Unfrogettable Stamping!

Christmas cards needed for a very sick little boy in our area

Calling all stampers!!  Please help make this little boy's Christmas a little sweeter... please send him a Christmas card now.  You can view his heart-wrenching story as he battles cancer HERE as it was shared on our local news this week. I sent a card as soon as I heard and will have my kids in my stamping studio this weekend to each make one also.  It's never too early to share in the Christmas spirit - let's shower him and his family with cards, love and prayers.

Please mail your cards to:

Nathan Norman
81 Dunivan Drive
Rustburg, VA 24588

Below is a video that was recently uploaded to You Tube.  Please pray for little Nathan and his family.  Thank you!

 

Fabulous Paper Piercing tools

   This week on the Sisters in Stamping blog we are featuring paper-piercing techniques with our projects for Fabulous Friday.  Stampin' Up! has designed two awesome paper-piercing template packs that coordinate beautifully with our punches and Big Shot framelits.  For my project this week I used both packs along with the Just Believe stamp set and gorgeous Floral District DSP.  The colors were pulled from the paper - rich razzleberry, baja breeze and tangerine tango.

   Here is a close-up view - the Festive pack, found in the Holiday catalog, coordinates beautifully with the Window Frames framelits and I used it on the rich razzleberry card stock layer.  I used the Essentials pack with the grid to create the faux stitching on the baja breeze card stock strip - I just connected my holes with a Signo white gel pen to give the illusion of stitching... gotta love this quick and easy technique!

 

  A quick embellishment of my sentiment (which was punched out with the word window punch) with some tiny pearl jewels and then added to the card with stampin' dimensionals, and voila - the card was done!

  I hope you've been inspired to give paper-piercing a try - it is a great way to embellish a card!  To see even more ideas with paper-piercing, please hop over to the Sisters in Stamping blog after Noon EST today.  Thanks for visiting - if you'd like to purchase any of the supplies used with today's project, please visit my online store HERE.  The supply list can be found below.  Have a wonderful weekend!  TGIF!!

Products used with today's project include:

Stamp set:  Just Believe

Paper:  Floral District DSP; baja breeze, whisper white, tangerine tango and rich razzleberry card stock

Ink:  Jet Black StazOn; baja breeze and rich razzleberry

Accessories:  Big Shot, Window Frames framelits collection, Festive paper-piercing pack, Essentials paper-piercing pack, paper-piercing tool, stampin' pierce mat, word window punch, basic pearl jewels, uniBall Signo white gel pen, stampin' sponge, stampin' dimensionals

 

One more center step blossom card

  I was invited to join a new swap group recently and am participating in my first one with this group this month.  Our theme was fun folds - not surprisingly, I designed a center step card (I've been on a real kick with these lately) featuring a punch art flower using the Blossoms, Boho Blossoms and Itty Bitty Shapes punches and wanted to share it with you.  This card features the Floral District DSP and my colors were pulled from it - melon mambo, tangerine tango and daffodil delight.  For embellishments I added a rhinestone jewel, some embossing with the Big Shot Perfect Polka Dots impressions folder and a knotted piece of whisper white organza ribbon and the sentiment is from the Perfect Pairs stamp set.

   Thanks for visiting and I'll be back tomorrow with my Fabulous Friday project - this week we're featuring paper piercing.  Have a wonderful day!

What inspires you?

  I am always looking around for color inspiration and recently I saw a pretty blouse with calypso coral and midnight muse and thought this would be so pretty for a card.  Above is what I came up with using the Creative Elements and Beautiful Birthday stamp sets.  Do you notice anything unusual about this card? 

  How about now?  Yup - I broke my #1 rule in stamping... I assembled my card before I had finished stamping.  I realized after I had glued down my DSP panel that I wanted to stamp my sentiment... guess, what - it was UPSIDE DOWN!  I realized it just as I touched the paper with the ink so there was no going back.  After cursing to myself a little bit I thought about something Missy Shipman said a few years ago during a class at Convention... this was an embellishment opportunity, not a mistake.  And here is my
"fix"...

  My original idea did not have as much white on the bottom, but it works, right?  And someone will be very happy to receive this birthday card!  My embellishments on this card include a butterfly that I cut out (yes, I cut!) with rhinestones for some bling and a fork bow using the gorgeous double-stitched midnight muse satin ribbon - there are just a few days left to earn a spool for FREE with a qualifying $40 purchase... see below for details.

  If you'd like to place an order for any of the products used with today's project you can shop 24/7 on my online store HERE.  Thanks for stopping by and don't forget that there are no mistakes in stamping... just embellishment opportunities!!

Products used with today's project include:

Stamp sets:  Creative Elements, Beautiful Birthday

Paper:  whisper white, midnight muse, In Color 2011-2013 DSP stack

Ink:  calypso coral, midnight muse

Accessories:  midnight muse double-stitched satin ribbon, decorative label punch, rhinestone basic jewels, stampin' dimensionals

Who is ready for Christmas? Frosty Friends are!!

   I wanted to start my post today by saying a huge "THANK YOU!" to everyone who took advantage of my swim meet special this past weekend.  You all helped me reach my sales goal this month and that is very much appreciated!!  My kids all did great in their races and my voice is pretty raspy from all my cheering but it was so worth it to be there all weekend.  And now on to my post...

   It's getting to be that time of year that I start to think about the massive amount of Christmas cards that I need to make so I start designing clean and simple ones that I can make easily in large quantities.  I'm not a big fan of coloring, but this Frosty Friends stamp from the Holiday catalog sure is a cute single stamp that doesn't require too much effort to color.  In fact, I used an aqua painter and watercolor wonder crayons to do the coloring with this card.  The Merry Christmas sentiment is from the Greetings of the Season set - a must-have set for all your Christmas projects!!  The colors used for this card include real red, baja breeze, not quite navy and whisper white along with jet black StazOn ink for the snowman image.  The Big Shot Chevron folder added some nice texture on the real red card stock strip and rhinestones added a little bling to embellish.

  Thanks for stopping by today... to purchase any of the products used with this card please contact me or place your order via my online store HERE.  Don't forget that you earn a FREE spool of double-stitched satin ribbon with every $40 purchase now through the end of this month... just a few more days to take advantage of that!! 

Supplies used:

Stamp sets:  Frosty Friends, Greetings of the Season (both from the Holiday catalog)

Paper:  whisper white, real red, baja breeze, not quite navy

Ink:  Jet black StazOn and not quite navy; various watercolor wonder crayons

Accessories:  aqua painter, Big Shot, Chevron folder, stampin' dimensionals, basic rhinestone jewels

Wheel-y Fabulous Very Vintage card

  This week on the Sisters in Stamping blog we are focusing on Stampin' Around wheels with our projects for Fabulous Friday.  My card above features the Very Vintage jumbo wheel and the Elements of Style stamp set.  I used soft suede, pink pirouette, baja breeze and certainly celery as my color scheme along with naturals ivory card stock.  To create the background I inked up my wheel with a soft suede ink pad and went across a piece of naturals ivory card stock three times and then colored in the different elements with pink pirouette, certainly celery and baja breeze stampin' write markers.  Next, I took the piece and ran it through the Big Shot using the Square Lattice impressions folder to add the beautiful texture.  To really make it pop, I sponged around the edges with crumb cake ink and a stampin' sponge wedge. 

  The focal element is an image from the Elements of Style stamp set.  I inked the stamp with soft suede and then colored in the elements just like the background.  I sponged around the edges with crumb cake ink and then added dazzling diamonds with a 2-way glue pen.  The image was matted with baja breeze card stock and embellished with a knot of very vanilla taffeta ribbon. 

  For even more inspiraton with our Stampin' Around wheels, be sure and hop on over to the Sisters in Stamping blog to check out our other Fabulous Friday projects this week.  To order any of the supplies used with today's project, please visit my online store here or email me to take advantage of my swim meet weekend special (see details on that here).  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend!

Products used with today's project:

Stamp Sets:  Elements of Style, Very Vintage jumbo stampin' around wheel

Paper:  Naturals ivory, soft suede, pink pirouette, baja breeze

Ink:  Soft suede, crumb cake

Markers:  pink pirouette, baja breeze, certainly celery

Accessories:  Big Shot, Square Lattice impressions folder, 3/8" very vanilla taffeta ribbon, dazzling diamonds glitter, 2-way glue pen, stampin' sponge, stampin' dimensionals, jumbo wheel handle

Weekend swim meet special!!!

  My kids have their very first swim meet of the season this weekend that our team is hosting so I'll be tied up at the pool for the next three days... I won't be able to hold any stamping events but wanted to offer a special for anyone placing an order with me via email (I can only apply free shipping to orders that I place)!!  You do not have to be local to me to take advantage of this offer.  Please see below for details - email me with your order by 5 pm on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012 to take advantage of it...

  I will contact you on Sunday night to confirm your order.  Please indicate in your email which FREE In Color ribbon you would like as well as which tutorial (see those HERE).  Don't forget that you'll get a Stampin' Rewards punch for every $50 in merchandise that you purchase, too!!

  Thanks and have a wonderful weekend!!  Happy shopping!!

More with the Blossom punch!

   I can't say enough how much I am loving my Blossom punch right now - it is definitely my go-to punch for projects lately.  My husband's Aunt Jeannette has been ill and I have been sending her a card every couple of weeks to let her know we're thinking about her and praying for a full recovery.  This is my latest (and similar to the one I posted here) - I just love how quickly this clean and simple (CAS) monochromatic card comes together and yet what an impact the Comfort Cafe designer paper gives it.  It also allowed me to use my midnight muse double-stitched ribbon (FREE this month with a $40+ purchase) using the fork-bow technique.  The sentiment is from Word Play and one that fits the bill perfectly.  I chose to use a pearl in the center of my flower because it looks great with the very vanilla card stock.

  Here is another version of this card in pretty in pink (from the Subtles stack), melon mambo and whisper white.  I switched out the small scallop circle for the heart punch in the center of this flower and added a rhinestone instead of a pearl.

  These cards are so fun to make that I plan up to use a large stash of my retired DSP making these cards to have on hand for my personal use, teacher gifts and upcoming craft shows.  Why not give it a try - they're so easy and look so great!

  If you'd like to order any of the products used with today's projects please contact me or place your order via my online store.  Don't forget, if you spend $40 you'll get to choose a spool of In Color double-stitched ribbon for FREE through September 30th!!  Thanks for stopping by - be sure to come back tomorrow for Fabulous Friday... it's going to be Wheel-y fun (hint, hint).

Supplies used with today's projects include:

Stamp set:  Word Play

Paper:  very vanilla, midnight muse card stock; Comfort Cafe DSP

              whisper white, melon mambo card stock; Subtles stack

Ink:  midnight muse, melon mambo

Punches:  Blossom, Boho Blossoms, Itty Bitty Shapes (scallop circle), Small Heart

Accessories:  Basic pearl jewels, basic rhinestone jewels, stampin' dimensionals, midnight muse double-stitched satin ribbon

 

Fun Folds September 2012 downline swap, part 3

   Here are the last of the swap cards for September..

  Sherri Gough created this gorgeous Side Stair card.  It features the You are Loved stamp set.  You can find directions for this card here.

   Kris Sennett created this beautiful Fall-themed Diamond Fold card which features the Comfort Cafe DSP.  I love that this card really showcases the DSP!  You can find directions for this type of card here.

  Our last fun fold card is this Matchbook Fold card by Julia Miller.  She used the French Foliage stamp set and sponging to create this gorgeous Thanksgiving card.  The directions for this card can be found here.

  Every month I am amazed at the talent on my team and the wonderful swap cards that I receive.  If you'd like to learn more about becoming a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and a member of my team, contact me for details!  For as little as $99 plus tax you can get your fully customized starter kit.  I'd love to have you join us!!

Fun Folds September 2012 downline swap, part 2

  I wanted to share a few more of our swap cards with you...

   Here is Jennifer Rawlings' card - it is called a Side Spring card.  I love the fun colors from the Summer Smooches DSP and wasn't it clever to use the DSP to create the owl eyes?  You will find the directions for this fun fold here.

  Kathy Kennedy created this Explosion Card - it really features the Comfort Cafe DSP well, doesn't it?  What a fun card!  You can find the directions that Kathy used here.

  This last card for today was created by Wendy Boothe - I like this fun fold.  The card is pictured both closed and open so you can see how it opens.  What a great Christmas card!  Wendy used the directions found here for this card.

  These cards really are great, aren't they?  I have just a few more to share with you tomorrow.  Later this month I am participating in another fun folds card swap with a group of demonstrators from all across the U.S. - I love these types of cards!!  I'll be sharing those with you, too!!  Thanks for stopping by today!