Christmas is Coming!

It seems like it's just around the corner.  This year has went to fast.  Since I've had that feeling a lot lately, I decided to get started on making my cards for my big Christmas Stamp-a-Stack.  I design 10 cards and attendees get to make 3 of each design.  It's a fun afternoon and we always get into the Christmas spirit.  This year my Christmas Stamp-a-Stack is November 10 and 11.  I like to hold it two days so my classes can stay small.  There are so many exciting products in the Holiday Catalog that it's hard to know what to use.  I started with the lovely Holiday Frame Embossing Folder.  I knew the minute I saw it I wanted it!!  Has that ever happened to you?

I have to admit that I cased these cards.  That's actually how I start to create for my classes. I see what products or stamp sets I want to use then I go "surfing."  Actually, maybe it's more like stalking, LOL!!  Here is where I found this lovely card.  I used Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso ink, Cherry Cobbler and Whisper White card stock and Cherry Cobbler seam binding.  So simple but so elegant!

This next card is similar but I used Very Vanilla instead of Whisper White, Gumball Green base and I added a scalloped trim on the sides in Cherry Cobbler.  I just had to try the new scalloped tulle ribbon.  It's so easy to work with.  This card uses the Joyous Celebrations stamp set from the Holiday Catalog (pg. 7) along with the Holiday Frame embossing folder.  I was inspired here for this card.

Here's another card using my Holiday Frame embossing folder, the Ornament Keepsakes stamp set and Holiday Ornaments framelits. At  my Christmas Stamp-a-Stack I design 10 different card designs and everyone gets to make 3 of each.  I thought it would be nice on this card that they can decide if they want 2 in Gumball Green and 1 in Cherry Cobbler or any combination of this card.  It's so simple yet is so "christmasy" ... is that a word?  Well, it is in my book, LOL!!  Here is where I found this design.

Same card as above but in Cherry Cobbler ...

Thanks for stopping in and checking out my sneak peek at my Christmas Stamp-a-Stack.  If you live in the Alton/Godfrey, IL area, please let me know if you want to come to my classes this weekend ... Saturday and Sunday.

See you soon ...

Linda

Oops ... Almost Forgot

I posted my September Stamp-a-Stack cards but forgot this last one.  I was reminded by one of my customers.  Sorry about that, Antoinette!!!  I also apologize for the photo.  I took it with my cell phone but I think you can still see the lovely quilt card I made using the Comfort Cafe DSP.  After placing the small quilt squares on a Midnight Muse square of card stock, I embossed it using the Square Lattice Embossing Folder.  It's a simple card but it reminds you of a warm, homey quilt!

Supplies used:  Curly Cute stamp set; Comfort Cafe DSP, Very Vanilla, Soft Suede and Midnight Muse card stock and ink; Soft Suede ribbon, Square Lattice embossing folder.

Have a great day.  Enjoy the beautiful fall season.

Linda

October Stamp-a-Stack Cards

I can't believe I'm posting pics of some of my cards for my October classes.  My Stamp-a-Stack classes are not until October 20 and 21!!  Since I work for the U.S. Postal Service I had a long 3-day weekend -- Monday was Columbus Day.  I decided to take advantage ot this past weekend and try to work ahead.

It helped that I had new "toys" to play with -- the Autumn Accent Bigz die, new stamp sets and new Designer Series Paper.  As I was working, I realized I definitely have a "leaf" theme to these 3 cards.  I hope you enjoy looking at what I created this weekend. 

The first card I cased from someone on SplitcoastStampers, however, every time I went to her blog my anti-virus software gave me a warning.  Once again, I loved it so I didn't change much I just used stuff I had so a few things had to be changed.  What do you think?

Supplies used:  Gently Falling & Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets; Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze, More Mustard & Old Olive card stock and ink; Whisper White card stock, Linen Thread, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, sponges, Autumn Accent Bigz die, Bright Brads, Word Window and Modern Label punches.


This next card also cased here.  Yes, I do create some things by myself, in fact, check out the next card because most of that card was a "MamaDog" original. Anyway, this card uses a color combination that I never would have put together -- Gumball Green, Summer Starfruit and Cherry Cobbler.  Wild, hah?  Do you like the veins on the leaves?  Can you guess what I used?  Give up?  I used the Spider Web embossing folder!!  Crazy!  That was a trick I learned from the Stamp Lady Katie. Check out her blog.

Supplies used:  Gentle Falling & Itty Bitty Banners stamp sets; Crumb Cake & Whisper White card stock; Cherry Cobbler, Summer Starfruit and Gumball Green ink; Square Lattice & Spider Web Embossing Folders; Summer Starfruit ribbon; Autumn Accents Bigz die and Bitty Banner framelits.

Okay, this is my MamaDog original but I was inspired by this card .  I LOVED the colors used so I just made it my own.  I used the emboss resist technique on the Tweet Leaves stamp.  I stamped in VersaMark on Very Vanilla, used clear embossing powder and then sponged Lucky Limeade, More Mustard and Island Indigo ink over the image.  I think is a WOW!!  Have you noticed that the hottest think in paper crafting is the banner.  It's everywhere!!

Supplies used:  Tweet Leaves & Friendly Phrases stamp sets; Island Indigo, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla and More Mustard card stock; Orchard Harvest DSP; More Mustard, Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo and Early Espresso ink; More Mustard (retired) brads; Autumn Accent Bigz die, Early Espresso ribbon.

Thanks for stopping in to see what I did this past weekend.  It was a wonderfully cool fall weekend and I spent it stamping -- LIVE IS GOOD!!

Linda

What a Wonderful Day

Saturday was our Stampin' Up group event here in St. Louis called Happy Holidaze.  We hold this event every fall after the Holiday Catalog comes out.  Everyone in our group is so talented and it's always fun to share ideas especially as we start getting ready for the holiday season.

Well, this event was everything I needed to renew friendships and get my creative juices flowing.  I demonstrated a new technique I saw on Splitcoast Stampers called "water stamping."  I wasn't sure how it would turn out but everyone loved my card samples.  Here is one of the cards I created using the water stamping technique.

I sponged Cajun Craze and Tangerine Tango onto regular Whisper White card stock.  Using a pie plate or other container you wet a layer of paper towels with water.  I layered 3 sheets of paper towels and added water.  You want your paper towel pretty wet but not wet enough to drip out of the plate when you hold it up.  I hope that makes sense.  Any way that wet paper towel becomes your stamp pad.  In the sample above I used the Gently Falling two-step stamp set (pg. 86 Annual Catalog).  I took the inside of the leaf stamp (not the outline of the leaf stamp) and tapped it on the wet paper towel and then stamped onto my sponged card stock.  You want to have plenty of water on your stamp and hold it down on the card stock for a few seconds for the best results.  Letting the card stock air dry works best but you can use your heat gun.  If the card stock rolls from being wet, use an iron to flatten -- iron it on the wrong side.  It's also important to pick a BOLD stamp that has lots of rubber surface for the water to adhere to.  Very fine delicate or outline stamp sets will not work as well.

It's hard to see in the picture but the images of the water stamped leaves are very muted and subtle.  I think it made a fabulous fall card.  What do you think?

I also designed a make 'n take card using the new Illuminate Glimmer Watermark Stamp Pad (pg. 23 Holiday Catalog).

I apologize for the photo, I took it on my phone.  The snowflakes are from the Snowflake Soiree stamp set (pg. 5 Holiday Catalog) stamped in the Illuminate Glimmer Watermark ink on Midnight Muse card stock.  Peace on Earth is from the Greetings of the Season (pg. 8 Holiday Catalog) and has been embossing using the silver embossing powder.  Other layers on the card are Whisper White and Brushed Silver (pg. 160 Annual Catalog).  The picture does not show how beautiful the card is.  It really shimmers!!

Well, the most exciting part was after I demonstrated water stamping and prepared the make 'n take card, Sally (who organizes this event) gave me a gift.  What a gift it was -- an APPLE PIE IN A JAR!  Now, at first I thought it would be a jar filled with ingredients to make an apple pie but NO it's really a baked apple pie in a jar!!  I just had to take a picture of it to show all of you.  Here it is:

Sally's friend Mary made this wonderful gift.  She used the Orchard Harvest Designer Fabric(pg. 30 in Holiday Catalog) on the lid and made a cute gift tag using the Orchard Harvest Designer Series Paper.  Mary baked the pie on Friday and it's supposed to be good for 7 days.  I think I may eat it tonight after dinner!

Here's a pic of it open:

Isn't it just the cutest little apple pie?  I'm going to Google "apple pie in a jar" to see how they did it.  I think I'll warm it up in the microwave and eat it with a scope of vanilla ice cream ... yummy!!!

Thanks for stopping by.  I'll have more pics this week of the other make 'n takes we made on Saturday.  Have a great week.

Linda

Stamp-a-Stack Cards

I've been a bad girl!! I failed to post my stamp-a-stack cards before my classes. I'm not sure how time gets away from me so quickly. Well I say, "better late than never." So here are some of the things that are keeping me busy: My first two cards use the new elegant butterfly punch. The name says it all -- it is an elegant punch. I cased this first card here. I changed it up a little but I hope you like it.

This next card I cased here. It was so perfect that I didn't change a thing.

I can't believe I'm making Halloween cards already.  I love Halloween so I had go get the cute little "Googly Ghouls" stamp set (and, of course, the googly eyes!!)  I cased this card here and changed a few things but I liked the looked.

 

 Another cute Halloween card using the "Bootiful Occasion" stamp set.  I just LOVE those boots in that stamp set so, of course, I had to use the witches boot.  I cased the card here.

 

I've got one more card that we made at my Stamp-a-Stack classes but I've got to get my camera out again and take a quick pic.  Come back tomorrow to see that beautiful card made using Comfort Cafe DSP.

Thanks for stopping in.  Have a great day.

Linda

Can't Believe It's August!

The summer's almost over. Schools are beginning to start. Where did the summer go??  I'm back from my family vacation in Door County, WI.  It was so much fun and the weather was cooler and sunny!  I'll post some of my pictures soon.  I just downloaded them from my camera.  However, now I want to show you some of my cards for my August classes next weekend.

My first card uses my newest set that I received FREE as an award from my Sale-a-Bration sales (thanks to my loyal customers!) -- Betsy's Blossoms.  I love the little bird.  Supplies used: Rich Razzleberry, Gumball Green ink; Floral District DSP and Rich Razzleberry and Whisper White card stock; Baja Breeze seam binding.

The next card uses the newest In Colors -- Midnight Muse, Primrose Petals and Summer Starfruit. I also used Betsy's Blossoms.  I love the large flower stamp.  If you look close, I stamped it and then punched it with the Blossom punch!  It's a very simple card and the colors do not show up well in the photo but it's beautifully simple but produces a WOW!  Supplies used Midnight Muse, Primrose Petals, Summer Starfruit and Whisper White card stock; Blossom & Boho Blossoms punches.

My last card for this little sneak peek uses A Reason to Smile stamp set which was the special stamp set for the month of July.  Yea, I know, you can't get it now if you didn't get it in July but I love the little daisy stamp and wanted to try it using the new technique of Triple Time Stamping.  It's got a WOW factor to it but it's very easy!!  Make sure you come to my class to find out how to do this fun new technique.  Supplies used Raspberry Ripple and Whisper White card stock and ink; Crumb Cake ink and Seam Binding ribbon; Stampin Dimensionals.

Thanks for check in and seeing what I've got ready for you at my August classes.  Make sure you reserve your spot today.

Enjoy the day!

Linda

One More Card

When I posted last, I left one card off.  I didn't want to give you all my cards BEFORE the class, LOL!!  So here is the last card from my July class.

This card uses the Summer Smooches DSP, Delightful Daffodil, Lucky Limeade and Island Indigo card stock.  I love the simplicity of this card and it could also be masculine.

On vacation now in Door County, WI with my kids and grandkids.  Just wanted to get this last card posted so anyone with a card kit could see the cards.  I'll try to post later this week with vacation pictures!!

Thanks for looking.  Come back soon.

Linda

July Card Class

Okay, I can't believe the last time I posted was in January!! I guess time flies when you're not looking! Of course, in that time "Blogger" has changed their layout and things look different and I don't have time to figure it out.  I hate change -- first it's Facebook now my Blog, ugh!!

Anyway, below are the cards I'll be making at my July card class.  I figure I'll just get them posted and if you need to know anything about it -- just leave me a comment.

First card uses Fabulous Florets with Floral District DSP.  I was inspired by the card here.  I loved the colors so I didn't change that just cut down on some of the layering.

Next card uses one of the new In-Colors - Summer Starfruit.  I LOVE this color.  The stamp set is Just Believe.  Other colors are Riding Hood Red and Baja Breeze.  The ribbon is retired Riding Hood Red but, heck, I had it in my stash why not use it.

This card uses the Easy Events stamp sets -- so simple but so cute!  I also love the Label Collection Framelits.  I'm waiting for my order to come in but at the class we'll use the new paper piercing tool to pierce around the Luckly Limeade frame.

This last card was taken right out of this month's Stampin' Success.  I added my own little touches but I think it turned out so cute.  Oh, I couldn't resist adding some of the Luckly Limeade ribbon from Sale-a-Bration.  Check out the Stampin' Success (demonstrator's only) and see if you like my changes on the card.

That's it for now.  I've got one more card but I want my customers to be a little surprised on Saturday.

Thanks for stopping by.

Linda

Valentine's Day Stamp-a-Stack

It's been a LONG time since I've posted anything -- back in November!  Well once the holidays hit, it's such a busy time for everyone that I was just struggling to get all my holiday plans completed before Santa arrived!!  We just had our last Christmas celebration this last Saturday and my tree is finally put away for another year.  But how quickly the months pass it will be back up before I know it, LOL!!!

I've designed a few cards for my upcoming Valentine's Day Stamp-a-Stack.  I'm kind of excited about these two cards because I designed them myself -- no CASEing!  The first one uses the a la carte stamp set "Candy Conversations" in the Occasions Mini.  I also used some of the beautiful pleated ribbon.  It makes the card look so simple but elegant, don't you think?  The other supplies I used were:  Riding Hood Red, Early Espresso and Whisper White card stock; In-Color DSP (Blushing Bride); Riding Hood Red ink with Blushing Bride and Early Espresso markers; Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Ticket Corner Punch and the small Heart Punch.

The next card uses the "Sweetheart" stamp set from the 2011-2012 Catalog & Idea Book.  I used the new embosslits (small hearts at bottom of card base) from the Occasions Mini.  They are very easy to use and add an extra little something to your projects.  I embossed the heart in the center using the Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, punched it out with our Heart punch and used Stampin' Dimensionals to make it pop.  Other supplies used:  Rose Red, Wild Wasabi, Regal Rose and Whisper White card stock; Regal Rose 1/8" taffeta ribbon; Corner Rounder punch.

I hope you enjoy my little "sneak peek" from my upcoming Stamp-a-Stack.  I plan on designing one more Valentine card and two general occasion cards for a total of 5 different designs.

Thanks for stopping by.  I'm back and hopefully won't be gone so long next time, LOL!!!

Linda