Not Much Stamping Involved

Hello. Well, I was trying to wait to blog again until I had time to get to the store and fix my digital photo problem. However, the weather here in Ohio was snowy and icy and the roads were not safe enough for a few days to travel on. Plus, schools were all closed for 3 days. So, I was stuck inside trying to keep my daughter occupied. Anyways, I put a little card together this evening and scanned it. You will notice that there isn't alot of stamping involved. Oh well. I am a very dedicated Stampin Up Demo, but I must admit to having a terrible Prima flower addiction. Yep, as my 9 year old daughter tells me........I am not to purchase anymore flowers until I use up some of the ones that I already have! I will remember this the next time she wants another Nintendo DS game. She got approximately 7-9 of them for Christmas from uncles and grandmother's. She has alot of uncles who like to spoil her. Ok, enough said, here is the card:
Well, the scanner doesn't capture the colors well at all, but here it is anyways. I got the awesome brown ribbon that sort of looks like a trellis at our local stamp store "Stamp Your Heart Out". I apologize, but I do not know the name of the manufacturer. The flowers are Prima "Got Flower's Deux". They are too cute and approximately the size of an adult fingerprint. The bling centers are sticky gems from Michael's. The border was made with a Martha Stewart Scallop Lace border punch. The card stock base is Stampin Up's Naturals Ivory, and the blue edge is Stampin Up's Ballet Blue. The sentiment is from Stampin Up's Retired Warmest Regards, and it was heat embossed with blue embossing powder from the retired Rich Regals EP stack.
I hope you like it.

Lisa

Easy Valentines Card

Hello. I was in the mood to make a simple valentine card last night, and this is what I came up with. I used one of the stamps from the Hero Arts "Patterned Hearts" stamp set. Pop on over to their blog, and check out their online catalog. They have some cute stamps. So, The picture quality is not too good, as I am still scanning instead of taking photos. I will correct that issue in the next few days, it is driving me nuts! How the heck did we survive without digital cameras? Anyways, I achieved the dotted square image by running the card stock through my cuttlebug with one of my small embossing folders. There are 4 square frames in a set. Then I took my Stampin Up Real Red Marker, and dabbed it on each raised dot. Next I stamped the heart on my versamark ink pad, then a real red classic ink pad, then on card stock (whisper white) and heat embossed with clear embossing powder. It is kind of hard to tell in the photo but I stamped the red ink lightly on the stamp, then again darker on the edges of the heart. I am sure you have all heard of this method called the "Rock and Roll" technique. Next I cut a panel of red card stock from my "Die Cuts With a View" stash. I couldn't get that heart border punch through the thick Stampin Up card stock. Bummer! After the border was finished, I added some cute satin offray ribbon to it that a friend gave me, and some red sticky gems that the same friend gave me. So easy, I had it made in a flash. I hope you enjoy.

Speaking of cute stamps, have you seen the new Stampin Up catalog? Oh, my gosh, they have so many new and adorable stamp sets, and some really fun new accessories, from glitter, to buttons, to corduroy buttons to new chipboard shapes and new cutting/embossing die cuts for the Big Shot machine. They also work in the cuttlebug if you already have that one. I am going to plan an open house soon to show off some of these new things, I just have to wait until they arrive at my door. Until then, click over to their website and view the catalog online. See link on my sidebar.

Blessings, Lisa

Art of Life Sympathy card

Hello. I think that the hardest type of card for me to make is a sympathy card because of the purpose it is made for. I needed to make another sympathy card to send for the death of my step-brother's wife, so I thought that I would share it with you.

I decided to use an old favorite Stampin Up Stamp set called "The Art of Life". I started by stamping the background stamp of the set with Stampin Up's Mellow Moss Classic Ink, on Very Vanilla card stock. Next I pulled out my Stampin Up Rich Regals Watercolor Wonder Pencils and colored the flower stamp with Always artichoke, Regal Rose and Rose Red. Then, since I didn't have a small spritzer bottle, I tapped the stamp with a wet aqua painter. Then I stamped it onto the Very Vanilla card stock. Next I stamped the sympathy sentiment with Always Artichoke classic ink and mounted it onto Always Artichoke card stock. The border was made with my Martha Stewart Scallop Lace Border punch, and decorated with some faux pearls from Michael's, and a narrow light pink organdy bow from my Michael's ribbon stash. There is another sympathy sentiment inside the card that I typed on Microsoft Word, and printed onto some Very Vanilla card stock. The saying is:

May God's love heal your sorrow, and may his peace replace your heartache with warm and loving memories.

Thanks for stopping by and I will see you next time with one or two Valentine cards.

Blessings, Lisa

Faux Cloisonne' again - with leftovers

Hello. Well, I am back with that other Faux Cloisonne' card that I promised you with the leftover pieces from the big flower card in my previous post. So this time I used the smaller flower in Stampin Up's "Embrace Life" stamp set. Now, I am having some issues with the memory card for my digital camera, and had to scan the card instead. Urgh! Why didn't I keep an extra card around? Live and learn! Anyways, here is the card:
It is hard to tell in the picture, but all four corners of the base card are rounded, the flowers are mounted on Stampin Up Whisper White after running it through my cuttlebug with a nestibilities rectangle. Then I ran a piece of Stampin Up Pink Passion card stock through the cuttlebug with a scalloped rectangle nestibilities. Both rectangles are popped up with foam dimentionals. The birthday greeting (Stampin Up's "Warmest Regards") was first stamped on my Versamark pad, then directly to Pink Passion classic ink, then stamped on the card stock. Next I applied clear embossing powder from Stampin Up, and heat set.

I did want to mention that I stamped and embossed the flower buds first , cut them out, adhered them, then...added the stems using the same stamp, but only inking and embossing the stem, not the flower. If I have not explained this clearly, drop me an email, my contact info is on the side bar. If any of my local customers would rather learn to make this at a workshop, let me know and we will get one scheduled at your house or mine. That is all for today, I am off to spend quality time with my 9 year old before bedtime.

Blessings, Lisa

Faux Cloisonne' - what is it?

Cloisonne'......."What is it?"..... I asked someone today. Well it seems that a Cloisonne' is an ancient metalworking technique, is a multi-step enamel process used to produce jewelry, vases, and other decorative items. (The resulting objects can also be called cloisonne.) The above is an example of some Cloisonne' beads. Are they pretty or what? Well, today I decided to post about the stamping technique called "Faux Cloisonne'" The next photo is the card that I created today using that stamping technique.

What we do is find some shiny pictures with alot of color in them such as from magazines, old calendars, etc. I have found that calendars have the best bang for your buck. You can get them cheap at Walgreen's, and Michael's. The shiny photos I am working with today are from an old Easter Seals Calendar. See, donate to a worthy cause, and when the calendar year is over, you have a double use for it. So, choose an outline stamp set. I chose Stampin Up's "Embrace Life", which is one of my favorites. First we stamp with versamark onto our shiny colorful picture, and sprinkle gold or silver embossing powder onto the stamped image, shaking off the excess of course. Then we cut out the stamped images and assemble them onto a card. It is so simple, and the results are so stunning. Once you try this technique, you will love it! Now, I thought that I might share with you a few photos of the types of "shiny pictures" that could be used to do this to give you some ideas.

Look at those smooth, vivid colors, gorgeous. I see retired Stampin Up's "groovy guava" in that grapefruit juice ad.

Next, I want to show you what I did with the picture that I cut the three flowers out of for the card above. I continued to stamp and heat emboss as many of the flowers as I could on the picture as you can see in the next photo. This provides for more cards to be made now or later.

Now, if you notice, there is alot of gorgeous color left after we stamp all of the big flowers than we can on the picture. Well, I have a solution for this so that it doesn't go wasted. There is a smaller flower in that stamp set which we could stamp several times without the stem and make a bouquet of them to go on a card (I will post that one tomorrow - Wednesday).

Blessings, Lisa

Flowers for Patti

Well, it seems that while I was posting last night, my step-brother's wife, Patti, passed away around 8pm Ohio time. So, I decided to post some flowers on my blog for Patti. Now I don't know what her favorite flower or color was, so I am going to go with my favorites. Patti and I were not close, but I have known her since I was a little girl. My step-sister (Jodi) and I grew up together (since we were 5 years old) even before we were step-sisters. My step-brother, Randy is quite a bit older than Jodi and I and was already married to Patti when Jodi and I met in Kindergarten. I can remember when their first child was born, and I thought how strange it was for my friend to be an aunt already. Years later, my parents divorced when I was 19. Then dad re-married to a not so pleasant lady I un-affectionately named my "Step-monster" (sorry dad). She died in her sleep of a heart attack, some years later. Then, my dad sold his house, moved into an apartment and guess who lived there in the same complex........Jodi's mom (also divorced). I practically spent my whole childhood in this lady's house playing Barbies with her daughter. Jodi's mom is the one who told us about the dreaded curse that girls get when they hit puberty. She was another mother to me. So, when she and my dad began spending alot of time together, Jodi and I began to joke about how funny it would be if they got married, then she and I would be step-sisters. Wouldn't ya know that is exactly what happened. It seemed so much like destiny, and I finally had what I considered to be a REAL Step-mom. A step mom who really loved me, and not just pretended to. We will all miss Patti, real and extended family. But, Patti was such a sweet, kind, & loving soul, I am sure she is in heaven looking down on us all and thrilled to now be Cancer-Free. God bless you Patti, and those that you left behind!

Lisa

Embrace Life Sympathy Card

Hello. Unfortunately, I am going to have a reason for a sympathy card. My Step-brother's wife is very ill with cancer and is not going to recover. The other unfortunate thing is that the two of them were the kind of couple that were soul mates, and had a love so strong either one of them will be lost without the other; which is where my step-brother is going to find himself after she is gone. My heart is just breaking for him. He has a 28 year old single daughter and grand-daughter who have moved into his house with him when his wife and her mother (Patti) when she became seriously ill and will remain there for a long time to come after her passing. He is so very thankful for that. So, the card for tonight will be sent to my Step-mother when the time is appropriate, and I will make another for my step-brother.


I actually just started out playing around with Stampin Up's "Embrace Life" and some of my Purple Stampin Up Markers, since I love the color purple. Not that I needed to say that. For some reason, it started to look like a sympathy card to me. So here is a photo of it.
I decided to step out of my comfort zone and work with a larger card. I am sure I will have to put some extra postage on this one. Oh well, life goes on. All card stock is Stampin Up, and I started with Lovely Lilac as the base, and stamped the background with Lovely Lilac classic ink. I love stamping tone-on-tone because it looks alot like stamping with versamark, but the classic ink seems to last longer than the versamark ink. I do alot of heat embossing anyways, so I prefer to reserve my versamark for that. Just a little tip from my messy craft room to yours. I stamped the flower image twice on SU Whisper White card stock, then double mounted it on Almost Amethyst, and Old Olive. Then I punched a couple of horizontal slots to weave ribbon through, and created a ribbon knot with some lavender silk ribbon from Michael's. Next I popped up that completed piece with some foam dimensionals. Last, I stamped my sentiment and double matted it to coordinate with the top piece. I hope everyone likes it. Drop me a word or two if you have any questions. Blessings to all. Lisa

I'm Back!

Hello! I am back from my sinus infection! Well, I'm almost better, at least my throat feels 99% better. I actually sat down to stamp last night. Wow did I miss that. So, I have a couple of things to share with you today. The first one is a masculine birthday card that I made. I decided to play around with the Cracked Glass Technique. So, this is what I came up with.

I started with the fern stamp from the Stampin Up Level One Hostess Set "Organic Grace". I stamped it with SU Mellow Moss Classic Ink on SU Naturals Ivory. Next I cut it down to the size that I wanted, and made a temporary handle to place onto the back of it. This is so that I had some way to hold onto it while heating the embossing powder without burning myself. See the next picture below. Attach the temporary card stock handle with some repositionable adhesive for easy removal.

The next thing was to press the entire piece of card stock with your stamped image onto a versamark pad, and make sure it is completely covered. Then pour on some Clear Embossing Powder (Stampin Up's works best - seriously), and heat set. Repeat this process 3 or 4 times depending on your preference, and let cool. After the piece has cooled down, you can make the cracks by gently twisting, or bending it until you achieve the look that you are satisfied with. See close up of cracked area below. Complete list of supplies are below photo.


Supplies Used: Card stock~SU Old Olive, Speckled Ivory. Ink~SU Basic Black, Mellow Moss, Versamark. Accessories~SU Clear EP, Retired Magic Mesh, Buttons by Die Cuts With A View.
Sentiment Stamp from SU Warmest Regards.


The last thing that I wanted to share was some super fast cards that I made. I stamped "Thank You" on them, but they would also work for birthdays, Thinking of you, get well, etc. I actually cased the idea (and added a couple of my own touches) from a friend of mine, Lydia Fiedler, her blog here. Pop on over to her blog, I have said it before, and I am saying it again, she's a talented and funny lady. Love ya Lydia. Anyways, all that I did was punch some squares out of some patterned paper that I had and adhered them to some SU Kraft card stock, and stamped a sentiment. That is what I cased from Lydia. I decided to use some of my millions of buttons to add a little extra, and a prima flower with a sticky gem. They look absolutely cute without the buttons and stuff, I was just playing with my stash. Gotta use it up someday! So, I hope you enjoyed, and I started a little something with the SU Stamp set called "Embrace Life", and alot of purple for tomorrows post. Enjoy the weekend!

Lisa

My Throat Hurts!

Ok, I thought that once you had tonsils removed, there would be no more sore throats! I would scream out in pain, but that would hurt my throat even more. When I was 35, my tonsils had grown to such a scary size, my doctor finally said, lets get those bad boys outta there! I was so thrilled to be getting rid of them. See, I was born in the late 60's, lived childhood in the 70's, when all of a sudden doctors were saying it was bad to remove tonsils. So what if I was sick alot! So, I went through the agony of having them cut out as an adult. Now, whenever I have excessive sinus drainage down my throat, I receive excessive amounts of pain in my throat! At least after childbirth you have a sweet little baby to love. What do I get for enduring this?! Absolutely Nada! So, after I get to feeling better I will get back to stamping and blogging. Please don't give up on me; I have ideas in my head just waiting to hit the card stock. In the meantime, check out this absolutely gorgeous purple flower (Iris) photo that a friend emailed to me. Absolutely stunning! Nature is so gorgeous sometimes!

Sorry for my absense!

So sorry that I have been missing in action this week. I have had a sick child with an ear infection this week, and she gets me up at all hours of the night coughing. So, I have not been sleeping well. Therefore, being creative this week has not been a priority. I will be back as soon as I can. Until then......Stay safe, Healthy and Happy.

Blessings,

Lisa

Early Mother's Day card

Hello. I was feeling inspired when I saw my Prima flowers and my cuttlebug supplies sitting on my craft table, so this card was the result of that inspiration. Not too much stamping involved, but tomorrow there will be. The sentiment on the front is a hero arts stamp that I have had forever, and it came in a container with a dozen other nice sentiments for almost any occasion minus any holidays. I plan to stamp "Happy Mother's Day" on the inside, and sore it away for my mom. Good thing she doesn't have or play on computers. I was kind of bummed with how the photo turned out, the lighting was bad I guess, and you can't see the true colors on the card. I wanted to use these particular flowers, because they were a shade of blue that my mom loves, and the retired Buckaroo Blue color from Stampin Up matched them perfectly. So, I got out my treasured stash of Buckaroo Blue card stock and went to town cutting. Who better to use such a precious retired color on than a card for mom? The paper that the flowers are on is an iridescent white from The Paper Studio, and ran through my cuttlebug machine with one of my Die-cuts. Then I double mounted them on Buckaroo Blue and Bazzill's Navy card stock (I ran out of Night of Navy - one of my favorites). Next, I took some SU Whisper White, and ran it through my cuttlebug with one of my embossing folders. Then I sponged some Buckaroo Blue ink onto the embossed piece, and double mounted it as well. Then I pulled some ribbon from my stash that came close to matching, and adhered that, along with a blue rhinestone brad from SU. Next I stamped, sponged, double mounted a sentiment and adhered with foam dimentionals. The flowers are popped up with foam dimensionals as well. Then the last thing I did was to mount the whole thing onto some SU Whisper White card stock, sponge the edges, and add some light blue gems to the flowers. Tah Da. Now, always remember that any Cuttlebug die-cuts, and embossing folders can be used in the SU/Sizzix Big Shot. I can show you how! I already had a cuttlebug long before the Big Shot was introduced, so I continue to use that. If anyone wants to do a workshop using the SU Big Shot die-cuts, just let me know. We can do some really cute stuff with them. I need to go pay some attention to my daughter before bed-time, so I am off. Enjoy the close-up photo below, and come back tomorrow so we can "Embrace Life" together. Am I witty or what? Probably the "what".

Trying Something New with a Summer Look

Hello. Wow it feels good to be back to blogging and paper crafting after that long Christmas break.

I decided after all of those Christmas cards that everyone has been posting on Splitcoast and on various blogs, that I needed to make something very non-Christmas-like. I have been wanting to try heat embossing on acetate. That sounds kind of scary, doesn't it? Yes, if you are not careful, you can melt the acetate, and it curls very easily at the very least.

However, the card on the left is an example of my first attempt at this idea. The photo doesn't show it clearly, but that cute stamp from Stampin Up's "Tart & Tangy" set was stamped in SU White Craft Ink, and heat embossed with SU's White Embossing Powder. It took me two tries to get it to look halfway descent. Let's talk about static! I am sure that you all know that acetate holds a lot of static. Well, I used the SU embossing buddy, and the embossing powder still held onto the acetate like crazy. I brushed off the excess with a paint brush very carefully. Now, a few spots still hung onto the acetate, so if this happens to you too, finish heating the embossing powder first. Then, simply scratch off the excess, and rub the areas with a facial tissue or a scrap of flannel fabric until the area shines again. But remember to be very careful not to scratch off some off the stamped image by mistake. This takes a lot of patience and is not a quick procedure in my opinion. But, in person it is a cool thing to see on a handmade card.

Supplies not listed above: SU Warmest Regards Sentiments Stamp Set, SU Whisper White, Only Orange, and Green Galore card stock, SU Only Orange Classic Ink, SU 1/16" Punch, 3/16" Corner Rounder punch, Silver Brad, Foam Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Michael's dollar bin ribbon.

While I was making this card, I began to think that it might also look good to place punched images on top of the acetate as well. It isn't quite as cool, but it looks good. So, that is where the next card came from. I was playing around with my Martha Stewart Seahorse punch again. I lo.......ve Seahorses. They are so different, and elegant to watch swim. Yes, I could stand for hours at our local aquarium, just staring into the Seahorse tank. Ok, moving onward.

This card is what I came up with. I first decided to keep it more simple than the first card, and decided to go monochromatic blue as well. So, the seahorses were punched and glued to the acetate with SU Crystal effects. It is hard to see in the photo, but I also tried to give them a little color by brushing their backs with a little SU Brilliant Blue Classic Ink, and of course little eyes with a Basic Black marker. I stamped "Thinking of you" on it, but it really could be used for birthdays as well. Well, I hope I have inspired you to get stamping again. I will list the supplies below, then "I am off like a dirty shirt".

Supplies on Seahorse card: SU Whisper White, Creamy Caramel, Bashful Blue, Ballet Blue, Brocade Blue, and Brilliant Blue card stock. Brilliant Blue Classic Ink, SU Warmest Regards Sentiments Stamp set, Crystal effects, Silver Brads, and Foam Dimensionals.