Monday, January 24, 2011

Are you ready to Sale-a-Brate?

Sale-a-Bration begins tomorrow January 25 and continues until March 31st. Sale-a-Bration is a great way to earn free products by doing what you love - stamping!

So you want to know, how can I earn free products? There are 3 ways to do so:

1) Spend - Spend $50 and earn 1 free sale-a-bration item of your choice.

2) Host - Host a workshop of at least $300, and earn 1 free sale-a-bration item in addition to your generous hostess benefits.

3) Join - Join Stampin' Up! by becoming a demonstrator during Sale-a-bration and get 15% off your Starter Kit. Plus get a bonus bundle filled with over $50 in free products.

There is something for everyone! I would be happy to assist you with an order, schedule a workshop or get you started with your business. What free product will you choose?

Sweet dreams!
Diane

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Quick penguin card CASE



I CASED this card from the Stampin' Up demonstrators group where there are several versions of this card being made. I added my own touch by using the Heart Treat Cups (120435/$2.95) and including a Dove chocolate for the recipient.

I started out with black cardstock cut 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 and folded longways with the fold at the top. I rounded all for corners with a corner rounder. The white layer was run through the Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (113439) with the Top Note Die (113463). The eyes were punched with a 1/2" circle punch and highlighted with white gel pen. I did not have an oval punch for the beak, so I hand cut a strip of orange into a rectangle then used the corner rounder to emulate an oval. The other cards also used a larger oval punch for the flippers (?) which I did not have either so I used my Heart punch (119883) and punched a heart in black. Then I cut the heart in half and made the halves into my flipper/arms.

Sale-a-Bration starts the 25th! Are you ready for some great deals? Check out my website for more details.

Have a great night!
Diane

Monday, January 17, 2011

Cracked Glass Valentine

It is time again for another color challenge at CR84FN. The colors this week are perfect for a vintage valentine. Red, Kraft and Brown.



Here is my interpretation of those colors. All products used on the card are Stampin' Up except for the lace. I started by adhering a piece of Real Red card stock to a Crumb Cake card base. I then embossed the card with the new Framed Tulips textured embossing folder (121809). I am really loving this embossing folder!

I stamped the heart image from the Filled with Love stamp set on Very Vanilla card stock in Early Espresso. I then used the Real Red Stampin' Write marker to color 1 heart red. The fun part was next. I covered the card stock with versamark an then covered with clear embossing powder and heated with my heat tool. I repeated this process about 10 times and then placed the card stock in the freezer so I could crack the image. After about 20 minutes I took the card stock out and cracked it. I then took a sponge and some Early Espresso ink and rubbed it into the cracks for an antiqued look.



The heart was then layered onto a piece of Early Espresso card stock that has been textured with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder. I used the 1 1/4" striped grosgrain ribbon underneath. A bow was tied with the lace then a small punched heart(117193) was attached with twine for a finishing touch.

The edges of the card were sponged with Early Espresso ink to add to the vintage feel. Hope you enjoy this card as much as I do!

Happy stamping,
Diane

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Filled with Love Stamp Camp

The hardest part about Stamp Camp is deciding if you want to give away your cards or save them for yourself! Or at least I think so. Today we made 4 Valentine's Day themed items. The first card is my first attempt at an easel card. After the initial paper cutting it is really easy to assemble and so cute to have sitting on your desk! I based the "sketch" of this card from a card made by Carrie Gaskin on Stampin' Connection. I used the exclusive designer paper from the Filled with Love bundle along with the stamp set. The sentiment is from Well Scripted.



This card looks really elegant to me. I love the color combination of Sage and Black. The flat backed rhinestones also offer some bling to make the card pop. The card base is embossed with the new Terrific Tulips embossing folder. I have cased this card and how to emboss a smaller card front from Donna Centamore. You can view her tutorial here. Her original card was made for an engagement or wedding. My dad really liked this card. I think it appeals to men also due to the color combination.

The 3D heart was made by punching out 5 hearts with the Heart Punch. (Actually I first ran the paper through the Big Shot with the Swiss Dots embossing folder for texture.) Then I took each heart and folded it in half and adhered them together. This with allow the heart to fan out and then you just adhere the heart to your card.



Don't you just LOVE this next card? This is a direct CASE from the flyer from Stampin' Up advertising the Filled with Love bundle. I did add a ribbon in Certainly Celery and a brad I had leftover from last Valentine's Day. The bitty buttons are sooo cute! They are free when you buy the Filled with Love bundle for a limited time. Click on my Shop Now button to see the current promotions.



Need an idea for your children's class valentines? This 3x3 card would be perfect! I just love it! Once again the design was CASED from Kay Kalthoff on Stampin' Connection. The Sweetheart Treat cups make this the perfect card/treat for the kiddos.



By pulling on the black heart on the side of the card, a small access hole is revealed on the inside of the card to get to the candy.



The treat cups come in a package of 12/2.95 making each individual one 25 cents. You can get 4 3x3 cards from 1 sheet of paper which would make each 3x3 card 7 cents each. Adding in the other paper layers, adhesive and pop up dots, you could make each card for around 45 cents (after you have purchased Heart Punch and Filled with Love bundle). So for a class of 25, these cute hand made valentines would cost approximately $10.80. (including Heart Punch = $27.75)



If you missed today's Stamp Camp don't worry, I have one every month with new cards/projects. Just check my calendar for upcoming events. I also update my ticker on the sidebar once a date is set.

Have a great weekend. I am enjoying a 3 day weekend as Monday is Martin Luther King Jr Day and the bank is closed. Enjoy!

Diane

Monday, January 10, 2011

My little bit of fun from yesterday

I spent all day yesterday working toward one goal - to make a card! I finally got my Christmas things taken down and stored away, laundry done, house straightened, motivated my 16 year old to clean her room, then went grocery shopping and cooked dinner. About 8pm last night it was finally my time! I started out playing with my new stamps to make projects for my Valentine Stamp Camp, but I already had 3 of the 4 colors for CR84FN's Color Challenge on my table so I made a card for that instead.



This week's challenge combines yellow, aqua, lavender and green. I wasn't sure about the combo, but I love what I ended up with as my card creation.



I did get to use some of my new Stampin' Up items from the New Occasions Mini. I started with an aqua card base embossed with the new textured impressions Framed Tulips embossing folder (121809). I then used a q-tip and white craft ink to lightly rub over the embossing.

The flower was made with the new Build a Blossom punch (121808). I punched the petal 3 times - twice in yellow and once from a doily. I placed the doily petal over a yellow petal, then offset the doily covered yellow petal with another yellow petal. Confused yet?

To assemble the flower I simply pierced a hole with my paper piercer near the bottom of the petal and used an antique brad to keep the petals together. This way you can move the petals to how you like them.



The Build a Blossom punch has a coordinating stamp set, and that is what I used for the leaves on the card.

Thanks for looking! Have a great day.
Diane

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

The Shabby Tea Room - Welcome 2011!

This week's challenge at The Shabby Tea Room has challenged us to "Welcome in 2011" by making a card with 11 elements on the card. My card contains 12 different elements, but I figured I would add an extra for good luck! (It works for birthday spankings, right?)

My 12 elements contain 2 card stock layers, 2 ribbons, 1 tag, 1 lace, 1 1/4 Circle Punch, 2 different types buttons, 1 small heart punch, flat backed pearls and crystal pink flower accent.



On another note, have you seen the New Occasions Mini Catalog yet? The catalog went live today. Click on the catalog on the sidebar to take a look.

Have a great night.
Diane

Sunday, January 2, 2011

CR84FN Color Challenge



I didn't make any New Year's resolutions, but updating my blog more often and participating in more challenges are two things I would like to do this year. So today I created a submission for the CR84FN Color Challenge using yellow, peach and light pink.



This is my attempt at a vintage looking Valentine. I found this heart lace in a box up in my loft as I was cleaning up there this past week. My mom passed away a year ago and I finally got the nerve to clean out a lot of the items she used for crafting but I didn't. Anyways, the lace was a nice surprise and I immediately knew I would be using it this Valentine's Day. The card base is Crumb Cake and I sponged Crumb Cake on the different layers also to add a vintage look. The stamp set is the two step stamping set called Botanical Blossoms. The sentiment and Paris stamp stamped over the flower images are stamps my mom had. Lastly I placed a Vintage Brad in the corner.

I like the way this card turned out. I tend to CASE alot and it is nice to actually create something on my own.

Have a great night!
Diane

Belated Christmas Card Post!

Just as I was late in mailing my Christmas cards this year, finally I have pictures to post. Yeah! I made 4 styles of cards this year, all CASED from Stampin' Connection. Thank you to all those who are so creative out there.

The first card I CASED used the Dasher stamp. I stamped snowflakes in Craft White on Crumb Cake card stock placed on an Early Expresso card base. Dasher was stamped in Early Expresso also then decorated with glitter and rhinestones. I added a layer of Always Artichoke paper and seam binding to the front of the card for a little extra color pop.



The next 2 cards were cased from Beth Crocker on Stampin' Connection. I just fell in love with them and had to make them. The first is a Santa Suit made with the Top Note die. I swear that Die is one of the most versatile dies we carry. If you know me, you know I really like Santa's at Christmas. My house is decorated with that mythical fat man! The sentiment is not Stampin' Up, but something I picked up at Michaels a while back.



This card used the new stamp set Rejoicing in Christmas that was in the Holiday Mini Catalog. (Just a footnote if there was something you meant to buy but didn't get, the Holiday Mini's last day to order is tomorrow January 3rd) This card has an Always Artichoke card base with the image stamped in Crumb cake on Very Vanilla card stock. A strip of Cherry Cobbler with Always Artichoke seam binding is attached on the side. The Star of David was stamped twice once directly on the Very Vanilla card stock then again on Crushed Curry then cut out and placed over the original stamp. A rhinestone was added to the center to make it twinkle.




Last but not least is a card cased from Marie Shaugnessy. I really liked how this turned out. The branches were stamped from a tree from Lovely as a Tree stamp set. I attached the ornament to the tree with gold elastic using a paper clip for the ornament hanger.



I think all four cards gave me a nice variety this year. Next year I think I need to start a lot earlier so I can have them ready to mail BEFORE Christmas! :)

Oh well, I tried.

Happy Stamping!
Diane