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Bringing Back Memories
Aloha, all!
Do you ever start a crafting project and find that making it takes you back to something in your childhood? That's what happened to me with this card, and I thought I'd quickly take you through a few of those memories.
A good part of my childhood was spent at the home of my aunt who was also my Godmother. Aunt Agnes collected many things, and among them were her teacups. So I was immediately drawn to this stamp of an elegant teacup, though most of her teacups were white or cream with flowers painted on them. At some point, I think I'll try to stamp this cup with a lighter color embossed on a base of a darker color. But by the time I had this idea, I was way too far into this project and I really wanted to finish it.
A beautiful part of my aunt's household was an amazing collection of African Violets – of every color imaginable; but my favorite were the pale violet flowers that seemed to be (and probably were) so fragile that a touch would turn them into dust. I could almost see right through them! The little African Violets that adorn this teacup reminded me of those flowers, and that's why I decided to stamp the cup again in a lighter color and cut out the flowers to adorn this one.
And then there were the doilies! Doilies were EVERYWHERE around her house – on the tables, on the chairs, on the piano, on the bookcases. While the teacups and African Violets from her home are long since gone, I still have a few of her doilies – much more delicate than this doily made of paper, but this doily nonetheless reminded me of them.
When it came time to pick the sentiment for this card, how could I not choose, "A Cup of Thanks." Thanks to Aunt Agnes who meant so much to me – and for the wonderful memories she made for me.
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Back to the here and now and a quick reminder that much of what is on this card is from the Stampin' Up! 2012 Occasions Mini Catalog. And another reminder that there are going to be dozens of fabulous projects using these products – and many, many more! – in the Create with Connie and Mary Occasions Edition, which is now in preview. I hope you'll take the time to visit the Create With Connie and Mary blog to learn more about preview week, their early bird pricing AND the blog candy that will be available throughout the week – in various places around the blogosphere,
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An addendum. I just heard from my sister-in-law and downline, Deb, who said that she has some of Aunt Agnes' teacups and that my niece, Margie, will have them one day. Margie is my goddaughter, so it's wonderful that these will be passed from generation to generation – as will the memories of Aunt Agnes.
Subscribe to the comments for this postThe Start of a Busy Week!
Aloha, all!
Well, this is the week I've been working towards since before Christmas – the week when I have to have my first Create With Connie and Mary Occasions Edition projects done AND my sister-in-law and her husband are coming for a 10-day visit. Can you imagine all the different directions my mind will be traveling this week?!
For today, the direction is towards the Stampin' Up! Occasions Mini Catalog and all the scraps of paper that have been flying all over the place as I've been trying to finish projects and challenge cards! Among the flying papers are the insides of a bunch of windows I've been making with the Sizzix Hearts Framelits (in the Occasions Mini Catalog, of course). You'll see the fab card I made with those right here on Wednesday. But today I'm featuring the "leftovers."
This card has four of the hearts left over from making windows – all of them from the Twitterpated Designer Series Paper – which is my favorite paper set from the Occasions Mini. The sentiment is one of the 11 in the Occasions Mini Stamp Set, Loving Thoughts, and it's stamped on the banner from another Occasions Mini Stamp Set, Take it to Heart.
The final touch to go with all those hearts is one of the Trinket Hearts from the mini. I bought them to use with my Simply Adorned Jewelry, but decided this one would be perfect for this card. I hope you think so, too!
And speaking of the Create With Connie and Mary Occasions Edition, today is the start of Preview Week! There will be projects all week on the Create With Connie and Mary Blog and they're available to EVERYONE! The whole idea is to show you just how wonderful this Occasions Edition will be so that you'll sign up – with the Early Bird Discount! Besides that great offer, every day this week someone with the Create team will be offering Blog Candy – a free subscription to the Occasions Edition. So hop on over to the Create With Connie and Mary Blog to see who's offering the Blog Candy today and get in on the action!
Filling a Heart with Balloons!
Aloha, all!
The first card I made today was totally unplanned. But deep in my memory bank was the idea that the balloons in the stamp set, Up Up and Away would make a nice heart shape! Add to that a challenge from one of my online groups to make a card with a stamp set that had never seen ink in my studio, and off to find that very stamp set. When I brought it to my work table, there was the Hearts Collection of Stampin' Up!'s new Sizzix Framelits sitting right there waiting for me!
In an instant I remembered that thought about the balloons and the heart shape, and this card just kind of took itself over.
Besides the challenge to use a never-before-used stamp set, we were given the option of using a specified set of colors – Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, and Tangerine Tango. Now that was easy given that hot air balloons are among the most colorful creations on earth. I should know because I spent many years living in the Albuquerque, New Mexico, area, and their October Balloon Fiesta is amazing with hundreds of balloons in the air at the same time. So off I went to gather stamp pads and markers, and here's the card that resulted!
Now that I've been using the Hearts Framelits for awhile, I've found that there is a new storage need in Robin's Craft Room – storage for all the hearts that get cut out of card stock or paper to make an opening like the one on the front of this card. So off I went again – this time in search of a Whisper White heart the same size as the window. It didn't take long to locate what I needed, and the card was almost finished. I had a time limit on this card (supposed to be finishing it during an online chat) so I looked at my ribbons and immediately found the 1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon in Tangerine Tango. So, as frequently happens with my cards, I tied this one all together with a bow!
Now I'm back to working on my creations for the Create with Connie and Mary Occasions Edition – preview week starts next week!! I guess I should have some of the projects done by that time, huh? One will be finished tonight as I just received my Stampin' Up! shipment with one last piece I need for it. The other awaits yet another last minute purchase which will arrive on Monday. I think they're really cool – and I hope that you'll be among those that enjoy them as they are exclusive to Create with Connie and Mary and I can't share them here! Click on the link at the top of the column on the right to visit their web site for more information – and to meet this edition's guest designers! I'm humbled to be in the same group as all of these wonderful ladies!
Know what the best part about all of this is? I'm having FUN with it! I hope you, too, are having fun with whatever you're doing today!
Fun and Quick!
Aloha, all!
With all that I'm doing the next few weeks, I decided I had to take some time this morning to show off some of the products from the brand new Stampin' Up! 2012 Occasions Mini Catalog. On the other hand, it had to be quick because I'm already behind on so many new year's projects and it's only the 4th!!!
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Believe me, this was quick – and it was fun on top of it! The basic card design was one that was featured in this month's magazine for Stampin' Up! Demonstrators as something we could easily demonstrate at a workshop. They were right, even though I had to think for a few minutes because I wanted the colors and design just a tad different from those in the magazine.
What really makes this easy are the two brand new products from the Occasions Mini Catalog that I used: the stamp set, Mixed Bunch, and the brand new punch made just for the stamp set (or is it the other way around??), the Blossom Punch. There are three big flowers in the stamp set, and this shows off just one of them. I'll be getting to the other two before long, I hope!
The card base is Sahara Sand, and the colors that I used to stamp the flowers were (left to right) Peach Parfait, Poppy Parade, and Tangerine Tango. I stamped the Peach Parfait and Tangerine Tango flowers on So Saffron Card Stock, and the Poppy Parade flower on Peach Parfait Card Stock. The center image on each flower is also from the Mixed Bunch Stamp Set and cuts perfectly with the 1" Circle Punch.
To finish this quick and easy card off, I punched some Whisper White Card Stock with the Scallop Edge Border Punch, then quickly colored in some circles using Poppy Parade Stampin' Write Marker, the Paper Piercing Template from Stampin' Up!'s Mat Pack. I trimmed the Whisper White Card stock and mounted it on a strip of Poppy Parade Card Stock. The sentiment is from the stamp set, Petite Pairs, and I just had to punch it with the Postage Stamp Punch. I've been dying to do that to a sentiment with the word, "Sending," in it! I tied on a little bow with Linen Thread.
The one thing that's not quite evident from the photo is that I made my card base 5-1/4" wide rather than 5-1/2" so that I could let the flowers hang off the edges a bit, yet still allow the card to fit in a standard A2 envelope (Stampin' Up!'s Medium Envelope).
OK – I've had my fun for the day, now back to work. Hmmm. Actually, my "work" IS fun! How many people get to say that? It's easy when you're a Stampin' Up! demonstrator! Hope you're having fun today, too!
The New Mini Catalog is Here!
Aloha, all!
I've been so busy cleaning up after the holiday (we had our last party on the 2nd!) that I've been neglecting my Occasions Mini Catalog projects! So I'll be making a few today to share with you over the next week so you can really get a sense of all the new products that Stampin' Up! is offering. Not just new stamp sets. NEW PRODUCTS!
I've sent or given catalogs to all my current customers. If you'd like me to send YOU one, please just send me a quick e-mail, and I'll get one off to you today.
Meanwhile, here's a link to the catalog for you to use while you're waiting for the paper copy!
Now I'm off to play in my craft room! I hope you have some fun with papercrafting today, too!
Happy 2012!
Hau'oli Makahiki Hou – or Happy New Year – All!
I just love living in Hawaii, but especially in the winter when I don't have to deal with the snow – and where I can actually remember the season's greetings in Hawaiian! Besides that, there are flowers everywhere, which is something I did not experience in January when I lived on the mainland. While I'll share my New Year's card with you in a moment, I just have to share a photo of this flower, which is blooming right now where I can see it from my kitchen window.
This lovely Bird of Paradise will be around for many days to come!
Also around for many days to come is the year 2012. I am ALWAYS needing a calendar. Figuring out that many of my friends and customers could also use a calendar, I decided to make them a New Year's card with a calendar built in. As I was running out of time for hand-crafted projects in 2011, I remembered that Stampin' Up!'s My Digital Studio now has a trifold card design that would be perfect for me to include a calendar! So back I came to my computer and this is the card that I ended up making!
I sent quite a few of these out this morning, and I actually had time to make a "real" bow out of the Sale-A-Bration ribbon set that inspired the design of this card. So this card is just a little bit hybrid – mostly digital, and a touch of "real." The flower stamps and the papers, as well as the beautifully thin ribbon, are all going to be part of the 2012 Sale-A-Bration catalog – and you can get them all for free with qualifying orders during the Sale-A-Bration sales period!
But back to the card. I found a digital image of the 2012 calendar and put that in the middle section of the card. I left a blank white space in the third section of the card for me to write a note when I send it out. I just love the colors – and the Stampin' Up! printing service does a gorgeous job matching Stampin' Up!'s colors!
Here is the back of the card. If you want, you can print just as much on the back as on the front. Fellow Stampin' Up! demonstrator, Patty Bennett, used this format to include lots of pictures of her and her family along with journaling about their 2011 activities. Each panel is 3-1/2" high by 5" long, so plenty of space for that. I just wanted to show off the pretty papers that are going to be available!
So here we are in 2012! I hope that it's all that you want it to be – and that you'll have lots of time to have fun with paper crafting!
Another Thank You Note!
Aloha, all!
Earlier in the week, I shared a sample of a Thank You card that I'd made with all NEW products – from the 2012 Sale-a-Bration catalog. But today I'm taking a hint from fellow Stampin' Up! demonstrator (and my 2nd upline) Sandy Hancock, and using up some of my left over Christmas paper to make those Thank You notes!
This was a quick card that I made last night with scraps from the Letters to Santa Designer Series Paper that is featured in the 2012 Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalog. While you and I know it came from Christmas paper, there's no design that requires it to be used on a Christmas card (no santas or ornaments). But sending it out this time of the year, with red and green as the main color, still feels holiday-ish to me!
The red here is Riding Hood Red and the green is Old Olive. The Taffeta Ribbon is also Riding Hood Red. My first go round with this card had the background Riding Hood Red Card Stock looking awfully plain, so I pulled out the Snow Burst Textured Impressions Embossing Folder to give it a bit more interest. Good News – this Embossing Folder will still be available after the Holiday Mini expires next week!
Here is the sketch that I used for this card. It's not a new sketch, but it's been awhile since I used it. I just love having sketches around and this one was on page 43 of my 2010 Greeting Card Layout eBook, which is still available on a CD. Just check over on the right for more information about both of my Card Layout eBooks! Of course, the sketch in the eBook has all the measurements included!
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I hope you're having fun making your own Thank You cards after a fun holiday season! I still have a couple more to make and hope to be able to share them before the year is out!
It’s Time for Thank You Notes!
Aloha, all!
Aaaaahhhh! While I do love Christmas, it is SOOO good to have it over and be able to relax a bit. Actually, I did a lot of relaxing over the weekend. I put away the last of my Christmas Card making supplies and tools on Friday night, and did not touch a thing related to paper crafting until this morning. In fact, I was so relaxed about everything that I forgot to give my husband the very special card I'd made for him weeks ago! If I had gone into the craft room I would have seen it lying there. But at least I remembered before Christmas Day was over.
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And of course now that Christmas is over, it's time for Thank You notes! This is also the day for the bi-weekly Stampin' Up! Only Challenge, and this is the card I made for the challenge to make a punch the center of attraction on a project. I looked at all those fancy punches that Stampin' Up! has been putting out lately, but then decided on a really simple one – the 2-3/8" Scallop Circle Punch.
Usually I have an item punched with that as the background for something else. This time, though, I was inspired by the fan-style design in the new set of paper, EverydayEnchantment Designer Series Paper, that Stampin' Up! will be giving away as part of the 2012 Sale-a-Bration Event, which begins a month from now. So, since that paper inspired me, I decided to use it, as well as the coordinating Everyday Enchantment Ribbon and Brad Pack. I thought that the brad with the scallop shape on it was perfect for the center of the punch feature. To help it stand out a bit more, I used a second punch, the Boho Blossoms Punch, to make the little flower behind the brad.
The colors in the Designer Series Paper – and the colors of Card Stock that I used to accent it – are Lucky Limeade, Peach Parfait, and Pool Party. Oh, and Very Vanilla is in there, too!
To make the Scalloped Punch element, I drew lines on the back of all three colors that I punched out and then snipped along the lines from the indentations to the center point (where the lines all crossed). To find the center of the Very Vanilla piece, I drew a couple of lines on the back of it, too, and used the Paper Piercer to punch through a pinpoint hole which is there the points of the cut pieces all met. Once I glued on all the cut pieces, I enlarged the hole to allow the brad to fit through easily.
The scallop circle in the background is a die-cut image from the Sizzix Scallop Circles #2 die, which I also texturized with the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder.
The Thank You Stamp is also from the Sale-a-Bration catalog – one of the 6 stamps in the Outlined Occasions Stamp Set. Love those outline-style designs that I can color in! I wrapped each end of the greeting element with the ribbon from the ribbon pack. I adhered both the greeting and the punched scallop to the card front with Stampin' Dimensionals to give the card just a bit more, well, dimension!
I hope you had a lot of fun during your holiday celebrations! And I hope you'll have as much fun as I'm having now that I'm back in my Craft Room again!
Merry Christmas!
Aloha, all!
Today's cards are the very last that I made – and WILL make – for this Holiday season! At the point when I needed just a few more cards, I'd already put away ALL of my Christmas (and all fall season) stamps. By "put away," I mean they're in a box in the garage! I need the space for my Occasions Mini Products and all of the Stampin' Up! 2011-2012 Catalog sets that I have. There are a couple of those that I've not yet used, and I don't want them stuck away behind some Christmas stamps where they'll be forgotten until the Retired Stamp List comes out in June. Nope – they're going to be used.
But I did leave one set out for a "just in case" moment, and this was it. It's called Many Merry Messages, and can be found back in the "Greetings" section of the Stampin' Up! Catalog. The reason that I chose the "Seasons Greetings" stamp is that I just like the way it's scripted. I still had some scraps from the Letters to Santa designer Series Paper left, and I was able to fill up a card front very nicely with it, thank you! I added a knot tied with Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon, placed a few coordinating layers behind the greeting, and away I went – and away THEY went into the mail!
I hope you're having a wonderfully peaceful day with as many family and friends around as possible. Our day will be quiet with just my husband and I enjoying the day to ourselves. Depending on the weather (yes, Hawaii has weather, especially in our little part that's called a Rain Forest!) we may visit some friends in their new home. Otherwise, we'll listen to some Christmas music and do some reading.
Merry Christmas!
It’s Christmas Eve! Are You Ready?
Aloha, all!
Well, I can truthfully say that, when it comes to sending out Christmas cards, I am definitely ready for Christmas. They all went in the mail yesterday, and everyone should receive theirs before the new year (hey, it's progress from last year!). But I did take pictures of them so you can see what I did to make my last-minute rush a little bit of fun for me!
For the second batch of last minute cards, I was determined to get rid of all of those darling Winter Wishes Stitched Felt pieces that I bought. Yes, I bought not one but TWO packs of those once I saw how other demonstrators were using them in their cards. What I'd really wanted most of all were the wreaths so that I could include one of those "door" cards for the ladies taking my class last week. They really liked the cards, as did I, along with a card that used one of the snowflakes. But there were still wreaths and snowflakes left, along with the little pair of very warm looking mittens and gorgeous holly leaves and berries. For these cards, I decided to go with some designs I'd seen online that I'd really liked.
The first card used up the last of my wreaths, and I got the design from Linda Throgmorton's Etsy shop. This is SO quick and simple and you can use any Designer Series Paper you have left lying around and it won't clash with the wreath at all.
I got the idea for this layout from a post by Christine Crutcher, though her card had just a bit more work to it that I was willing to put in for these last minute cards. I did use her idea to use some of the light plaid paper from the Frostwood Lodge Designer Series Paper set, but I added in some of the Cherry Cobbler Plaid as a background to make the lighter plaid "pop" a bit. I was getting to the end of my last roll of Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon, so I opted to tie the ribbon along the short side of the card rather than the long – good thing because I had 8 inches left when these cards were done!
Finally I had the Holly Stitched Felt left. But I didn't need 8 cards (or so I thought! – more later). So I put two of the pieces of Holly together to make this card using a layout that I found in a Zibbet Store called Whimsy Art. I tied these cards together with the last of my Cherry Cobbler Quilted Satin Ribbon (remember, I was out of the Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding!).
Once I finished with these, I was really wishing it was two or three weeks earlier, because I would have ordered up more of those Stitched Felt pieces and made lots more cards with them! So now I'm really going to pay attention to what I'm buying from the Occasions Mini Catalog to make sure I don't wait until the last minute to make my Mother's Day cards for a May 5th craft fair! (Oh, no! I can't believe I'm already thinking about May 2012! Let's get New Year's Day, Valentine's Day, St. Patty's Day and Easter out of the way first!!!)
Whatever you're doing this Christmas weekend, I hope you're having a lot of fun with it!
I'd used most of the snowflake
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