Sunday, May 26, 2013

POP-UP POSIES MEETS POP'N CUTS CARD BASE BIG SHOT DIE!

I love my “Simply Scored Scoring Tool” and my stamping friends love pocket cards to insert money or gift cards.  Put those thoughts together with the new “Pop-Up Posies Designer Kit” and “Pop’N Cuts Card Base Big Shot Die” and you end up with a unique gift card holder.  This card was so simple because your pocket card is made using the “Pop’N Cuts Card Base Die” and the accessories are included in the “Pop-Up Posies Designer Kit.” 

Of course I also love shabby chic, so with a little bit of ink and the “Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder,” modern was turned into shabby chic.  Here is the finished card:
 
I am so very glad I ended up buying the Pop'N Cuts Card Base Die.  Yes it's pricey, but there is so much we will be able to create with this die.

Here is what it looks like when it is opened to show the gift card pocket.
PRODUCT USED:
Stamps:  Just For You, From My Heart, Bloomin' Marvelous.
Card Stock:  Primrose Petals Core'dinations and Pool Party.
Ink:  Midnight Muse and Raspberry Ripple.
Tools and Accessories:  Pop'N Cuts Card Base Die; Pop-Up Posies Designer Kit; Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder; Sanding Block; Simply Scored Scoring Tool, Bitty Butterfly Punch; Sticky Strip; Stampin' Dimensionals; Paper Piercing Tool, Sponge.

DIRECTIONS:
  1.  Cut 4 ½" x 12" Primrose Petals Core' dinations card stock and run through the Big Shot using the Pop'N Cuts Card Base Die.
  2. Place card base on Simply Scored Scoring Tool, with long side going across horizontally, and score card base at 1", 3 ¾", and 8 ¼" (see picture).
  3. Fold card base on score lines to make pocket card.
  4. Emboss top front fold and bottom fold using the Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder (middle section is not embossed.
  5. Lightly sand embossed card stock with Sanding Block.
  6. Do not adhere the bottom fold with the middle to make the pocket yet; just apply sticky part of Sticky Strip on inside edge of 2 bottom sides.  Leave orange plastic on outside of Sticky Strip for now, and just set aside card base.
  7. Stamp "Just For You," using Midnight Muse Classic Ink, on one of the embossed tags from the Pop Up Posies Designer Kit.
  8. Stamp butterflies from Bloomin' Marvelous Stamp Set, using Midnight Muse Classic Ink.
  9. Punch out butterflies using Bitty Butterfly Punch and attach with Stampin' Dimensionals to embossed tag.
  10. Sponge Midnight Muse ink around the embossed tag and adhere to the top front fold of card (I wrapped the top half of the tag to the back of card to reinforce card base, but you can just trim if you want).
  11. Going back to the card base, remove the backing from the Sticky Strip (back of bottom fold); and using 2 pieces of the Extra-Thick Vanilla Baker's Twine from Pop Up Posies Designer Kit, wrap like the picture so the ends are adhered in the back on the Sticky Strip.
  12. Fold up the bottom flap to make your pocket to adhere Sticky Strip.
  13. Use 7 of the Pool Party Pop Up Posies flower petals and sponge with Midnight Muse ink.  Mist and crunch flowers.  Carefully unwrap scrunched flowers and air dry or use Heat Tool.
  14. Stack flower petals and pierce hole in center to insert small Very Vanilla Brad from the Pop Up Posies Designer Kit.  Adhere to card as pictured.
  15. I used 2 Stampin' Dimensionals under the center fold of the pocket card to (by the slits) to keep the little 1" flap down when removing the top front from the slots.
  16. Cut 3" x 4" piece of Pool Party Card Stock and stamp "Happy Birthday" from the "From My Heart" stamp set.  Use Corner Rounder punch on top 2 sides, adhere gift card, and insert in pocket.
This is such a cool card, with or without the dry embossing and I hope you give it a try.

P.S.  You only have a couple of days left to get the Pop-Up Posies Designer Kit (Item # 131395) before it is gone forever!!

Until next time,
Sandi

"I will praise your name, for You have done wonderful things."  --  Isiah 25:1

Sunday, May 19, 2013

STAMPIN UP: ROSES, CHALKBOARD, DRESS-UP, DAPPER DAD

Another beautiful day here in Michigan!!  Had a great day yesterday with my stamping buddies making cards at my monthly stamp get-together!!  We did a few oldie techniques they hadn't done in a long time or never, so that is always fun for me.  What I like most about sharing my love of stamping is how everybody puts their own style into their finished cards.  I am always amazed at their talent.

Here are the designs I did for yesterday's class:

This has got to be my all-time favorite for a two-step stamp set:  Stipple Blossoms (two-step) Stamp Set.  I also used the Bring on the Cake Stamp Set for the greeting.  Classic Ink used:  Old Olive, Always Artichoke, Rose Red, and the retiring Regal Rose (so sad, this is one of my very favorites!!).  I used the "masking technique" on this card  -- the ladies loved this stamp set and the technique (they were all amazed at how easy/user-friendly it was for the two-step stamping)
 
This was a new technique for all of my stampers:  Chalkboard!!  They had seen some of my samples and asked if they could do this at their next class, and it turned out to be another favorite technique for them.  I actually could not make up my mind what design I liked more (see below), so they got to pick which one they wanted to make or if they wanted to make one of each.  All of them ended up liking this one the best, so I'm glad I didn't go with my pick, which is below.  I love doing this technique because I am able to get all my clear stamps on one block which makes it very easy to do the embossing.  Product used:  Henry Says and Bring on the Cake Stamp Sets; White Craft Ink and Embossing Power; Versa-Mark Ink; and Sponge.

This is the card that nobody liked (sad face), but I did (consider the source and you would understand).  I used the new Bombs Away and Designer Typeset Photopolymer Stamp Sets. 

Another card the class wanted to create using the Dress-Up Framelits; Tea Shoppe Stamp Set (sentiment); and retiring Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions Embossing Folder; Print Poetry Designer Series Paper Stack; and Pretty In Pink Card Stock (another sad face -- I love getting new colors, but don't want any old ones to retire -- LOL).
 
And of course a card for the males!!  Stampin' Up product used:  Dapper Dad and Happy Hour Stamp Sets; Chevron Embossing Folder; Ovals Collection Framelits; Bottle Cap; and Crystal Effects.

Until next time,
Sandi

"God does not demand impossibilities."  --  St. Augustine



Tuesday, May 14, 2013

ROSES AND MONSTERS!!

Well I'm sitting here again with 4 layers of clothes on, trying to get warm!!  I really shouldn't complain because we did have a whole WEEK of beautiful weather.  However, it makes it that much harder to go back to 40 degree temperatures.  Such is life when you live in Michigan.

Today I have a few cards and another double-page layout from my daughter's birthday "You Are" mini album.  I would have had more but I forgot to take pictures of other projects.  So this is a very short post today.


I made this birthday card for my grandson because he always makes me smile!  I used quite a variety of Stampin' Up product:  Dude, Your Welcome! and Make a Monster Stamp Sets; Paper Pumkin' Seriously Monthly Kit, Sahara Sand and More Mustard Cardstock; and Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, More Mustard, Garden Green, and Cajun Craze Classic Inks.  Yes, sad to say, most of these products will be retired June 1st -- so buy them now before they are gone forever!!

This was my Mother's Day card for my daughter's and grand-daughter.  I really loved this card because I love the Stipple Blossoms Two-Step Stamp Set.  It looked so beautiful in person.  I also used:  World's Greatest and Teeny Tiny Wishes Stamp Sets; Very Vanilla and Gumball Green Card Stock; and This and That Epic Day Designer Series Paper (sneak peek from the new catalog).

Another double-layout from my daughter's "You Are" mini album.  These pages also feature product from the This and That Collection (Epic Day Designer Paper, Washi Tape, and Designer Stickers).
Well that's all I have for you today -- hope to have more next time!!

Until then,
Sandi

"Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others."
--  Philippians 2:4

Monday, May 6, 2013

A LITTLE OF THIS AND A LITTLE OF THAT

Oh my goodness -- I'm still alive!!!  Yes, it has been 3 weeks but life sometimes takes a detour and you just run out of time.  What have I been doing?  I have been immersed in either fixing my computer (the first week), scrapbooking (3 weeks), and doing an on-line event to celebrate National Scrapbooking Day (last 3 days).  So I only have about 20 minutes to post this on my blog and eat my dinner before my shows start tonight (yes, I am prioritizing my time).

First up, I finished a birthday gift for my middle daughter, Deborah. She had her birthday on April 27 and is still waiting for her gift (well this one anyway).  This project started out as a class I took at Retreat to make a squash album using the Artisan Embellishments Kit and More Amore Specialty Designer Paper (the product was included with the class fee).  I decided to make it "my own" by changing it up a bit and using a little more product.  I will be showing the entire album, a little at a time (more in future posts). 

This is the front cover.  The theme of the book is "YOU ARE . . . ".  I wanted to capture what my daughter was in my eyes.  So each page captures a different trait so that when she needs to feel good about herself she can open this book. 

Inside cover (by the way, the front and back cover were made using the chipboard used for packaging the "Artisan Embellishments Kit").  I tried using pictures that I could give up because I still have to complete a 12" x 12" album for her.  This album really took me a long time to finish because it required a lot of soul searching, finding pictures, and the right adjectives to go with the pictures. 

My thank you card to customers this month, using the "Bug Me" stamp set and the new stamp included in My Paper Pumpkin' this month ("seriously").  I also did this same design for a birthday card to my sister this month, just switching "thank-you" with "happy birthday."


My "TO DO" list for the Summer -- LOL!!  This was a challenge we were asked to create from Big Picture Classes.  This is the 3rd year they have had this free class to celebrate National Scrapbooking Day -- and you know how much I like challenges!!

I loved the try it out My Paper Pumpkin kit so much that I decided to get a few more of these little journal books to decorate.  I made this one for my youngest daughter, Tricia, for her birthday on April 11.  I used SU's "This and That Washi Tape" to stamp her name using the "Designer Typeset Photopolymer Stamp Set" and a retired SU button. 
Until next time,
Sandi

"You have been by defense and refuge in the day of my trouble."  --  Psalm 59:16