Thanks Galore - November 2007

I made these cards based off a card I saw on SCS using the So Very set but since I wanted to make thank you cards and I didn't have a set that would go with the So Very that would say SO VERY GRATEFUL. I made 50 of these cards and kept 25 of them for myself and then sold the other 25 to a friend. We each got 5 of each of 5 colors. My very favorite ones were the Tempting Turquoise cards. Unforunately, I forgot to take a picture of all of them before I started using them. I really need to get better at taking pictures of the cards as soon as they're done, so this doesn't happen so much.

Card Recipe #1
Stamps: seeing spots
Paper: rose red designer series paper, whisper white, basic black
Ink: basic black, rose red
Accessories: black gingham ribbon, circle punches (1-1/4 & 1-3/8)

Card Recipe #2

Stamps: seeing spots

Paper: Certainly Celery designer series paper, whisper white, basic black

Ink: basic black, certainly celery

Accessories: black gingham ribbon, circle punches (1-1/4 & 1-3/8)

Card Recipe #3

Stamps: seeing spots

Paper: Lovely Lilac designer series paper, whisper white, basic black

Ink: basic black, Lovely Lilac

Accessories: black gingham ribbon, circle punches (1-1/4 & 1-3/8)


Card Recipe #4

Stamps: seeing spots

Paper: Cameo Coral designer series paper, whisper white, basic black

Ink: basic black, Cameo Coral

Accessories: black gingham ribbon, circle punches (1-1/4 & 1-3/8)

Card Recipe #5

Stamps: seeing spots

Paper: Tempting Turquoise designer series paper, whisper white, basic black

Ink: basic black, Tempting Turqouise

Accessories: black gingham ribbon, circle punches (1-1/4 & 1-3/8)

Winter Swirls - August 2007

I made this card for a swap I participated in as part of a yahoo group. I stamped the tree in whisper white craft ink and then embossed the tree in whisper white embossing powder. For the background I used the shaving cream technique. It is pretty simple to do. I have found the best type of shaving cream is the cheap stuff from the dollar store. It does not work with the gels it must be the white cream kind. Once you've sprayed some shaving cream on a paper plate or something like that and then you just take a few drops of re-inkers and swirl them around with a plastic knife or something similiar. Then you put your paper down on top of the shaving cream for a few seconds and then pull it up and whip off the shaving cream and the paper now has a nice swirly/tie dye effect. I plan on making another card using this technique again and will make a tutorial at that time for this technique.

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Solemn Stillness
Paper: Handsome Hunter, Whisper White
Ink: Versamark
Accessories: White EP, Bashful Blue & Brillant Blue Reinkers, Gold Stretch Cord, Gold Eyelets
Techniques: Shaving Cream & Embossing
Difficulty (1-Easy 5-Advanced): 3

March Blog Challenge - 2008

Here is the challenge for March... I know I'm a few days late but I'm still doing better then last month.


The challenge for this round is to make a card or scrapbook page using the One Sheet Wonder (OSW) technique. Basically you create your own designer paper by stamping a variety of images in a variety of colors. You can use as many or as few images and colors as you but once you're sheet is stamped to you liking, you then get to cut it up to make several cards. The number of cards you can make using a OSW depends on how big the piece of stamped paper is and how big of pieces you cut them into. I've seen people take 1 sheet of 12x12 paper and come up with as many as 10-20 cards. For my card I only got 4-6 cards from a sheet because I used a 8 1/2 x 11 piece of paper and I didn't have the exact measurements figured out when I started cutting. I know bad me. I could have used the scraps to make a card with a different layout then the one attached her but this was the card I wanted to make so I didn't use the scraps. The reason for the lack of measurements before hand was because I was casing the card and didn't follow the original design exactly. Sorry I can't recall at this time who it was I cased it from. They did a wonderful job and though I changed a few things I didn't change much.

Challenge Requirements... Please email me your designs no later then 9pm on March 31st. All those who submit cards that use the OSW technique will have their names put into a paint can and a winner will be drawn at random. I will announce the winner the first week in April. The winner of the challenge will win a set of cards designed by me using the OSW technique. Please put Faye's Blog Challenge in the subject line so I don't miss it by mistake in my mail box.

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Big Pieces, Sincere Salutations, Snow flurries
Paper: Real Red, Whisper White, Garden Green
Ink: Garden Green, Real Red
Accessories: Non SU Brad, Ribbon, Button, Retired SU Silver Cord
Techniques: OSW
Difficulty (1-Easy 5-Advanced): 1

Sweet Scallops - January 2008

So I finally got around to posting a picture of my first Sale-a-bration card. I love the So Many Scallops set and am working on making some more cards with different layouts and such. So far this one is definitely my favorite though. Not only do I love this stamp set but I also love this berry bliss paper. It seems to coordinate perfectly with the stamp set.

The card is very easy to make and I'm working on trying to provide more details in my blogs with directions and such so forgive me if this gets wordy.

Card Recipe:
Stamps: So Many Scallops
Paper: Berry Bliss DP, Pretty in Pink, Purely Pomegranate
Ink: Purely Pomegranate
Accessories: Large Brass Eyelets, Soft Subtle Brads, Crop-a-dile, & Paper Piercer

To make the card I started out with a piece of 5 1/2 x 11 piece of pretty in pink paper. I then folded that in half and used the bone folder to smooth out the fold. For the next layer I cut a piece of purely pomegranate that was 5-1/4 x 4. I then cut the berry bliss designer paper which is (I'll have to look it up and let you know). Then I went onto the center pieces. I stamped the so many scallops image on whisper white and then used the SU Scallop Punch to punch out the image. Then you use the crop-o-dile to punch a large circle in the center of the stamped image & insert the eyelet. I didn't set the eyelet completely and then punched a hole in the pretty in pink square. I then attached the image to the pretty in pink square and set the eyelet the rest of the way. The crop-o-dile I have doesn’t quite have a long enough reach to do it all in one step. So the easiest way to do it would actually be to use the eyelet setter in the crafter's tool kit, which I ended up doing after the first card. The pretty in pink squares are both the same size and they are (I'll look it up and let you know) and the purely pomegranate square is just 1/8 smaller then the pretty in pink layer. I then poked wholes in the corners and inserted the brads.

I hope you enjoy the card and feel free to case it.

Birthday Smiles - April 2007

I love this card design and how versitle it is. I made a whole bunch of them. Of course part of why I love it so much is because it uses Tempting Turquoise which has to be one of my absolute favorite colors. You could defiantely do this card using the other coordinating colors in the flowers and put different wording in the middle as well.

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Smile, Petals & Paisley
Paper: Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, DP Petals & Paisley
Ink: Tempting Turquoise
Accessories: Tempting Turquoise Grosgrain

January Technique Class - 2008

I made these items at my upline's January technique class. I love the the different ideas she comes up with and really hope that I can get a class going similiar to hers. I like the different card layout we used this month to make the first card, but my favorite project was the little lantern we made. These would be perfect for home decor or even decorations for an outdoor wedding. All that would need to be added would be some christmas lights or a flameless candle and it would be "WOW"

Card 1 Recipe:
Stamps: Sweet Celebrations, All in a Row
Paper: Going Grey
Ink: Basic Grey, Real Red, Wild Wasabi
Accessories: Scallop Punch, Circle Punch, Red Gingham Ribbon, Heart Chipboard, Chunky Glitter, Crystal Effects, Stamp-a-ma-jig

Lantern Recipe: (I will create and post a tutorial on how to make this lantern at a later date)
Stamps: stitched exotics
Paper: bali breeze DP, Whisper White
Ink: Purely Promgerate
Accessories: brads, 5 petal punch

Card 2 Recipe:
Stamps: Time Well Spent, Baroque Motifs, Make it Count
Paper: Going Grey, Tempting Turquoise, Very Vanilla
Ink: Basic Grey, Tempting Turquoise
Accessories: Turquoise Grosgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals, Scoring Blade

Welcome Baby - March 2007

I made this card along with several others to send out in some "This is for You" packets in order to drum up some business. I'm not sure that I had any luck with the packets but I at least had fun making the cards and now have a sample I can use in making some more baby cards in the future.

CARD RECIPE:
Stamps: Riveting
Paper: Cool Caribbean, Loves Me DP, Whisper White, and one of the SU pink papers can't remember which one now
Ink: one of the SU Pinks
Accessories: pink gingham ribbon, variety of circle punches, tearing edge

December's Challenge Prize

These are the cards I made for the winner of the December montly challenge. Colleen received 5 of the birthday cards and 5 of the thank you cards shown here. I think they turned out great and plan on making a bunch more of them. They're very elegant but really simple to make. I love the colors though the apricot appeal isn't a color I typically use. Although I've made birthday and thank you cards using here they could very easily be changed to another subject/theme.

Card #1 Recipe:

Stamps: Embrace Life, Spring Solitude Bundle Set
Paper: Bali Breeze, Apricot Appeal, Whisper White, pumpkin pie
Ink: basic black, certainly celery
Accessories: brads, dimensionals, white gel pen, wild wasbi double stitched ribbon, SU Markers, Three For You Punch

Card #2 Recipe:

Stamps: embrace life, it's your birthday
Paper: bali breeze DP, Certainly Celery DP, Taken with Teal, Whisper White
Ink: Certainly Celery, Basic Black
Accessories: Brads, Wild Wasbi Double Stitched Ribbon, Three for You punch, SU Markers, white gel pen, dimensionals

More Birthdays - August 2007

I made several of this card because I noticed most of my birthday cards in stock were more girly then masculine so I came up with this one. I thought it could work for both girls & boys but was definately more masculine. I also liked t he idea that it could very easily work for a Halloween Card. I guess that's what I get for using halloween themed designer paper but it's okay. I have alot of birthdays in October so the cards should go over really well.

Happy Birthday Girls - August 2007

I made these two cards to stock up on some girly birthday cards. They didn't turn out quite as I planned but they're not terrible so I'm not going to complain. I definately will use the layout again. I'll just need to tweek them a bit.

Card #1 Recipe:
Stamps: Circle of Friendship
Paper: DP Flowers For You, Lovely Lilac, Whisper White
Ink: Lovely Lilac
Accessories: Ribbon (non-SU), Scallop Punch

Card #2 Recipe:
Stamps: It's Your Birthday
Paper: DP Flowers for You, Lovely Lilac, Whisper White
Ink: Lovely Lilac
Accessories: Ribbon (Non-SU), Scallop Punch

Baroque Birthday - July 2007

I made several of these cards. They were really easy to make and I love the colors together. I also like how versatile it could be as far as making it in other colors. I didn't think I liked this set that much at first but it has definitely grown on me and become a favorite. I love how it can be used for such a variety of things and for a variety of types of cards as well. I think the more versatile a stamp set is the more valuable it can be and therefore I'm more likely to buy it. I hate just buying a stamp for one thing and being limited. This is not one of those stamp sets.

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Baroque Motifs, It's Your Birthday
Paper: Blue Bayou, Whisper White
Ink: Whisper White Craft Ink, Blue Bayou, Lavender Lace
Accessories: Rhinestone Brad, Dimensionals, Slit Punch

August Technique Class - 2007

Here are the cards we made in my upline's August Technique Class. It was a month of different techniques using Vellum. I loved this class and even considered using the candles in wine glasses as a center piece for my friends wedding. After talking to her she's decided to use something else so that's not going to happen but I still think these would work really well for centerpieces at weddings or other events. The other card that isn't shown her right now was loaned to a friend before I got a chance to take a picture. Once I get it back and get a picture taken I'll add it to this post.

CARD RECIPE #1:
Stamps: Double Line Doodle
Paper: Vellum, Carol, Doodle DP
Ink: Black Stazon
Accessories: Embossing Stylus, Corner Punch, Ribbon, Crystal Effects
Techniques: Vellum
Difficulty (1-Easy 5-Advanced): 1

WINE GLASS TOPPER RECIPE:

Stamps: Garden Whimsy, Baroque Motifs
Paper: Vellum
Ink: Purely Pomegranate
Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds, Corner Rounder
Techniques: Vellum
Difficulty (1-Easy 5-Advanced): 1

July Technique Class - 2007

I made the cards below in my upline's July Technique Class. We used bleach on all 3 cards and had a fun time.

I was very surprised on how the bleach effected each piece of paper differently. I was also surprised that I didn't get any bleach on my clothes. I'm notorious for ruining whatever I'm wearing with ink, bleach, glue... whatever can get on my clothes and not come out.

My favorite of the 3 cards is probably the Stem Silhouettes card though I'm not a big fan of the Stem Silhouettes stamp set. Not really sure why I don't like this set that well but I don't. I think I will probably try to do another card similar but using the flower stem from a different set. Maybe I'll use the Embrace Life set since I gave in and got it the other day. Clearly you can tell I'm trying to get caught up on my blog posts again since I'm mentioning a stamp set that wasn't available until January 2008 and this blog is suppose to be for a class that I attended in July 2007. Oh well. Eventually maybe I'll get caught up and the blogs will reflect the current stamp sets and not retired ones.

CARD RECIPE #1:

Stamps: Rough Wheel, Stem Silhouettes, Hugs & Wishes
Paper: Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Confetti, River Rock
Ink: Basic Black Craft, Pale Plum
Accessories: EP, Brads, Ribbon, Dimensionals, Bleach
Techniques: Bleach
Difficulty (1-Easy 5-Advanced): 2

CARD RECIPE #2:

Stamps: With Gratitude
Paper: Brocade Blue, Baroque Backgrounds DP, Close to Cocoa
Ink: Old Olive, Close to Cocoa
Accessories: Bleach, Paper Piercer, Marker, Ribbon
Techniques: Bleach
Difficulty (1-Easy 5-Advanced): 2

CARD RECIPE #3:

Stamps: Doodle This, Print Pattern
Paper: Wild Wasabi, Lovely Lilac
Ink: Encore Gold
Accessories: Gold EP, Pearl Effects, Wild Wasabi Ribbon
Techniques: Bleach
Difficulty (1-Easy 5-Advanced): 2

May Technique Class - 2007

In May my upline's technique class was held on my anniversary so I wasn't able to attend but I still got the completed projects. Below are the projects the other gals made. I love the scrapbook page but I wish there was a place to put more pictures then just one. I guess I can always just leave one on this page and then make another coordinating page that faces it with several other pictures. I have tons of pictures that will work with this page and as usual I just have a hard time picking just one.

I really wish I had been there to make the magic card because even though I have instructions I learn better hands on. I can't say it was easy or not because I've never made one. I do like it and think it is very neat. I love any of the cards that look like they'd be hard to make but really aren't or are more then just the typical flat card that you could buy for a few dollars at the dollar store or hallmark.

Celebrating Frienship - October 2007

I decided to participate in a monthly RAK Attack in one of the online groups I'm in and this is the card I came up with to send out. It is quite simple to make though I wish I had went ahead and put white embossing powder onto the white craft ink to make the wording stand out a bit more but it's okay. Hind-sight is 20/20 right. I'll probably make more of these cards but in different colors in the future to send out so all my friends who read this blog keep your eyes open and don't forget to act surprise when you get the card.

Card Recipe:
Stamps: All Holidays
Paper: Almost Amethyist, Whisper White
Ink: Whisper White (Craft)
Accessories: Spring Blossom Punch, White Eyelet, Purple Rhinestones
Difficulty (1-Easy 5-Advanced): 2

Belated Argyle Birthday - August 2007

I made a couple of this card for some of my guy friend's who had birthdays earlier in the year that just slipped by without me noticing. This year seemed like it just flew by and that the more I thought about something the more likely I was to forget it once I was suppose to remember, which made this card and the saying absolutely perfect. I plan on making some more using this design but in more girly colors for some of my female friends.

CARD RECIPE:

Stamps: All Around Argyle, Linen
Paper: Sage Shadow, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Sage Shadow
Accessories: Chocolate Grosgrain, Hardware, Gel Pen, Paper Piercer, Sponge

One Sheet of Petals - April 2007

This is my spin on a one sheet wonder card set. I didn't have a whole piece of white paper to make a one sheet wonder or very much time so I cased a design I saw on SCS and came up with the following 2 cards. I also didn't have any of the petals and paisley paper so I made my own strip of yellow paper with the white flowers on it. I'm very happy with the way the cards turned out considering all the difficulties with the limited amount of supplies I had.

Card 1 Recipe:
Stamps: Polka Dots & Petals, Warmest Regards
Paper: Cool Caribbean, Whisper White, Taken With Teal, So Saffron
Ink: Whisper White (Craft), Pretty in Pink, Marigold Morning, Cool Caribbean, Old Olive
Accessories: Pink Ribbon (non-SU), Pink Eyelets, Craft Tool Kit
Difficulty (1-Easy 5-Advanced): 2





Card 2 Recipe:
Stamps: Polka Dots & Petals, Polka Dots & Paisley
Paper: Cool Caribbean, Whisper White, Taken With Teal, So Saffron
Ink: Whisper White (Craft), Pretty in Pink, Marigold Morning, Cool Caribbean, Old Olive
Accessories: Pink Ribbon (non-SU), Pink Eyelets, Craft Tool Kit
Difficulty (1-Easy 5-Advanced): 2

Celebrate the Season - March 2007

I made this card at the local demo meeting. It was super easy to make and I could definately see using this layout for other cards. I'm not really that big into sending out cards for the different season but for birthdays and specific major holidays I definatly do. Maybe I'll do Easter cards this year for my friends & family and use this layout. :)


Card Recipe:
Stamps: Polka Dots & Paisley, can't remember which alphabet we used, Fine Lace
Paper: Certianly Celery, Apricot Appeal, Whisper White
Ink: Certainly Celery, Cool Caribbean, Apricot Appeal, Pretty in Pink
Accessories: Dimensional
Difficulty (1-Easy 5-Advanced): 1

Punch Flowers & Polka Dots - April 2007

These are almost complete cased from someone on SCS though I can't remember who now. I really enjoyed making the cards though it was tricky at first getting the petals to look right. I still don't think I got them exactly right but at least they look okay.

Card 1 Recipe:

Stamps: Polka Dots & Paisley
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Cool Caribbean, Old Olive
Ink: Craft Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive
Accessories: Chocolate Chip Grosgrain
Techniques: Punch Petals
Difficulty (1-Easy 5-Advanced): 3

Card 2 Recipe:

Stamps: Polka Dots & Paisley

Paper: Chocolate Chip, Marigold Morning, Old Olive

Ink: Craft Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive

Accessories: Chocolate Chip Grosgrain

Techniques: Punch Petals

Difficulty (1-Easy 5-Advanced): 3

Faux Postage Galore!!! - March 2007

I made these 3 Faux Postage Stamp cards for 3 different swaps I was involved in. I really like this technique and hope to do some more like this soon. I think that the post office could definitely come up with some better looking postage if I could come up with these designs on such short notice.

Card 1 Recipe:
Stamps: Polka Dots & Paisley, Perennial Friendship
Paper: Whisper White, Cool Caribbean, Certainly Celery
Ink: Rose Red, Old Olive, So Saffron
Accessories: Faux Postage Template, Black Gingham Ribbon, Decorative Scissors
Techniques: Faux Postage
Difficulty (1-Easy 5-Advanced): 3

Card 2 Recipe:

Stamps: Polka Dots & Paisley

Paper: Whisper White, Cool Caribbean, Certainly Celery

Ink: Rose Red, Old Olive, So Saffron

Accessories: Faux Postage Template, Black Gingham Ribbon, Decorative Scissors

Techniques: Faux Postage

Difficulty (1-Easy 5-Advanced): 3

Card 3 Recipe:

Stamps: Polka Dots & Paisley
Paper: Cool Caribbean, Whisper White, Pale Plum
Ink: Lovely Lilac, Old Olive, Blush Blossom
Accessories: Hardware, Black Gingham Ribbon, Decorative Scissors
Techniques: Faux Postage
Difficulty (1-Easy 5-Advanced): 3