delight Stitched Grosgrain ribbon, Basic Pearls, Jewelry Tag punch, Delicate Designs embossing folder, 2 1/2" circle punch 

The Tassle is Worth the Hassle

Happy Friday!  I don't know about you, but with both kids attending graduation parties, I've run extremely low on cards.  They only have a few more left, but I am ready to go with this fun card!!!

It all started with the Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge!

 

In my first order from the new catalog, I ordered the Pure Gumption stamp set.  Besides the classic cap image, it also features some wonderful graduation sentiments.  T

his stamp set was a no-brainer for my household since there'll be so many graduations in our future (community college graduations and then university graduations every year for the next four years).  

I kept the colors fun and bright.  The base card is Daffodil Delight.  I cannot wear yellow because it makes me look sallow.  So, I get my yellow fix in my stamping!!!  I just love Daffodil Delight.  It's bright but not "in your face" obnoxious like Yoyo Yellow used to be!

Layer #2 is some fun Tangerine Tango patterned paper from the Summer Smooches dsp pack.  

My focal layer begins with the caps.  They are stamped with Basic Gray (and also watercolored with my Aquapainter).  The edges of the cardstock are pierced using the new Essentials Piercing Pack.  

The bottom of the focal image starts with Baja Breeze cardstock.  The bottom corners are rounded with my Corner Rounder punch.  The sentiment is stamped with Basic Gray ink in the bottom left corner.  

The seam of the cardstocks is covered with some of the new Basic Gray 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain ribbon.  

For my circle elements, I grabbed another new stamp set called "A Fitting Occasion".  This stamp set has different circle elements with little items that can be placed in the center.  I thought the owl was quite complimentary to the graduation theme!!!

Well, I am off to start the weekend!!!  It's supposed to be hot and steamy here again.  The weather radio just went off letting us know that storms are in the forecast.  Oh, it's gonna be a fun night!!!!!  NOT!!!!

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend!!!  If you get the chance, I hope you'll stop by the Stamping 411 blog and check out what the other operators have been up to!!!! 

Pinwheel Card

Happy Friday!!!  Are you as messed up with the days this week as I am?  Boy!  The holiday in the middle of the week totally screwed me up!!!  I almost forgot to post my Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge project.  

This week's sketch was totally fun!!!!  There are so many ways to interpret it!!!  

I chose to make a pinwheel card!  It's on my papercrafting bucket list, and was it ever easy to make!

To make a pinwheel, you start with a square piece of designer series paper.  My paper comes from the Summer Smooches dsp pack.   For my pinwheel, the square is 3 3/4" on each side.  Using my Simply Scored tool and the Diagonal Scoring Plate, I scored the paper from corner to corner (in other words, make score an "X" on your paper).  On each of the score lines, snip to within 1/2" of the center point.  Now, you need to poke holes to make the pinwheel.  You need to be consistent here.  If you're poking the left corner of one side, you MUST poke the left corner of every side.  Also, poke a hole in the center (where the "X" meets).  Now, take one of the corners with a hole and loop it over and thread a brad through it.  Repeat with the other three corners with a hole and thread the brad through the center hole.  Separate the brad on the back of the pinwheel.  

Note:  If you want the pinwheel to spin, you need to have the brad go through the stick too!  Mine doesn't spin since it sits on a card!  I just took a small strip of cardstock to simulate the stick!  

This card is bright and fun!!!!!  I just love how the Island Indigo, Summer Starfruit and Real Red play off of each other!!!!

Now, I am especially interested to see how the other Stamping 411 operators have used this sketch!  I am guessing that we all did something very different!!!!  Would you care to check it out with me?  I hope so!!!!

Eh

Do you have a signature look that you make?  My husband says that he can always tell when I'm about to make my "eh" face.  I guess it's more of an "eh" gesture.  According to Dennis, I scrunch up my nose, pull my mouth to the left side and shrug my shoulders.

When do I use my "eh" gesture?  Oh, that's easy to answer.  An "eh" gesture is always pulled out when I'm undecided or not thrilled over something.  

Today's Stamping 411 card deserves an "eh" gesture.  It's not that I don't like it.....it's just.......well, "eh".  

My card all starts with the Whisper White base card.  

Layer #2 is a 4" x 5 1/4" piece of So Saffron cardstock.

The next step is to take some of the pretty dsp (from the Floral District dsp pack).  Before adhering it to the So Saffron layer, I took a strip of Rich Razzleberry cardstock and ran it through the Big Shot using one of the Finishing Touches Edgelits.  I just love how intricate the design is!!!!

To cover the top seam of the dsp, I used a length of the Whisper White stitched 1/4" grosgrain ribbon.  I love how the white on white adds texture to this card!!!

For the three Lucky Limeade strips, the banner edge was cut using my 1" Square Punch.  Each strip was given some depth by using the Direct to Paper technique using my Lucky Limeade ink pad.  

I chose to use the bird from Betsy's Blossoms for my focal image.  I stamped her on some Whisper White cardstock using Rich Razzleberry ink.  I used my Basic Gray marker to dot her eye.  The empty eye was a little too scary for me!  The bird sits upon a branch cut with the Bird Punch using a scrap of Lucky Limeade cardstock.  

Well, what do you think of my "eh" card?  I'd love to hear your comments.  

I'd also love for you to stop by the Stamping 411 blog to check out what the other operators have made.  What did they do with this rather difficult sketch?  I'm off to check it out too!