A La Card Monkey Nature Challenge

It has been a long time since I've done any challenges, and I think it's time for me to start getting those creative juices flowing again.  As a SU! demonstrator there is a website called Stampin' Connection that we can access.  While looking through that website last night I found a discussion about a new challenge blog, so I needed to check it out.  It's called A La Card Monkey, and they will be doing weekly challenges.  The theme for this week's challenge is nature:

It's just a simple card, but who says there is anything wrong with simple?  I don't have many nature sets...hmmm, maybe I better do some shopping. 

Supplies

Card Stock:  Not Quite Navy, Watercolor, Soft Suede

Designer Series Paper:  Paisly Petals

Stamp Sets:  Spring Song (retired)

Ink:  Not Quite Navy, Soft Suede, Baja Breeze, Basic Black Craft Ink

Punches:  2-3/8" Scallop Circle, 2-1/2" Circle, Decorative Label Punch, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch

Accessories:  Basic Black Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Embossing Buddy, Powder Pals, Basic Pearls, Paper Snips, SNAIL, Dimensionals, Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz, Color Catcher, Aqua Painter

Tips

1. You can't see the effect of the Smooch Spritz in the picture, but it really adds some shimmer to the card.
2. The color catcher is a great tool to have when using the Smooch Spritz.
3. Never try to do watercoloring without paper towel close by.  I always seem to get too much water on the picture, and dabbing the area with paper towel always does the trick.
4. I used watercolor paper so I could do watercoloring on the bird, so I also used watercolor paper for the greeting; just so it would have the same look as the bird. 

Products

I just learned (I know, the whole world has known how to do this forever...) how to do screen shots, so now I can show you some of the SU! products I used. 

The Pearlized Smooch Spritz is a spray that adds some shimmer to your cards.

And the Color Catcher is just a box that you can leave set up to catch the spray so you don't get anything on the furniture.

These things are all in the 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalog, but the Designer Series Paper isn't.  SU! has given us a little sneak peek of the 2011-2012 Idea Book and Catalog.

Doesn't that look fun!!

Anyway, on my last post I told you I would show you how to layer the Decorative Label Punch.  This is not something I came up with, I seen it done on a video on The North Shore Stamper.

To start you want to punch out 2 of the Decorative Label shapes in whatever color you are going to use for the layering.

With your Paper Snips cut each one of the shapes in half, one lengthwise and the other shortwise (is that a word?).





Then you want to cut the corner tips of each one.  The cuts don't need to be straight because you won't see it, you just don't want those points showing in the layers.

With the tips cut off use SNAIL to put the first layer on, it doesn't matter which one you do first, just be sure to either do the top and bottom, or 2 sides; not a top and a side. 

Honestly you could stop here if you wanted, just the top and bottom layer looks good.

After the top and bottom, use your SNAIL to add the 2 sides, so the back looks like this.

And the final product looks like this.





As always, let me know if you have any questions, and I hope you enjoyed my post today.

Faux Mother of Pearl

In our April issue of Stampin' Success they outlined a technique called Faux Mother of Pearl.  The cards that were made using this technique turned out gorgeous, so you know I just had to try it.  There was just one problem, the technique required Frsot White Shimmer Paint, and all I had was Platinum Shimmer Paint.  Oh well, Platinum Shimmer Paint it is.  The card turned out pretty good with the Platinum, but you can bet the Frost White Shimmer Paint is on my next order.

I'm sure there is a tutorial out there on how to do this, but I'll just share the steps I took with you.

To start you need a paper plate or some type of washable hard surface and paper towels; I used a Stampin' Up! Clear Mount Block.  Shake your bottle of Shimmer Paint (whatever color you use) and pour a small amount on whatever surface you are using.  The bunch up some Saran Wrap, dip it into the Shimmer paint and then dab the excess onto a paper towel. 

Using this Saran Wrap dab it on your Glossy Card Stock lightly, being sure to leave white areas of the cardstock exposed, and let it dry.

This is what it will look like.

 
Once the Shimmer Paint dries then you can use either a Stamping Sponge or Brayer to add your ink. 

I did this with 3 different colors, and then used the Blossom Petals punch to punch out the shapes to make a flower and leaves for my card.  Which turned out like this...



In this picture you can get an idea of the pearlized look on the flower.

And this is the card without the glare.  As an after thought I should have punched out the shape for the Happy Easter using the finished Mother of Pearl card stock and then stamp my frame and greeting on that.  Oh well, next time.

Supplies

Card Stock:  Wild Wasabi, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, Glossy White

Stamp Sets:  Teeny Tiny Wishes, Four Frames

Ink:  Platinum Shimmer Paint, Pretty in Pink, Rich Razzleberry, Wild Wasabi

Punches:  Blossom Petals Punch, Decorative Label Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch

Accessories:  Basic Rhinestones, Basic Pearls, Old Olive 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Square Lattice Textured Embossing Folder, Glue Dots, SNAIL, Dimensionals

Tips

1. My "happy easter" is crooked, but using a Stamp-a-Ma-Jig would have prevented that.
2. Check back soon for a tutorial on how to frame the Decorative Label Punch.

I hope you enjoyed my post today.

The Versality of Paint Chips

I am so excited about today's post; everyone of these cards make me smile!  I went to a Stampin' Up! Regional event in Hamilton last fall and this was a technique that was demonstrated in one of the WOW presentations.  That day I stopped at Home Depot on my way home and picked up some paint chips to play with.

And true to form, they sat in a drawer for the last 6 months until I finally pulled them out today and decided to start playing with them.  I made 4 different cards to show all of the options you have when using these to make cards with.

The first one is stamped with Whisper White Craft Ink and embossed with Iridescent Ice Stampin' Emboss Powder.  I stamped with the Whisper White Craft Ink because I was going to use White Stampin' Emboss Powder, but then changed my mind and did the embossing with Iridescent Ice.  Unfortunately, you can't see the sparkle of the "easter eggs" in the picture.

Supplies

Card Stock:  River Rock, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White

Stamp Set:  Easter Blossoms

Ink:  Whisper White Craft Ink, Rich Razzleberry Craft Ink, Versamark

Punches:  2" x 1-3/8" Oval

Accessories:  Stampin' Up! Subtles Brads (Pretty in Pink), Paper Piercer, Mat Pack, 5/8" Rich Razzleberry Satin Ribbon, Iridescent Ice Stampin' Emboss Powder, Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder, Heat Tool, Embossing Buddy, Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folders. Big Shot, Dimesionals, SNAIL

For the second card I used Melon Mambo Craft Ink and Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder.

Supplies

Card Stock: Baja Breeze, Melon Mambo
Stamp Set: Elements of Style
Ink: Craft Melon Mambo, Classic Basic Black
Punches: 1-3/4" x 7/8" Oval, Scallop Oval
Accessories: Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folders, Big Shot, Pretty in Pink 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Clear Embossing Powder, Embossing Buddy, Heat Tool, SNAIL

Tips

1. I used the scraps from the paint chips to stamp the "Life is a Matter of Moments."

For my third card I used Black Stampin' Emboss Powder, and I gotta tell you I'm loving how this one turned out!!



Supplies

Card Stock:  Naturals White, Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise

Stamp Sets:  Bliss, Occasional Quotes

Ink:  Versamark

Punches:  Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch, Ticket Corner Punch

Accessories:  Paper Piercer, Mat Pack, Stampin' Up! Brights Brads (Tempting Turquoise), Black Stampin; Emboss Powder, Embossing Buddy, Heat Tool, Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Basic Black 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, SNAIL, Paper Snips

Tips

1. I used the Paper Piercer and Mat Pack to make holes exactly where I want the Brads to sit.
2. When putting Brads in the corner I often get a part of the back of the brad that sticks out past the edge of the paper.  When that happens I use my Paper Snips to cut off the excess.

My last card is my favourite, I love the look of the white embossing with the blue.

Supplies

Card Stock:  Night of Navy, Whisper White

Stamps:  Charming, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink:  Craft Whisper White

Punches:  Pinking Hearts Border Punch

Accessories:  Baja Breeze 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon, Sticky Strip, White Stampin' Emboss Powder, Embossing Buddy, Heat tool

Tips

1. To get this look with the ribbon, I pulled a couple threads length wise from the middle of the ribbon, and as I pulled that thread the ribbon bunched up.  I then placed a piece of sticky strip across the Night of Navy Card Stock and then layed the ribbon on that Sticky Strip to hold it in place.

Well, that's all for today, I hope you enjoy my post as much as I enjoyed making these cards.  

Springtime Smiles

Today's post is in honor of the snow we just got...ugh!!! I'm not complaining because it could be worse, but I'm just in desperate need for some sunshine, it's been a long winter.
The stamp I used for this card is a silhouette, and to be sure I got a good solid image from the stamp I did heat embossing with black Stampin' Up! Embossing Powder 

Supplies

Cardstock:  Basic Black, Whisper White

Designer Series Paper:  Love Letter

Stamp Set:  Easter Blossoms

Classic Ink:  Basic Black

Ink:  Versamark

Punches:  Scallop Oval, 1-3/4" x 7/8" Oval

Accessories:  Chantilly 1/2 Crochet Trim, Black Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Embossing Buddy, SNAIL

Enjoy

Another Shaving Cream Card

This is another card I made using the shaving cream technique from http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/, using a different "batch" of shaving cream. 

Supplies
Card Stock:  Basic Black, Naturals White
Stamp Sets:  Lovely As A Tree, Thank You Kindly
Ink:  Classic Basic Black, Versamark
Reinkers:  Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise
Accessories:  Black Stampin' Emboss Powder, Heat Tool, Stamp-a-ma-Jig, Paper Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, Basic Black Brads, Embossing Body, SNAIL, Shaving Cream

Tips

1. When I made this card I used more drops of reinker and left the shaving cream on the card a little longer than the first one, that's why this one has a lot mor color.
2. The embossing buddy is a must when heat embossing, it helps keep the embossing powder off the cardstock.
3. Have LOTS of paper towels close by when doing the shaving cream technique.

I hope you enjoyed my post today.

It's A Messy Job!

Today's post is a tutorial that I found on http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/.  It's a tutorial on how you go from this

to this...

To start, fill your tray (I used the small Stampin' Up! Powder Pals tray) with shaving cream and add a few drops of Stampin' Up! reinkers.

And with a wooden stick swirl the reinker around in the shaving cream.





Take your cardstock and lay it into the tray of shaving cream, making sure you have the front of the cardstock completely covered with the shaving cream.

Now here comes the messy part.



Using paper towels wipe the shaving cream off the cardstock in a swirly motion.

When you take the cardstock out of the shaving cream, you can also place a second piece of cardstock over the first piece and 'smush' it into the shaving cream.



So when you pull them apart both pieces of cardstock will be covered with shaving cream.

Wipe the shaving cream off these in a swirl motion as well.  The longer the shaving cream is on the cardstock the darker the color will be

After you let the cardstock dry you can use it in a lot of different ways.  This is the first card I made.



Supplies

Cardstock:  Confetti White, Basic Black, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink and Bashful Blue

Stamp Sets:  Heartfelt Thanks, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Classic Ink:  Basic Black, Pretty in Pink

Reinkers:  Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery

Accessories:  Certainly Celery 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Stamp-a-ma-Jig, SNAIL

Tips

1. Use a neutral cardstock for the shaving cream, I used Confetti White.
2. I haven't tried it, but I don't know if using Whisper White cardstock would be good, it isn't very heavy.

This is the second card I made with the same 'batch' of shaving cream.

Supplies
Cardstock:  Basic Black, Pretty in Pink, Confetti
Stamp Sets:  Artistic Etchings and Tiny Tags
Classic Ink:  Basic Black
Punches:  Jewelry Tag, 1/16" Handheld Circle Punch, Top Note Die
Accessories:  Basic Black 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Linen Thread, Stamping Sponge, Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions Embossing Folders

I hope you try out this technique, and if you post it to your blog let me know so I can check it out.

Stylish Blogger Award

Hi All ~
How exciting is this, I received a Stylish Blogger Award from Nicki Shoppis; this is my first blogger award.  I love it, thank you Nicki!!!  Be sure to check out her blog, she has some great posts http://www.inkpaperstamp.com/.
When you recieve a blogger award there are 4 things that you are supposed to do...

1. Thank the person that gave you the award and link it back to their blog.
• Nicki Shoppis SU! demonstrator sent me the award, her blog is http://www.inkpaperstamp.com/
2. Share 8 things about yourself
• I am a Registered Nurse and have worked in oncology nursing for 18 years.
• I live in Rochester, NY but I'm Canadian.
• I have 2 cats; Marvin and Muzby.
• I don't have any children, but I do have an 18 year old nephew, DJ, who I adore.
• My favouite hobbies are paper crafting, reading, cross stitching and watching Stewie on Family Guy.
• I love being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, I'm only a hobbyist, but I've met a lot of great people and made some wonderful friends since becoming a demonstrator.
• I currently am working as the Interim Nurse Manager on my unit (Blood and Marrow Transplant) and even though it is a challenge and makes me step out of my comfort zone everyday, I am really enjoying it.
• My favourite SU! colors are Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso.
3. Pass this award onto 8 other bloggers
• Sherri Clarke http://sherrisspace.blogspot.com/
• Lori Burkitt http://www.stampingwithlulu.blogspot.com/
• Holly Krautkremer http://rubberredneck.typepad.com/
• Kendra Richardson http://kendrascorner.blogspot.com/
• Anne Marie Hile http://stampinanne.blogspot.com/
• Nataliya http://lovecraftsforever.blogspot.com/
• Lori Ingebritson http://mycheerystampinspace.blogspot.com/
4. Leave a comment so they can pass along the recognition.

Thanks again Nicki!

Lap of Luxury

Good morning, wow, this is out of control, this is going to make a total of 3 posts in 1 week, there's no way Sherri (my SIL) is going to stay safe on the couch when she sees this one - apply your seatbelt Sherri, this is a double post.

My favourite color is purple (no, I'm not a Donny Osmond fan!), and one of the In Colors this year is Concord Crush, and to make that color even better there is Designer Series Paper (DSP) called Lap of Luxury that coordinates with the Concord Crush ~ yum!!!!

The base of this card is Concord Crush, and then I ran Very Vanilla through the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, and then use a Sponge Dauber and the Concord Crush Ink Pad to add some color to the Very Vanilla Cardstock.
I did the quilt style for today's card, cutting strips of the Lap of Luxury DSP in different widths and gluing them to a piece of cardstock 4" x 5" with my Anywhere Glue Stick.  I then rank it through my Big Shot with the Top Note Die, and then ran it through my Big Shot again with the Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  Then I applied a piece of Sticky Strip across the center of the Top Note Die Cut and placed the Blushing Bride 1/2" Stitched-Poly Ribbon in a "jagged" type maner.

This is the final product...

 
Supplies
Stamp Sets: Occasional Quotes (level 3 hostess set)
Card Stock: Concord Crush, Very Vanilla
Designer Series Paper: Lap of Luxury
Ink: Concord Crush
Punches:  Decorative Label Punch, 2" x 1-3/8" Oval Punch
Accessories:  Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper Textured Embossing Folder, Perfect Polka Dot Textured Embossing Folder, Sponge Daubers, Sticky Strip, SNAIL, Dimensionals, Blushing Bride 1/2" Stitched-Poly Ribbon, Basic Pearls, Paper Piercer, Mat Pack, Anywhere Glue Stick

Tips

1. Make sure you have your card stock placed properly over the Top Note Die before you run it through the Big Shot.
2. I applied the Anywhere Glue Stick all over the 4" x 5" card stock before I applied the strips of DSP, this makes it easier because you can "slide" the DSP into place before it dries.

When I make cards sometimes I make duplicates, and that was my intention this morning, but when I ran my card stock through the Big Shot with the Top Note Die, I didn't have the card stock placed properly over the Top Note Die (I was still working on my 1st cup of coffee I think) and so 1 side of the Top Note was cut off.  I didn't want to waste what I had left, so I improvised, and came up with this.

I don't really like this one as much as the first one, but overall it's not bad.

Supplies

Stamp Sets: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Card Stock: Concord Crush, Blushing Bride
Designer Series Paper: Lap of Luxury
Classic Ink: Concord Crush
Punches: Modern Label Punch, Work Window Punch
Accessories: Big Shot Square Lattice Textured Embossing Folder, Perfect Polka Dot Textured Embossing Folder, Sticky Strip, SNAIL, Dimensionals, Concord Crush 1/2" Stitched-Poly Ribbon, Basic Pearls, Anywhere Glue Stick

Tips

1. Make sure you have your card stock placed properly over the Top Note Die before you run it through the Big Shot ~ but you know what they say "there are not mistakes in stampin', only opportunities"

I hope you enjoyed my post today.

Notably Ornate

Hi again, 2 posts in 1 week, WOW!  My sister-in-law left me a comment today saying she almost fell off the couch when she seen that I post.  Well, I wonder what 2 posts in 1 week will do to her?  LOL.

Today's card is made with the stamp set Nortably Ornate, I LOVE this set.  Why, you ask?  Well I really don't know why, but there is something about it that draws me to it.

Check out the card, maybe you'll see what I mean.

Isn't it fun!

Supplies
Stamp Sets:  Notably Ornate
Ink:  Basic Black
Cardstock:  Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Riding Hood Red
Designer Series Paper:  Love Letter
Punches:  Modern Label Punch
Accessories:  1 1/4" Basic Black Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Paper Snips, SNAIL

Tips

1. When cutting the ribbon, you only need to cut enough to fold over the edges ~ this way you just tape or SNAIL the ribbon to the back of the DSP.  It helps your ribbon go a little bit farther.
2. The main image of the card was stamped on Very Vanilla card stock with Basic Black ink and then I cut it out with my Paper Snips.  I really hate cuting things, it is a pain; but I've learned that if you move the card stock as you're cutting, and not the Paper Snips it makes cutting a little easier.
3. The "just because" was also stamped on Very Vanilla card stock and then punched out using the Modern Label Punch.  To do the layering with the Riding Hood Red card stock I punched out a piece using the Modern Label Punch and then cut it in half so that it layers the "just because" on both ends.

Well, that's all for today.  I hope you enjoyed my card.  And, Sherri I hope you didn't hurt yourself when you fell off the couch.

Long Time No Post

It feels good to be back, I'm sorry I haven't posted in such a long time.  I started a new job in December, I'm the interim nurse manager on the unit that I've worked on for 12 years now.  I'm really enjoying it, honestly more than I thought I would, but it takes a lot of my time.  I've been making cards over the last several months, I just haven't taken time to post.

Anyways, it feels good to be posting again, and I promise I'll work on some time management skills, and try not to go such a long time without posting again.

Todays card is a CASE (I'm sorry, I don't remember where I seen this card, if you do let me know, I'd love to give credit where credit is due!!

Supplies

Cardstock:  Concord Crush, Whisper White

Ink:  Concord Crush, Poppy Parade, Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz

Stamp Sets:  Aviary, Thank You Kindly

Accessories:  Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, Framed Tulips, Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Paper Snips, SNAIL, Concord Crush 1/2-inch Stitched-Poly Ribbon Big Shot and Basic Pearls

Tips

1. You definitely need the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig to make this card...the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig is a beautiful thing.

Well, that's it for today, I hope you enjoy the card, and I'll see you soon.