Embossed Cowboy

Sorry, schedules have been full and time to stamp has been not available. Today I tried to combine the 3 challenges I missed. As the card progressed certain challenges were eliminated. So I was only left with the Sketch challenge so that is where is stands. The cowboy was actually stamped 3 times until I got him the way I liked it. I started with the Basic Gray. It was not dark enough, so I stamped over it with the Black Stazon. That still was not enough to over power the designer paper. So I decided to emboss it. Boy, am I thankful for my Stamp-a-ma-jig!!! I pierced a trail before and after the Happy Birthday and put brads in the center of the main circles. Today is the last day for the Designer paper special. I've had a great time using so much of it and have found some favorites I would not of tried if it weren't for the sale.

Stamps: It's Your Birthday, Bronc Buster

Paper: Basic Black, Basic Gray, Carbon DSP

Ink: Basic Gray, Stazon

Accessories: Small Oval Punch, Black Brads, Tool kit for Piercing

Basic Gray/ Snowman Ornament

So today's Color Challenge was to use Basic Gray, Bashful Blue and Certainly Celery. I had a hard time adding the Certainly Celery in there but the ribbon and the center of the Circle of Friend ship brought it together. The image is stamped in Basic Gray and colored with re-inkers and an aquapen. One of the great things about coloring this way is the more ink you use the darker the image and the more water you use the lighter the ink. I just had to add the brads on the bottom row. I love that we have so many co-ordinating colors of brads!

Stamps: Sanded BG, Winds of Grace, Circle of Friendship

Paper: Carbon DSP, Basic Gray, Bashful Blue, Very Vanilla

Ink: Basic Gray, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue

Accessories: Corner Rounder, Certainly Celery Grosgrain, Bashful Blue Eyelets, Circle Punches- 1/2", 3/4" 1"

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Here is another pretty simple ornament.

I started with a large sized glass ornament. I stamped my image on a transparency sheet with Stazon Ink. I used my Whisper White Water color crayon to color the back of the image. I kept it moist with my aqua pen. I colored the front with Sharpie markers. I stamped the snowflakes with White Stazon Ink. I cut the circle with my coluzzle. I put a pin hole in the top and strung a fish line through it. I rolled it up and dropped it into the ornament. I used the line to straighten up the image and wrapped it around the top. I clipped the wires a bit that hold the top on. They were just too long and took away from the image. I tied some ribbon around the top and hung it up! You could add fake snow in the bottom too. I do not have mine out yet and it would of been a major pain to get to it yet.

Stamps: Wishing You Cheer

Paper: Transparency Sheet

Ink: White Stazon, Black Stazon, White Watercolor Crayons, Sharpie Markers

Accessories: Glass globe Ornament, Fish-line, Red Gingham Ribbon

Faux Snowman/Twill Bookmark

So yesterday I was scanning through a Christmas magazine and I saw some adorable felt stitched snowman. I thought it would make an adorable card. So this morning I got up hoping the challenge would fit so I could use it. No such luck, so I just made it anyway. I punched the snowman body out of 3 different shapes. I then ran the fat end of the marker around the edge of the circle. I used my grid and punch from the tool kit to do the holes around the edge. I just keep turning the grid to poke the next hole. Every thing is popped up on Dimensionals.

Stamps: All in a row, Cold Play

Paper: Always Artichoke, Dash DSP, Mellow Moss

Ink: Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, Pumpkin Pie, Ruby Red

Accessories: Circle Punched- 1 3/8", 1 1/4", 1", 1/2", Word Window Punch

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Another great way to make a bookmark it to use the Wide Twill tape. I have so much of it left over because I tend to grab the 2 other sizes. So I decided to make very simple bookmarkers. All you need is either Craft Inks or Stazon Inks to stamp you image and the Twill tape. Any size would work. I frayed the edges by finding a loose thread and pulling. One end is always harder than the other to pull. I heat set the inks with the iron and it is ready to go.

Stamps: Baroque Motifs

Ink: Craft- Old Olive, Ruby Red

Accessories: Twill Tape

Snowman Bookmark

Sorry, no card today as I am one of those crazies who need to be at the store at 4:00 a.m. when they open. It is a family tradition that my Mom, sisters and I enjoy doing together every other year. So enjoy your day!

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I know I like to spend a lot of time reading, especially when it is soo cold outside. Winter is fast on it's way! My kids always get a book of some type for a Christmas gift, plus we spend a lot of time at the library. They love a variety of bookmarks. I've made this one with the Baroque Motifs before but decide to make a fun on this time. The scallops are back to back with the same image on each side. I run my iron over the ribbon to heat set the ink.

Stamps: Cold Play

Paper: Really Red, Whisper White

Ink: Black Stazon, Pumpkin Pie, Really Red, Whisper White Craft Ink on the ribbon

Accessories: Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch

Happy Thanksgiving/ Post it holder

Happy Thanksgiving to all!!! No matter who or were you live we should celebrate our Thankfulness everyday for everything. "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." I Thessalonians 5:18

With this card I started with my colors I wanted to use. I could not decide on just the 2 that I usually do so I decided to step in up and make a mega-layer card and really enjoyed it. The background is done on regular Very Vanilla card stock. I stamped the leaf with versamark and then brayered over with the 3 different colors. Then I used the darkest color, Really Rust and stamped a few leaves on top. After I had mounted that section I used my All in a Row set to add the rows of faux stitching. Boy, did I spend time trying to figure out how to place the sentiment. I tried every punch I own to see what would fit... I still do not know if I am happy with it or not, but it is on there. :) The main leaf is colored with re-inkers and the Aquapen.

Stamps: En Francais, All in a Row, Thankful Season

Paper: Summer Sun, More Mustard, Really Rust, Very Vanilla

Ink: Summer Sun, More Mustard, Really Rust, Black Stazon, Versamark

Accessories: Tool Kit for Piercing, Vintage Brads, Vintage Eyelets, Photo Corner Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Key Tag Punch, Clear Embossing Powder , Brayer

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Cleaning out my craft closet last week I found a lot of stock left over that I had bought for various projects. So I am putting them to use and hopefully giving you ideas that you can use for some nice, easy and inexpensive gifts.

I had a whole stack of 4x6 Acrylic photo holders. I made my design and put it in the frame I then adhered the post in pad to the outside and tied the ribbon underneath. The ribbon is a great place to attach a matching pen.

I first embossed the flower and then punched it with the scallop circle punch. I then took the 1/8" circle punch and went around the edges. I layered it slightly off on a Chocolate Chip Scalloped circle. I used the ticket corner punch on the background.

Stamps: Baroque Motifs

Paper: River Rock, Chocolate Chip, Brocade Background DSP

Ink: Chocolate Chip- Craft Ink

Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder, Ticket Corner Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, 1/8" circle punch, 4x6 Acrylic Frame, Post it pad, River Rock Double stitched ribbon

Sketch / Picure Clip

So I have wanted to to do a card to show you these beautiful starbursts. This card was created for the Sketch Challenge today. After punching out all the tags I just could not let them go to waste. So I used them as the border to this card. The second I saw the sketch I saw a pocket card. After I had made the star I covered it in Versamark and Iridescent Ice embossing powder. The 2 stars are held together with mini glue dots and adhered to the card with a pop-up glue dot. For the button I smeared Crystal Effects on the back of the button and presses it on the paper and let dry. I then cut around it with my hobby knife. If you have any extra edge just use your sanding block to remove. I then poked a hole through with a pin to put my silver cord through.

Stamps: Dotted BG, Baroque Motifs

Paper: Sahara Sand, Ruby Red, Dash DSP, Vellum

Ink: Ruby Red, Sahara Sand, Versamark

Accessories: Large and Small Tag Punch, Mellow Moss Grosgrain Ribbon, Iridescent Ice, Clear Button, Silver elastic cording

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I've had this clip sitting on my desk for going on 2 weeks now. I had meant to make it into a name place holder. Then I thought in order to use them for my family when they come for Christmas I would have to make 21 of them. I then knew there had to be something else I could use it for :). So I decided to make it into a picture holder. I first covered the base with my designer paper. I rubbed my flowers from my Pretties Kit in the ink I had chosen. I then used Crystal Effects to hold it all together. After it had dried I stuck the scallop on the clip with a pop up glue dot.

Paper: Brocade Background Designer Paper, River Rock,

Ink: To dye the flowers-River Rock, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Flowers and half pearl-Pretties kit, Office Clip

Dazzle Time/Christmas Coundown

Stampin' Up! Demo perks: This is a set that will be coming out in the new Spring Summer Catalog released January 1st, 2008. It will be a level 3 hostess set. They sent it to all demos as a gift. I used the Color Challenge to create this card today. I have the butterfly stamped off once all over the background. I stamped it once full strength in the center top. I need know I will need practice coloring this or it will work great with paper piecing! I decided to cut my ribbon with a point out this time. I just folded it in half and cut up instead on in. I know I added Soft Sky to the color challenge: Wild Wasabi, Whisper White and Pretty Pink. I just really had it set in my mind to do a criss cross card today and wanted to use this designer paper.

Stamps: Time Well Spent

Paper: Fall Flowers DSP, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink

Ink: Pretty in Pink, Wild Wasabi

Accessories: Tool Kit for Piercing, Circle Punches- 1/2", 1", 1 1/4", 1 3/8", Pink Taffeta Ribbon, Wild Wasabi Double Stitched Ribbon

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I have soooo many of these mini clip boards I really needed to do something with them this year. I've seen some of these countdown boards done and decided to try my hand at making my own. First I place my paper on my board and turned it upside down. I cut around it with my hobby knife. I made sure my paper fit my board and then covered the board with Mod Podge to hold it down. I used the Mod Podge to seal the paper again. After it dried I added the ribbon across the seam.

The numbers and sentiment I printed from my computer. I have the codes for my Epson so I can print in SU! colors.

For the upper right hand corner I first punched with the photo corner punch and then rounded the corner with the corner rounder.

The wreath was done with the 1" circle punch and then the scallop Circle punch. I used the double circle punch to make the berries.

I did the corners of the sentiment with the ticket corner punch. I then added a flower from the Spring Flower Bouquet punch. I added the berries again with the double circle punch.

After I printed the numbers I punched them out with the small tag punch and the Old Olive with the large tag punch. I added the brad and ribbon after the Mod Podge had dried.

I sealed everything with Mod Podge including the back of the numbers. I used the Mod Podge to adhere all the permanent embellishments.

With this one I used velcro for the numbers. I have rolls and rolls of it, so it was the best fit for me this time. I put a strip across the back to hold the extras. I think magnetic sheets would work great too.

Paper: Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Ruby Red, Dash Designer Paper

Accessories: Scallop Circle Punch, 1' Circle Punch, Large and Small Oval Punch, Double Circle Punch, Spring Bouquet Flower Punch, Ticket Corner Punch, Photo Corner Punch, Corner Rounder Punch, Gold Brads, Really Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon, Mod Podge, Mini Clipboard, Velcro

Carbon Motifs/ Beaded Pen

So once again the card I had started took on a mind of it's own. In the long run I like the way it turned out. Hopefully I can figure out how to make what I had intended to do work and post that card next week sometime. I went a little crazy with the 1/8" circle punch :) The scallops are done with the corner rounder. An easy way to do the ribbon ends the way I have them is to fold the ribbon in half and then cut in. The sentiment is popped up on a glue dot (I love those things!). I do not use the Soft Subtle family much in the winter so I thought the Perfect Plum went well with the Basic Gray.

Stamps: Baroque Motifs, Tagger's Dozen

Paper: Basic Gray, Perfrect Plum, Very Vanilla, Carbon DSP

Ink: Perfect Plum, Basic Gray

Accessories: 1/8" circle punch, Corner Rounder, 1" Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Tool Kit for Piercing, Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon

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So today I am going to show you how I make my beaded pens. These are a fun, easy and inexpensive gift. Here is what you need.

I use:
Xyron machine
An RSVP Pen
Sticky Tape
Designer Paper (stamped paper would work too)
Micro Beads

Before I got my Xyron I would open the tube and put the paper inside. If you put the paper on the inside you will need to remove the words. A Mr. Clean Magic Eraser does a great job removing the words.

So either wrap the paper with adhesive around the pen or slip it into the barrel of the pen.

Make sure to press it firmly. Do not let it overwrap. The edge must stay down.

Next I take the sticky strip and run it up and down the pen. I always put the first piece over the seam of the designer paper. Be careful not to touch the sticky side of the tape. If I have any hang over I just use my hobby knife to cut the excess off.

I then peel off the backing of the tape and place it carefully in my container of Microbeads. Again make sure you do not touch the tape or the beads will not stick to it.

Carefully roll the pen around in the beads pressing as you turn it.

After it is covered I pick it up and press the beads on the pen by squeezing it all the way around.

I heat the pen slightly with my heat gun after the beads are pressed on. It makes the sticky strip grab the beads just a little bit more. I did this for a workshop once and one of the ladies forgot to heat hers and her beads did not stay as well. I used mine for over 2 years and the only beads that came loose were the onces my daughter chewed off.

While it is still warm I press it one more time.

Then your pen is finished and ready to be added to a gift or thrown in your own purse :).

Fall Flowers/Boxed Set

I love this Fall Flowers Designer Paper. The colors are my favorite colors! This was made for today's Limited Supplies Challenge. This card was also made for my daughter -in-law who was in a car accident last night. She is banged up pretty bad but is ok. Their car was totaled. Please keep her in your prayers! I also tried to use the colors and paper I used for today's extra project below. This is what we were allowed to use for the challenge:
A) Use 2-3 stamps - one should be a heart image or sentiment.

B) Choose one designer paper pattern OR one embellishment.

C) Choose one specialty tool. (Optional)

D) Limit the layers.

E) Use any coloring tools.

Stamps: Double Line Doodles

Paper: River Rock, Really Rust, Fall Flowers DSP, Groovy Guava

Ink: Groovy Guava, Really Rust, Black Stazon, River Rock

Accessories: Scallop Circle Punch, Large and Small Oval Punch

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I got an e-mail from a friend yesterday asking if I had a pattern for a box to put sets of cards with envelopes in to give as gifts. The only one I had was for a tote. I knew I could make one with a lid to give as a gift box from that pattern. Last weekend I had made the cards below with the one-sheet-wonder pattern. So I decided I needed to make a box to match the set of cards.

Stamps: Sanded Background

Paper: Really Rust, Old Olive, Fall Flowers DSP, Groovy Guava

Ink: Really Rust

Accessories: Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch

These cards are made with a one-sheet-wonder template. I made them all in under 1 hour. The idea is to make a set of matching cards. For these 11 cards I used one sheet of 12 x 12 Designer Paper, 4 colors of card stock including the Very Vanilla, 1 ink pad and 1 stamp set.

Stamps: It's Your Birthday

Paper: Fall Flowers DSP, Groovy Guava, Old Olive, Really Rust, Very Vanilla

Ink: Old Olive

Accessories: Scallop Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch

Stamps: It's Your Birthday

Paper: Fall Flowers DSP, Groovy Guava, Old Olive, Really Rust, Very Vanilla

Ink: Old Olive

Accessories: Large Tag Punch, Small Tag Punch, 5/8" Old Olive Grosgrain, 1 3/8" & 1 1/4" Square Punches

Stamps: It's Your Birthday

Paper: Fall Flowers DSP, Groovy Guava, Old Olive, Really Rust, Very Vanilla

Ink: Old Olive

Accessories: 1 3/8" & 1 1/4" Square Punches

Stamps: It's Your Birthday

Paper: Fall Flowers DSP, Groovy Guava, Old Olive, Really Rust, Very Vanilla

Ink: Old Olive

Accessories: 1 3/8" & 1 1/4" Circle Punches, Scallop Circle Punch, Designer Label Punch, Groovy Guava Double Stitched Ribbon

Stamps: It's Your Birthday

Paper: Fall Flowers DSP, Old Olive, Really Rust, Very Vanilla

Ink: Old Olive

Stamps: It's Your Birthday

Paper: Fall Flowers DSP, Groovy Guava, Old Olive, Very Vanilla. White Envelopes

Ink: Old Olive /Envelopes- Old Olive, Groovy Guava, Really Rust

Accessories: Scallop Circle Punch, 1/8" circle punch

Cracked Ship, Scallop Ornament

This was done for the Ways to Use it Challenge. I loved this paper when I saw it. I thought this would make a great sympathy card. The challenge was to use a unique brad. Since I have not yet bought the build-a-brads and I promised to use the designer paper as much as I could this month I decided to make my own. I cut out the circles from the designer paper and mounted them in the corners where I would put the brads. I then covered them in crystal effects and set aside to dry. The cracked glass is done by rubbing the image on my Versamark pad and pouring Glassy Glaze over it. I heat it from the back so the powder does not blow off as easy. I do two good coats and stick it in the freezer. A short time later I take it out and crack it right away. Then I take a sponge and rub ink across the cracks.

Stamps: Winds of Grace

Paper: Basic Gray, Very Vanilla, Carbon DSP

Ink: Basic Gray, Versamark

Accessories: Glassy Glaze Enamel Embossing Powder, Crystal Effects, Ticket corner punch

Techniques: Cracked Glass

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My ornament for the day is really pretty easy to do. I punched 6 scallops (3 of each side). I've read that some are doing it with 8, but I am happy with 6. Fold them all in half put adhesive on one side and adhere as I go around lining up the scallops. Right before I adhere the last one I insert the cord with the embellishments. I seal the top and bottom with Crystal Effects. I also use CE to hold the beads in place.

Paper: Dash DSP

Accessories: Silver Elastic Cord, Beads from the Pretties Kit, Scallop Punch

Sketch Challenge 150/ Paper Roll Ornament

This was made for today's sketch challenge . I love the designer paper and since it on special this month I am trying to use it on every project I do this month. The wind was blowing and overcast today so my picture turned out kind of dark, but it did not blow away. ;)

I embossed the words and popped the punched circle section up on a pop up glue dot.

Stamps: Dotted BG, Wishing You Cheer, Circle of Friendship

Paper: Ruby Red, River Rock, Dashing DSP

Ink: Ruby Red, Old Olive, Black Stazon, Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Ruby Red Craft ink

Accessories: Gold Zig Pen, White Gel Pen, 1", 1 1/4" 1 3/8" Circle Punches, Clear Embossing Powder, Gold Elastic Cord

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This is a very fun and inexpensive ornament I made with the Designer paper. All I did was take different size paper scraps and roll them up. I adhered the edge with some glue and dropped them in the glass ball. It can be as full as you like it to be. I tied a piece of twine to the top and a piece of ribbon around the base.

Paper: Dashing DSP

Accessories:Glass ornament ball, Moss Gingham Ribbon, Red Hemp Twine