Stamp-a-Stack!

What a blast!..... Yesterday I hosted my January Stamp-a-Stack at the Reed Ranch and had a wonderful turnout! I was especially tickled that Melody, Aisha and Abir came from Orange County and Long Beach!!!! Now that's exciting!!! I was so grateful that Michelle invited her buddies from college... how cool to keep in touch over the years and continue to get together.. and I'm so glad they all have stamping in common... er uh... well at least they do after today... I couldn't believe that Abir had never stamped before... could'a fooled me as she caught right on and was even showing others what to do!! Love it!
Also I hadn't seen several of the gals since the Fall Festival so it was great to reunite again! We all decided it's our New Year's Resolution to stamp until we cramp.... well actually that doesn't sound very fun.. but you know what I mean!!

And of course several of my awesome BFF Rubba Sistas came too... of which I am soooo grateful... Pam Judee and Kendra.... I love you man (I mean woman) !  Mona was there too and showed us some of her Quilling pieces she has done... goodness what amazing and beautiful work..... I'm trying to talk her into giving us a class some afternoon... my workin' buddies Arzu and Anu both got to make it this time... yippeeee!

So for the Stamp-a-Stack, I prepared ten different cards, several featuring the new stamps sets and accessories in the Occasions Mini Catalog. So thought I'd share those with you today (and will save some for tomorrow's Blog)...... it was so fun to come up with the ideas... I think everyone had a great time!

Bring on the Cake

 .. love the darling new pom pom trim!!

This one I copied directly from the

Occasions Mini Catalog... just too cute!

Showing with inside panel:

Here's one we did using the magnified image technique... by just popping out one portion of the image to illuminate gives it a great magnified impression.On several of the cards I made two or three versions to give the gals a choice of color or design....

Using the new Beveled Windowpanes I made this simple little Valentine's Love card... because you get a variety of sizes of the new windowpanes, I created  slightly different versions...   then it was left to the luck of the draw or should I say luck of the bag you picked... what you get is what you take... Oh yes and used the new red Glimmer paper... just tooooo sweet with all that glitter... my kind of  bling!

This was my Sneak Peek card I showed you last week...

named it Springtime Vintage because that's the name of the new

Designer Series Paper used to create it..... love it!

'de Plane 'dePlane.... well it's actually Plane and Simple... here I created again two versions of this card.. one masculine using the Plane set and the second for a feminine card using the Vintage Vogue set... both used the Special Edition Designer Series Paper in the background.. just wadded it up, unfolded it and spread it out then sponged it to give the vintage look....

The new Game Spinner Card was a great hit!

Again, one of the new accessories in the Occasions Mini...

the little metal arrows that spin around the target make it just too cute!

OK so watch tomorrow and I'll show you the rest of them...

3 Days and Counting!

Sale-A-Bration is right around the corner as it starts this Tuesday the 25th ... just three more days!!! Yippeee.. and can you believe this is one of the stamp sets you can earn for FREE! It is called "Bliss" and is a set of 5. Not only is one of the stamps a background stamp, included are a bird, a butterfly, a flower and the word "Bliss".  Here's a card Debbie Henderson created from this set:


Notice the pretty edging around the 2.5" circle? Hee's how to do that... use a strip of Whisper White cardstock and use the Eyelet Border Punch on one edge. Using your Crimper, insert the strip and crimp it about 4 times. Use your Bone Folder to even out the bumps. These 2 steps actually help in breaking down the fibers so that the paper becomes easy to work with.



Next apply sticky strip to the back of the circle. Start adhering your cardstock strip to the back of the circle by gathering the strip about every half inch. Be sure to sponge the edges before you adhere it.

Another little touch is adding Pearl Jewels to the stamped image and in the center of the flower and each little heart!



Emboss the Designer Series Paper with the Vintage Wallpaper Impressions Folder and carefully sand the embossed area with a sanding block. This removes the colored layer of the DSP and reveals white!


SU! Supplies Used:

Cardstock: Concord Crush, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White
DSP: Patterns Paper Pack-In Color
Stamp Sets: Bliss, Teeny Tiny Wishes, Sanded
Inks: Concord Crush, Pear Pizzazz
Tools: 2.5" Circle Punch, Eyelet Border Punch, Heart to Heart Punch, Decorative Label Punch, Sanding Blocks, Stampin' Dimensionals
Accessories: 1/2" Stitched Poly Ribbon in Pear Pizzazz, Pearl Jewels

Perfect name for a perfect card... Bliss!
Think this just might be one of the cards for my
February Stamp-a-Stack on the 25th and 26th!
Hope you can come!

Friday Tips & Techniques - Criss Cross Cards

Here's another great You Tube Video .. this one on how to make a Criss Cross Card. It's by Monica Gale in the UK.. so I especially love to hear her talk in that lovely English accent! She not only shows you how to make the card, but it's fun to watch her use the clear acrylic block and see how she stamps her images... and ultimately how she creates a stand at the end for her card to be displayed....

Now go enjoy a spot of tea and crumpets!

Hope you learned something new!

My New Year's Prayer

Dear Lord,

For 2011, all I ask for is

a big fat bank account

and a slim body.

Please do not mix up the two

like you did last year.

Amen

Heart Couple Cards

This is just too elegant and easy! And a great idea for either a Valentine card or a Wedding card... from Valita's Design blot....


All you need is the large heart punch, large tag punch and a 1' circle punch. To make both couple you will need 4 hearts & 2, 1"circles. For the man cut just under 1" slit down from the top of the heart, don't go all the way through. Bend back each side to form the jacket opening and cut a small wedge from each side to create the lapels. Ink the edges and add a small button with a spot of black maker then a small blob of crystal effects.

For the lady punch from the top the large tag punch to form the neck line ( see below picture). punch 2 scrap 1" circles and tape these together these will be a mask to do some darker shading under the chest area. Next punch another two 1" circles to create the lighter shading with white on the chest. see below picture (You know you can always click on any picture to make the image larger to take a closer look).

Put the dress aside and with a piece of dimensional

attach the 2, 1" circles to the skin colored heart...

about 1/8 of an inch from the top. Glue the dress over the top .

Do the same for the wedding card only using different colors.

Here are the details on how she made the veil,

punched the neck line and rose bud.

And how cute to use this idea for a wedding favor

or place setting from the Bride & Groom!

Mr. Love Bug

Ahhh love is in the air!!!... and so are those pesky little bugs flying all over the place.. the Love Bug that is!

Take a look at this darling punch art from Creations on Paper.. Kay Sha is just amazing... what an imagination she has to think up these cute little guys....

Of course Brayden is really Love Bug.. that's what Holly calls him... or "Bug" for short...I'll bet one day she'll start calling him "Stink Bug".... cuz he's stinkin' cute of course... whatz ya think I meant??....

xoxoxoxoxo

Brilliant Household Tip

Always keep several
get well cards on the mantle..

So if unexpected guests arrive,

They will think you've been sick

and unable to clean.