Valentines

Valentines is coming soon and today we started decorating at work, so I think a valentines card will be perfect for today. I am going to a craft camp this Sunday and this is the project I will be demonstrating this weekend.

I am storing it along with my kits in the clear wood mount case. It will hold about 14 kits and I slide the sample in the front so I can see what card I am grabbing.

I hope you enjoy!

DanicaA

Update and New Catalog

Wow! It has been a while since I last blogged, and I am feeling very guilty. Life has been absolutely crazy busy for me lately, but I have to blog today. I am so excited about the new Stampin' Up! Catalog and today I received the Holiday Catalog and it blew me away. 

If you haven't checked out the new catalog yet, Do So NOW!!! I was absolutely thrilled to see so many of the mini catalog stamp sets carry over, I think for the most part I had only purchased previously the ones that ended up carrying over.  There are so many new stamp sets and I am having a hard time choosing which ones to get first. I am definitely going for Postage Due (w-126395, c-126397) on page 108 I also want the Morning Post Alphabet (w-126590, c-126592) and the Travel Journal builder wheel (126937) on the same page.   Take a Ticket Wheel (126941)page 32, that coordinates with the Ticket Duo Punch (126883) page 182. More Framelits and coordinating stamp sets, Layered Labels (w-127070, c- 127072) page 103 coordinate with the Apothecary Accents Framelits (127003) page 191, Daydream Medallions (w-126465, c126467) page 117 coordinate with the Floral Frames Framelits (127012) page 191. A new butterfly set Papillon Potpourri (w-123757, c- 123759) page 115 and a matching punch Elegant butterfly (127526). I was disapointed when I saw that the butterfly sets and punch were on the retired list so I was very happy to see this set. I would definitely say this set is much more elegant. I love the Flowering Flourishes set (w-126365, c-126367) page 121. there are some lovely new background stamps Ex Libris (126600) page 128 & Pleasant Poppies (w-126480, c-129499) page 129. A lot of new greetings sets, I am not even sure where to start here as I could probably use almost all of them. New In Colors, Gumball green, Raspberry Ripple, Midnight Muse, Primrose Petals & Summer Starfruit. Some update to tools, a new larger sized Stampin' Scrub (126200) page 157, the heat tool has been re-done with 2 heat settings and a new sleek, slimmer design (129053) page 159,  a new paper cutter (126889) page 180, I really think this will be better, it isn't available quite yet but it is on my list of must have as soon as it is available. lots of lovely new DSP I am loving the Natural Composition Specialty DSP (126917) page 162, and haven't decided on any favorites yet on the rest of the designer series paper.Some lovely new Simply Scrappin' kits, my favorite is the Razzleberry Splash (126930) page 168. New Fabrics page 170, Ribbons page 172, the Vintage Faceted Designer Buttons (127555) page 176, look like they would be a lot of fun to use. We have quite a few new embossing folders in a new larger size Fancy Fans (127751), Chevron Folder (127749), Argyle Folder (127750) page 189, there is a new set of folders to coordinate with a new edgelit Decorative Designs folders (127023)& Large Scallop Edgelits (127019) page 190. Another new edgelit set is the Finishing Touches set (127010) page 190. Also new dies, Delicate Doilies Sizzlits L (126999) page 191, Oval Accents Bigz Clear (127005), Typeset Alphabet Bigz (127553) page 192. Also coming in late 2012 is MDS 2, with updates and some cool new features. 

There are so many new offerings that I think everyone will love. These are probaly all my top choices but there are so many things that if I keep going I will have to list the whole entire catalog and I would rather you go ahead and take a look. You can click the link at the left to see the catalog in PDF form or contact me to receive a catalog.

Okay long post today but I am really excited about this catalog year and am going to sit down and plan out some projects for the next while. So I hope to get back into the blogging mode and I may share some older projects for a little while so stay tuned.

I hope you all enjoy!

DanicaA

Thinking of You ColourQ Challenge Card

The colors for this card were chosen from an old ColourQ challenge.

 I have decided that over time I would like to do a card for each of the colourq challenges. I am hoping that this will help me stretch my boundaries and enhance my skills

I made this card using two different techniques. I used the faux mother of pearl and faux tile techniques. To create the tile I used the simply score board and scored at one inch intervals vertically & horizontally.I then rubbed the ink into the grout lines to give my tile definition. I created the mother of pearl effect by using a small amount of Frost White Shimmer paint and saran wrap to dab the paint all over the paper. Once dry I then took my sponge daubers and ink Pool Party & Island Indigo to my paper and added the subtle shading that gives my tile its wonderful color.Although I do have to say that I stamped my image prior to creating my tile and mother of pearl finish. I used the large floral image from SAB set Fresh Vintage.

When I was creating my stamped saying image I totally messed up and ended up having to choose between starting with a fresh piece of whisper white or using the image sideways instead of centered the same direction as the larger label. I really wish I hadn't messed that up but choose to go ahead and use what I had rather than waste the paper.

I hope you all enjoy!

DanicaA

Project Recipe: 

Card Stock: 

122925 Calypso Coral  

122923 Pool Party

119686/124276 Early Espresso

100730/124302 Whisper White

102599 Glossy White 

Stamp Sets:

w 125115/c 125117 SAB Fresh Vintage

115068 Sincere Salutations

Inks:

122938 Pool Party

122937 Island Indigo

122939 Calypso Coral

101406 Jet Black StazOn

Accessories:

116854 Frost White Shimmer Paint

102892 Sponge Daubers

113439 Big Shot

125598 Labels Collection Framelits Die

127279 SAB Everyday Enchantment Ribbon & Brad Pack

122334 Simply Scored Scoring Tool

Mocha Morning Mini's

These cute little mini's were made mostly during my lunch breaks at work. Boy, did my lunch fly while I was busy having fun. I used the Mocha Morning Designer Series Papers and added some color by using Poppy Parade, Pool Party & Island Indigo Card stock and ink pads to give the cards some pop. I like how they turned out. You can tell that I definitely liked the flowers as I kept with that design for the most part.

I am hoping that Stampin' Up! will keep the Tea Shoppe Stamp Set and maybe make some punches for the tea cups. Wouldn't that be gorgeous, I hand cut out the little tea cups but you have to be extremely careful at the handles as the break quite easily. Punches would make that problem non-existent.

Let me know which one is your favorite.

I hope you all enjoy!

DanicaA

Project Recipe: Basic Black, Poppy Parade, Pool Party, Island Indigo & Very Vanilla CS, Mocha Morning DSP, Blossom & Fancy Flower Punch, Labels Framelits, Antique & Basics Glitter Brads, Petite Pairs & Tea Shoppe Stamp Sets, Basic Black, Poppy Parade, Pool Party, & Island Indigo Classic Ink Pads, Espresso Quilted Satin Ribbon

Happy Birthday Framelit Card

Today's card was made using Stampin' Up!'s new Labels Framelit die set. I started out using the largest label and a piece of Poppy Parade card stock about 10" x 5-3/4".  I used the next sized label framelit and the Sale-A-Bration Designer Series Paper Everyday Enchantment to create my layer. I add texture by running the paper through my big shot using the square lattice embossing folder, after I had trimmed it down to size using the framelit and then my scissors to cut the edge off so the top aligns.

I created the flower by using the Blossom & Fancy Flower Punches, I punched a variety of flowers using coordinating CS and some of the DSP. I then ran that through the Big Shot again using the square lattice embossing folder. I crumpled the paper up really well, aligned them the way I wanted them to look and pierced using my paper piercing tool. You definitely want to use the mat pack to protect your fingers when piercing. I attached a brad and attached to the card. I used the curly label punch to create a spot for my greeting, using the Happy Birthday from the Sale-A-Bration set Elementary Elegance. I sponged around the little label using Basic Black ink. 

For the inside I added a layer of Very Vanilla Card Stock also cut as the layer on the front of the card. You can an additional birthday wish here and you could also sponge the edges for added dimension.

Well, that is all for today.

I hope you all enjoy!

DanicaA

Project Recipe: Poppy Parade, Pool Party, Calypso Coral & Very Vanilla Card Stock, Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper, Elementary Elegance Stamp Set, Basic Black Classic Stamp Pad, Big Shot, Labels Framelits, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Curly Label, Blossom & Fancy Flower Punches, Everyday Enchantment Brad

Wonderful You Heart

Today's post is a gorgeaous card I made using the Color Throwdown #177 challenge. 

I really wanted to try this with my new heart framelits but just hadn't gotten around to it, so I decided that last night was the night I was going to make my heart card. It is so simple, take a piece of card stock 11" X 5-1/2" fold in half and place your largest heart die just slightly off the edge at the fold and run through your big shot. I like being able to make different card shapes. 

Aren't these gorgeous colors. Very Classy.

Before I started Blogging and selling Stampin' Up! products, I made a card for my grandma's birthday, she loves butterflies and I had a stamp of a large butterfly. I traced the butterfly on card stock folded in half with the top of the wings at the folded edge, cut around my tracing and had a wonderful personalized card for her. I know the ladies at the post office really liked it.

I hope you all enjoy!

DanicaA

Project Recipe: Melon Mambo, Basic Black, Whisper White Card Stock, Hearts Collection Framelits, Big Shot, Heart Punch, Vanilla Scented Embossing Powder, Take It To Heart Stamp Set, Melon Mambo Classic Stamp Pad, Whisper White Organza Ribbon, Basic Pearls, Dimensionals

Happiness....Forever & Always

Here is my card as promised. I really like how it turned out although I will make a couple of changes when we do the Make-N-Takes at camp. 

1. Change smaller pearls, at this time I only have the Jumbo Pearls and these are just to large for the size of card which is 5 1/4 X 4 1/4
2. Change the size to 5 1/2 X4 1/4, I accidentally measured wrong when making my cuts.
3. Change the Punched border, I think the pinking hearts or the scallop trim will look better
4. I may also change the sayings, but these work for now.

I hope you all enjoy!

DanicaA

Project Recipe: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Rose Red, & Blushing Bride Card Stock, Chocolate Chip & Rose Red Classic Ink, En Francais Background Stamp, Loving Thoughts, Fresh Vintage (SAB) & Curly Cute Stamp Sets, Big Shot,  Backgrounds 1 Swirls & Diamonds Texturz Plates, Fashionable Hearts Embosslit, Hearts Collection Framelits, Scoreboard, Large Pearls, Dimensionals 

Simple Doily Heart

This simple card came together as another test card. I am working on what to do as a valentine card at the next craft camp and really want to use the Paper Doily Sizzlits die & the Framelits Fashinable Hearts Collection. This time for the doily I used the Twitterpated DSP over Real Red CS that I used the Blushing Bride Smooch Spritz on to add sparkle.I ran the DSP & CS through the Big Shot with a Fashionable Heart Framelit and the glued to a square of Whisper White CS. To finish I added some Pleated Satin Ribbon and attached to a small card made from Blushing Bride Textured CS.

I hope you all enjoy!

DanicaA

Project Recipe: Blushing Bride, Whisper White, Real Red Card Stock, Twitterpated Designer Series Paper, Blushing Bride Pleated Satin Ribbon, Bigshot, Paper Doily Sizzlits Die, Framelits Fashionable Hearts, Blushing Bride Smooch Spritz

Big Shot Club

Here is the promised info regarding my Big Shot Club.

This club is running this month, January, February & March. Any longer and we will not be able to off the additional 3 free items. Each months payments are due by the 26th. I take cash, local check, money orders, certified checks & Paypal.

I look forward to helping you expand your supplies & skills.

DanicaA

Double Heart Card

This card was made using items that I had been experimenting with and leftovers. The Back die cut is the leftover paper after using the Paper Doily Sizzlits Die. The hearts were made using the Framelits heart collection two different sizes and the Paper Doily Die. I cut out the Paper Doily first on my Big Shot and then place both my doily and my solid card stock in Big Shot with my Heart Framelit after which I glued the heart doily & solid heart together. 

On the smaller doily I used Crystal Effects to cover, this changed the colors slightly and made the heart nice and glossy. I used the 5/8" organza ribbon and the 1/4" grosgrain ribbon gluing the 1/4" to the center of the organza ribbon and then gluing to my cut-out. I then glued the cut out to the card and glued the hearts in the center to create a simple but lovely valentine. 

I hope you all enjoy!

DanicaA

Project Recipe: Whisper White & Real Red Card Stock, Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack Brights Collection-Real Red, Big Shot, Paper Doily Large Sizzlits Die, Framelits Heart Collection, 5/8" Whisper White Organza Ribbon, 1/4" Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Crystal Effects

Patchwork Heart Card

Twitterpated Designer Series Paper, a Square of Card Stock & the New Stampin' Up! Framelits Heart Collection are used to create this lovely Patchwork Heart Card.

I started by cutting a Square piece of CS slightly larger than the largest Framelit heart, I then cut my DSP to varying width & lengths and glued to the CS (although if you cut them all the same length  as your square and then angle your heart die you will have the same effect without as much waste and this will make it easier. Oh! Boy, I should have thought of that sooner!) I then used the Framelits Heart with the Scallop edge to cut my heart with the Bigshot. I cut four pieces of DSP into triangles and glued them together onto another square of CS. I wrapped the Real Red Pleated Satin Ribbon around the edges gluing with the sticky strip as I wanted the ribbon to stay put. I then glued the patchwork heart to the front and used a smaller framelits heart  to cut another heart which I sprayed with Blushing Bride Smooch Spritz Stamped with the forever & Always stamp from the Loving thoughts stamp set and embossed with vanilla embossing powder. I then used a glimmer brad to accent and attached with a dimensional.

I like the results although I do feel that it could be a little less busy. I will probably make another one trying out the method above for my strips and instead of wrapping the ribbon around the whole card just I will try it just around the heart itself. We will see what results I get.

Hope you all enjoy!

DanicaA

Project Recipe: Whisper White Card Stock, Twitterpated Designer Series Paper, Loving Thoughts Stamp Set Basic Black Classic Ink, Framelits Heart Collection, Bigshot, Real Red Pleated Satin Ribbon, Blushing Bride Smooch Spritz, Vanilla Scented Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Glimmer Brad

New Stampin' Up! Mini Catalog

The New Mini is now available to order from....Yippee!!! 
What a Gorgeous Catalog, I love the Green.

There are some great items in this catalog. I really like the Paper Doily Sizzlits on page 7 and the Framelits on page 6. The Fashionable Hearts Embosslits Die on page 35 is very cute. The new colors in Bakers Twine (page 35) are great, I love Island Indigo & Pool Party they are two of my favorite Stampin' Up! colors. New Dazzling Details (Cherry Cobbler) & Smooch Spritz Color (Blushing Bride) page 9. I haven't purchased the Edgelits dies but they look like they have some great possibilities. There are some very cute stamp sets although I am unsure about the Gnome Sweet Gnome on page 41, I received this set free for participating in Decembers Book-a-thon, I don't think I would have purchased them otherwise....We will see. There are a few more designs to the Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps, which means that I am going to be purchasing them soon. Pleated Satin Ribbon to coordinate with the Twitterpated DSP, Oh my, Very pretty! Scented Clear Embossing Powder (page35) in three scents Vanilla, Cherry, & Melon. I purchased the vanilla and it definitely smells like vanilla, now we will be able to use more of our senses when giving or receiving cards.

I have to say when I first saw the Paper Doily I new it had to be in my pre-order. I was excited to open my box, when it arrived on the UPS truck, just before Christmas weekend. As my family was going out of town I had very little time to play with anything I had received, but I took a few minutes for the doily die and I have to tell you that first couple of tries I was feeling a bit disappointed as it just was not cutting through all the little spots like it should have. So I logged on to Stampin' Connection and did a little searching and found I wasn't the only one having problems. Between it not cutting all the way through and the pieces sticking between the little cuts on the die I was very frustrated. 

Well I tried one suggestion, place packing tape evenly on die to cover and this stops the pieces from sticking and can help give more thickness to  help the die cut through. It worked to stop the sticking but the die still wasn't cutting thru, which was more bothersome to me than the sticking, because I was ripping the doily trying to get the few pieces out that weren't cut all the way through. I solved this problem by taking a square piece of the cardboard paper that comes with the DSP to keep it from bending (and tell you what it is) and using tab 2, two standard cutting mats, the square cardboard, the die and my DSP or CS I was able to get the die to cut through perfectly every time!!!!!!

I hope you all enjoy.

DanicaA