Valentine Cards

I created these cards a while ago and I believe they were posted on my Card Inspired blog site. I did it before I created this Stampin Up blog site. Because they are cards created using Stampin Up products, I decided to post them on this blog site as well.

As you can see, one stamp set can create various different cards, but using different layouts and colors. The possibilities are endless just by adding a few embellishments and mixing and matching with other stamp sets.

All of the main images were created with the "Loving Hearts" stamp set, stamped with the various colored craft inks then heat embossed with clear embossing powder. You can't tell by the picture but the images are shiny. I also mounted the images using dimensionals to give them a 3D appearance.



There's a tutorial for this pocket card on a previous post. To the right of my post, scroll down to the section that states "categories" and click on "pocket cards". The tutorial is linked to the title of that post. Just click on the title.

Until later. . .

Saturday's Daily Special - Sketch Challenge

Saturday's Daily Special is "Sketch Challenge". Another simple sketch but like any other sketch, there's a lot you can do with it by adding embellishments such as ribbons and brads.

Below are samples made using this sketch:

Stamp set: Sending a Celebration, Quick Thinking, Country Plaid Background
Ink: Really rust markers, pastels (really rust and old olive)
Cardstock: Old Olive, Really Rust, Apricot Appeal
Accessories: Copper Brad, Crafter's Tool Kit (Paper Piercing), Making Memories Ribbons





Stamp Set: Unfrogettable
Ink: Stazon jet black, Old Olive pastel with blender pen, Bordering Blue Classic Ink, pastels for floral background
Paper: Bordering Blue, Old Olive, Beige cardstock (don't know the name of brand)
Accessories: Silver brads, designer ribbon (don't know the name of the brand), foam tape, Crafter's Tool Kit (paper piercing)





Try it out and see what you can create with this sketch.

Until later. . .

Typos Annoy Me

I promised myself that I'll do a spell check before posting my blogs but each and every time, I seem to forget to do so. I'll catch my typos after I've already published the blogs and correct them but many times, they've already been sent to my readers. Annoying. Sometimes, I'll read the blogs and I'm like "huh? that didn't make any sense at all". . .or "dang, another typo".

Sorry for the typos gang. . .I'll do better from now on. . .

Until later. . .

Daily Special - Technique Day 2

Today's daily special is "Technique Day" and coincidentally, my upline came over to my home to prepare for an upcoming stamp class we're conducting at a community center and one of the projects we'll be teaching is this simple box or baggy. There's a name to this technique but I need to ask my upline what it is.

Below is her sample of this box. It's really simple to create. Cursor down for the tutorial.






I decided to create one myself with a slight variation to the sample she demonstrated for me. The baggie is a little taller with a oval window to show the goodies inside.





Instructions

Materials:

• Loving Heart stamp set
• 8 1/2 x 11 paper or cardstock (my sample was made with regular computer paper)
• Rose red dye ink
• Coluzzle cutting system
• Hole puncher
• Ribbon
• Snail adhesive
• Scallop scissors (not pictured)
• Circle punch or tag punch
• Small cello bag containg candy or goodies
• Pretty in pink cardstock

Randomly stamp the paper with the heart and small flower stamp using Rose red classic ink. Stamp the images in the "landscape" direction (8 1/2" side up)

Fold the long side of the paper in half but leave a 1/2 inch area at the top. See picture.

Fold the paper in half again still allowing a 1/2 flap at the top

Open up the folds and turn the paper horizontally and fold 1/3 of the paper.

Fold the 1/2 inch flap

Cut the edge of the 1/3 fold at a slight angle up the score or fold line. Snip off the 1/2 inch flap at the score or fold line. When the paper is opened up, there should be a "V" cut in between the folds as shown in the picture creating 4 flaps.

Cut your shape using the Coluzzle system or punch if possible. See photo.

Apply adhesive to the 1/2" flap on the stamped side

Apply adhesive to 1 to 3 of the cut flaps on the stamped side (when the baggy is assembled, these flaps will be the bottom of the box). Don't apply adhesive to the 4th flap because when the baggy is assembled, it'll be the outer flap (the outer bottom of the baggy).

Fold the flaps with the stamped side on the outside to create the bottom of the baggy. Fold #1 flap, fold #2 which will stick to #1 because of the adhesive, then fold #3. The 4th outer flap (outmost flap) is the flap without the adhesive.

Before folding the #4 flap and completing the bottom, tuck the 1/2" flap and stick to the inner portion of the baggy as shown in the picture

When assembled it should appear like a box with a flat bottom.

Add the candy to a small cello bag and insert into the baggy

Gather the top together with the corners together creating a gusset. Check to see if the top of the plastic bag filled with candy is in between the gathered top because you will be punching two holes through the baggy as well as the cello bag

Punch two holes to insert the ribbon and tie a bow with a tag attached. The ribbon holds the candy bag together.

To complete the baggy, cut the top with a scallop scissors

Whew! That was complicated. It's really hard to explain the technique in writing. I hope you understood the instructions and that the pictures helped.

Here are samples of the completed baggies. It's actually very simple to create, just difficult to explain without demonstrating in person. Try it out! Be creative. . .add a cute momento into the bag or staple the top together and add a card topper rather than a ribbon. Have fun creating!

New Page Color

I'm in the mood for sunshine! It's been so cold here in Southern California for the past few weeks and it finally warmed up a little. Can you believe that California's temperature the past 5 days was down to the 20s. Our waterfall in our backyard froze and that's really weird.

Anyhoo, I decided to change my page to yellow. It may change again depending on my mood but I see sunshine today.

Maria

Wednesday's Daily Special - Retired Stamp Set Revival 2

Once again I'm late on posting my daily specials. I've come to the realization that I won't be able to stick to each special on a daily basis but I will try my best. Unfortunately, life gets in the way. I did create this card on Wednesday but completed it in the evening and I don't like to take pictures of my cards at night. I don't like using flash when taking pictures of my cards because it distorts the colors.

Today's daily special is "Retired Set Revival". I chose "Send a Celebration". This is the first time I've used this set. I have a lot of stamp sets that I have not used since buying them and by the time I get around to using them, it retires. Ha! Isn't that funny. What's more hilarious is I'll continue to buy the current stamp sets and a vicious cycle occurs.

This card sketch was created courtesy of a rubber stamping group that I am part of. I'll ask permission to link the group site on to my blog and perhaps, you could visit it and be part of this small group of wonderful stampers one day.

I used the Cuttlebug embossing folder to create the background. I love the embossing folders. It's all the jazz right now but like anything else, something new will come along to stir everyone up again. I didn't buy the Cuttlebug machine because I already have two roller type machines - the Accucut Mark IV and the Zip e-mate that I bought 2 years ago and the Cuttlebug embossing folders work with both machines with just a slight adjustments to the platforms.

These two machines work on every type of metal die and embossing folders out there including the Cuttlebug, Sizzix, Accucut, Quickutz, brass stencils and believe or not, plastic stencils. Before investing on a new machine. . .buy a sample die or embossing folder and see if it works on your machine before investing on a new one.

Here is the card description:

Stamp: Stampin Up Send a Celebration set
Ink: Stampin Up Tempting turquoise and Lavender lace markers, old olive pastel
Cardstock: Stampin Up Cool Caribbean, Lavender Lace, Old Olive cardstock
Accessories: Stampin Up Ticket Corner punch, American Crafts Elements grosgrain ribbon, JoAnn Essential - Metal Embellishment, swirl clip, multi-colored fibers, Cuttlebug embossing folder, silver metallic cord, foam tape

Until later. . .

Wednesday's Daily Special - Retired Stamp Set Revival

Welcome Back "Toucan of My Love"

Today's daily special is to dust off a retired stamp set and revive it back to life even if it's just for a day. What a waste to have all these great stamp sets that seem to have been forgetten because they're now retired.

I don't like the idea of the stamp sets retiring forever. They should be revived every so many years and be placed in a current Stampin' Up catalog. There are so many stamp sets that I love and I can't demonstrate any of them because I can no longer sell them.

So, Wednesdays will be the designated Retired Stamp Set Day! Woohoo!

Here are a few cards that I made with Toucan of My Love stamp set. I believe it was retired in 2005. It's too bad because it's a great stamps set.

Here are the cards I made using the entire stamp set:

Ink: Stazon Jet Black ink, Rose Red Marker, Creamy Caramel, Positively Pink Pastel

Cardstock: Positively Pink, Close to Cocoa, White Glossy Cardstock

Non-Stampin Up: DCWV scrapbook paper

Accessories: Making Memories ribbon, Vintage Silver Brads

Tools: Scalloped scissors, Ticket Corner Punch

Ink: Stazon Jet Black ink, Lovely Lilac, Lavender Lace. Creamy Caramel

Cardstock: Green Galore, Lovely Lilac, Lavender Lace, White Glossy, DCWV Scrapbook Paper

Accessories: Making Memories Ribbons

Tools, Foam tape

Ink: Brocade Blue pastel and marker, Pretty in Pink Classic Ink

Cardstock: Brocade Blue, Pretty in Pink, White Glossy Cardstock, DCWV Scrapbook Paper

Accessories: Organdy Ribbon, Tullip Diamond Fabric Glitter, Pink Eyelets

Tool: Foam Tape or Dimensionals

Tuesday's Daily Special - Color Challenge 1

Again, I apologize for the late delivery of this post. I've been so behind on a lot of things lately but I did have a chance to work on this color challenge today. I'm actually 2 days behind. I found this color combo on SCS color challenge. I liked the idea of adding a color to a black and white color combo. The colors for this challenge are Cool Carribean, Whisper White, and Black.

The only thing I don't like about this card that I created is the tag. I shadowed it with a black ink and I meant to make it a little more subtle but I added more ink than intended. I didn't want to waste the cardstock so I kept it and begrundgingly added it to the card. Why didn't I use the other side you ask. . .well, I already stamped the back with the sentiment which I messed up. I don't like to waste as you can see. Lemme' tell yah, every little scrap counts. I keep every scrap unless it's too small to punch or stamp on. . .otherwise, it goes into my scrap pile for future use. I use the scraps for sentiments, tags, and punches.

Stamp set: Hostess Set - Blooming with Happiness and the sentiment - SAB So Very
Background paper: DCWV
Accessories: Organdy ribbon, small black brads
Tools: Paper piercer from the Crafters' Tool Kit, Small Corner Punch , Dimensionals
Ink: Tempting Turquoise marker, Cool Caribbean In Color Classic, Blender Pen, Basic Black Classic


Try this color challenge out. It's actually very easy to work with. The cool carribean really works well with the neutral black and white for any stamp design you choose.