Stamp Time!

all images copyright 1995-2006 Stampin' Up!

Did I mention that I like to stamp? No, I LOVE to stamp! It's such fun. I think because I can start and finish a project in one sitting. I love to scrapbook too, but the process takes me longer to complete.

The card above was an invitation to my stampin' girlfriends. The background is stamped using a college type of technique, frequently called a One Sheet Wonder. It's so simple and wonderful for mass producing cards.

Take a full sheet and randomly stamp images. I try to use 3 colors of ink for variety and depth - more than 3 colors could be overwhelming and busy. You need to stamp the images closely. I even stamp some images on top of others. By stamping the images close you avoid a lot of empty space when you cut the sheet apart.

After you are finished stamping, cut your cardstock for cards. In this example I just cut the cardstock in fourths to make a background. But, you can cut your cardstock in many shapes and sizes for multiple cards. It may help you to draw a cutting diagram on the reverse side of the cardstock. Start with rectangles. Once you see the space divided up, you may venture further by dividing up the rectangles into squares or triangles.

After you're finished cutting the stamped sheet, begin to mat the images and make cards. It's a great way to use up scraps too. Use the scraps for matting the stamped images. I've seen others make anywhwere from 4 - 12 cards from one sheet of 8 1/2 x 11 inch cardstock. Pretty cool.

Wanna see something sweet?

This is then ...

This is now ...

These are photos of my daughter and her best friend. Aren't they just the sweetest pictures? The girls share such a special bond, and it is such a blessing. I am so thankful for good friends!

What Inspires You?

Tell me.
I want to know.
Really, I do!
What inspires you?
What gets you excited and motivated to get up and do something? Here are a few things that inspire me, in no particular order of course ...

• my family
• spending time w/ my girlfriends
• reading material - books, mags, etc.
• printed papers - love them too much!
• odd size envelopes - so much possibility
• mini albums
• mod podge!
• a little bit of ink, paper and a heat gun!
• flowers
• chocolate (ok, maybe it doesn't inspire me, but I do enjoy it)
• creative people
• reading blogs by creative people and seeing their latest creations
• learning something new
• teaching others - sharing knowledge
• taking classes (preferably craft classes)
• traveling - wish we could go more often and further away ...
• QVC (sorry, it's true - I watch waaay more than I buy - promise!)
• pretty ribbons
• sharing a meal with friends
• good conversation
• extra minutes on my cell phone
• Barnes & Noble
• a good movie
• a clean house - ha, know of any??
• quiet time (rare, oh so rare!)

So, that's my list ... please share a few of your inspirations with me. I may even post a few of them here! With your permission, of course ...

And, remember, you can read older posts and see more projects by clicking on the Archives to the right.

Shaving Cream Technique

all images copyright 1995-2006 Stampin' Up!

This is a fun technique, you can use it to make backgrounds for cards, stationary, envelopes, etc. Use your imagination! The paper smells nice too. In the example above, I used pretty in pink and barely banana reinkers.

Use a shallow rectangular pan for shaving cream, spread it around to cover the entire pan (peaks are ok). Drop 2 - 3 colors of reinker in the shaving cream, then take a knife and swirl the color enough to create a marbled look but not so much that the colors mix and get muddy.

Take your cardstock and place on top of the shaving cream making sure all the cardstock comes in contact w/ the shaving cream. Carefull lift the cardstock and wipe with a paper towel, set aside to dry. Cut and use as needed.

If you make a Shaving Cream Card, I would love to see it! Email it to me and I may post it here or in my Art Gallery HERE

Summer Mini in my mailbox!

Yes, you read the title correctly ... I have in my possession a Summer Mini Catalog! The mini isn't actually in effect until June 1, and all my stamp clubbies will receive their copy mid-May. I will post a picture when one becomes available, but until then, here are brief descriptions of some of the sets:

Basics Outline - Jumbo outline of flowers coordinates w/ Bud Basics
Buds - Jumbo solid flowers coordinates w/ wheel above and set below - you can 2 step stamp w/ the two jumbo wheels.
Bud Basics - Set of 6 solid and outline images of flowers and leaf. Reminds me of Paint Prints from SAB 2005, but yet different.
Sheltering Tree - 2 Step Stampin' set -- Stems and leaves/buds/hearts and a sun. I like this one, and I'm surprised because it's not really my type!
Petal Patch Paper - Love it, love it! I just love (did I say that already?) the new patterned papers SU is coming out with. And I love that the colors in the papers match the inks and the 48 colors. This makes scrapbooking great pages a snap.
The Wheel Thing - Cuteness all the way. There is a solid wheelbarrow, a shopping cart, a scooter and a wagon. I can imagine putting lots of things (money, gift cards, other stamped images, etc) inside these so they peek out of the top.
Cowboy Kid - Perfect for your lil' cowboy at home! Great for kids party invitations or scrapbook pages.
Laundry Notes - Undies with cute sayings: "Just a short note" (shorts), "You fit like a glove" (glove), "Slipping you a note" (slip), We'll always be tight" (tights), We're a perfect match (socks).
Spunky Alpha and numbers - Love this alpha set -- gotta have it! Reminds me of Tall Tales alpha, but smaller and w/ a bit of a curve.
Polka Dot Posies - Flowers, petals and leaves, some solid, some polka-dotted images. Really cute.
Shore Thing - Solid beach images. More cartoonish than last year's mini set.
Flip Flop wheel - solid image flip flops to match "Shore Thing" set CUTE!
Going my Way - sJumbo wheel. of a school of fish, also matches "Shore Thing"
Edgy Eloquence - Great word set with quotes from WC Fields, Abraham Lincoln, etc.
By Sea - Boats, submarine, life preserver, etc. including the word "Glub". Would be great for kids scrapbook pages and party invitations.
Clowning Around - clown stamps and a circus tent, solid image stamps.
Pattern of Friendship - Love this one with a sewing theme, includes "pattern" number and dress styles typical of sewing patterns. There is a row of dresses, and a saying.
Wish you were here - This is a nice set, not vintage, but the images are of older things like a camera and luggage, it is solid image travel set, really cool.
Nature Prints - Images look similar to rubbings, distressed slightly, fish, turtle, shell and leaf with an outline, very rustic outdoorsy looking

There is no mini catalog hostess set. That program has been discontinued, however, hostesses reaching $400 will receive an additional set of your choice beginning in July with the new catalog! Woo Hoo! I think this is a much better deal because you have a choice in the extra set you receive!

doing it digi

I don't know what you are thinking, but ... doing it digi is an online class that I signed up to take. It is all about learning how to make scrapbook pages digitally. I made my first page today and it was a real brain strain! Maybe if I was 21 insted of 41 it would be easier?

The photo I used on this page (which is the cover page for my digi album) was taken by my daughter last fall when the leaves were changing. The leaves are from the maple tree in our front yard. I think she did a pretty good job with the photo, don't you?

Anyway, I am learning how to scrapbook in a new way and I'm very excited about it! After I struggled through the first page I made 4 more pages. Yes, it did take me all afternoon and into the evening ... but it is fun. If you're interested visit www.bigpicturescrapbooking.com for more information on the digital scrapping class.

Happy Easter! This is a simple card to create for a last minute Easter hello. The set used is Never-ending Joy. I used Cameo Coral and Old Olive cardstock, white as the base for the stamped image and two white eyelets. The tulips look nice with a touch of glitter too, if you wanted to posh it up a bit.

Yearbook

Our homeschool group is printing a yearbook. This is our family page. I'm not sure how it will look once copied in black & white, but since I am finishing it at the last minute ... My daughter said I used too many pictures. Can you imagine her thinking such a thing? Ok, maybe I did fill every inch, but it was too hard to choose the pictures to leave out.

Frame Decor

A simple, quick and inexpensive way to customize your home decor. This stamped frame is in my hall bath. I found the frame at Walmart - and it came just as you see here - a white frame w/ 3 mini frames in various shades of green. The colors were perfect for my freshly painted brown walls (actually, I think the color is latte) !

This particular project has no layers! It is stamped on confetti white paper with SU! Chalk Inks in earth tones. I used Petal Prints and Natural Beauty stamp sets. The cardstock is attached inside the frame with a small piece of sticky strip (red line tape) to make sure it didn't slip once hung.

To create a stunning framed piece layer and piece your stamped images and include additional embellishments such as clips, ribbon, brads and glitter.

all images copyright 1995-2006 Stampin' Up!

Happy Easter Card

images Stampin' Up! copyright 1995-2006

I love this card because it is so simple!

Faith and Hope Stamp Set
Barely Banana, Certainly Celery & Whisper White Cardstock
Spring Flowers designer paper
Pink grosgrain ribbon
Stampin' Write markers

Inspiration

“Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.”
~ Ella Fiztgerald

April is National Jazz Appreciation month and I found this quote by Ella Fitzgerald which sums up things nicely.