Monthly Archives: August 2012

Fall Thanks for SC #400

Posted on August 31, 2012 | Leave a comment

Have you ever participated in the Splitcoaststampers’ Challenges?  They have challenges for every day of the week and sometimes more than one per day….so if you’re ever looking for ways to improve your stamping skills or to just have fun and increase your card stash…take part in the challenges!

Here is a card for this week’s sketch challenge…the challenge was to select any past sketch and use it to make a card (I selected #391):

This was a relatively easy card to put together once I chose the colors and paper…it turned out to be a type of Fall Thanks card or just a thank you for a friend.  The main image message is heat embossed with Early Espresso…I love the way Stampin’ Up! has increased the number of embossing powder colors…you can never have enough!

                                                          click to enlarge

Love Raspberry Ripple…beautiful year-round color!

  • Stamps:  Trust God (wood…126700;  clear…126702),  Fabulous Phrases (wood…117002;  clear…120501)
  • Ink:  Raspberry Ripple (126859), Early Espresso (126974), Versamark (102283)
  • Paper:  Orchard Harvest DSP (1268950), Early Espresso CS (119686), Whisper White CS (100730)
  • Tools:  Early Espresso Stampin’ Emboss Powder (128980), Embossing Buddy (103083), Heat Tool (129053), Big Shot (113439), Floral Frames Framelits (127012), Bitty Banners Framelits (129267)
  • Accents:  In Color Dahlias (127556)

Order from my Stampin’ Store…here!

 

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Posted in Other Challenges, Thank You Cards

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Washer Necklaces

Posted on August 30, 2012 | 1 Comment

Quick post to show off some washer necklaces I made recently with Stampin’ Up! designer papers…. specifically  Summer Smooches and Comfort Cafe.

                                                            click to enlarge

I bought the washers (3/8″ and 1/2″) at my local hardware store…. glued the paper to the washers after punching them out with circle punches…sanded any edges that needed cleaning up…then applied several layers of  Crystal Effects to the fronts of the washers….still debating what I want to use for the necklace part….I do think the matching ribbons are very pretty!  And I plan to buy some larger washers next time, also…there are so many sizes!  And the larger sizes can be accented more easily….with pearls, dahlias, etc.

 

  • Paper:   Comfort Cafe (126898), International Bazaar (126920)
  • Tools:  1/2″ Circle Punch (119869), 1″ Circle Punch (119868), 3/8″ Circle Punch (from the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack….118309), 3/4″ Circle Punch (119873), Crystal Effects (101055),
  • Accents:  Old Olive 1/8″ Taffeta Ribbon (119256), Very Vanilla 1/8″ Taffeta Ribbon (119960), Whisper White Baker’s Twine (124262)

Tip:  the washers are named by the inside circle….when I punched the circles, I punched the smaller circle first and then lined up the larger  circle around the smaller one.  Questions?….just e-mail me!

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Posted in Crafts

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Carry On!

Posted on August 29, 2012 | Leave a comment

Remember this stamp set and the legal conflict that Stampin’ Up! faced when it was released?  Fortunately, Stampin’ Up! got the “go-ahead” that they could contine selling this set, but it seemed to be “touch and go” for awhile!  Imagine someone thinking an inspirational  saying from World War II could be financially exploited almost 70 years after its inception!
I’m not using the famous saying on my card today, but it’s good to know I can if I want to!

                                                           click to enlarge

Yes, I know this looks like a rather strange card, but I just could not get an accurate photo!!  It is actually softly pretty!  I sponged the colors in each section and stamped the cupcakes in the same color…then placed Dazzling Diamonds over the frostings…all this after the message was heat embossed….making this an Emboss Resist technique!

  • Stamps:  Carry On (wood…126645;  clear…126647)
  • Ink:  Calypso Coral (126983), Lucky Limeade (126984), Pool Party (126982), Wisteria Wonder (126985), Versamark (102283)
  • Paper:  Whisper White CS (1007300)
  • Tools:  Stamping Sponges (101610), Clear Stampin’ Emboss Powder (109130), Heat Tool (129053)
  • Accents:  Dazzling Diamonds (102023)

Here is the Carry On Stamp Set:

Here is my Stampin’ Store!

 

 

 

 

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Posted in Friendship Cards, Tips and Techniques

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Naturally Thankful

Posted on August 27, 2012 | Leave a comment

When I first looked at the Natural Composition Specialty DSP in the catalog…I wondered just how I would use it..I was accustomed to using a lot of color and this paper was so subtle and so BROWN….what you don’t see in the picture below, however, is the luscious glossiness of the images.  The paper is pretty classy and can be added to color schemes or used in a monochromatic theme as the one below.

                                                      click to enlarge

I heat embossed the message with Early Espresso to give the image just a little POP with a different shade of brown!

Here you can see a bit of the glossy finish on the DSP and the embossed message…

  • Stamps:   Perfectly Penned (wood…122890;  clear…122892),  Thoughts and Prayers (wood…113252;  clear…127805)
  • Ink:  Versamark (102283), Crumb Cake (126975)
  • Paper:  Natural Composition Specialty DSP (126917), Crumb Cake CS (120953)
  •  Tools:  Big Shot (113439), Labels Collection Framelits (125598), 1/16″ Circle Handheld (101227), 3/16″ Corner Punch (119871)
  • Accents:  Crumb Cake  1/2″ Seam Binding Ribbon (122332)

I’m getting ready to tackle making some boxes out of this paper…saw that on someone’s blog and loved it!

You can purchase all these products from my Stampin’ Store…here!   Do you love Pinterest?  I’ve gotten soooo many ideas from that site!

 

 

 

 

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Posted in Thank You Cards

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Digital Ideas from Stampin’ Up!

Posted on August 26, 2012 | Leave a comment

Here is a video from Stampin’ Up! showing various ways MDS2 can be used for Home Decor!  Interested?  Watch and you will be!  

                                                           

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Posted in SU Promotions, Video

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Free For All 141 SCS Challenge

Posted on August 25, 2012 | 1 Comment

One of the Friday Challenges (this site has daily challenges) on SplitCoastStampers is Free For All (F4A)…today the challenge is to make a card with COLOR…Easy Peasy!

Summer Smooches was a natural choice with two of the colors from the Brights Collection: Tempting Turquoise and Daffodil Delight… 

                                                         click to enlarge

The main image is heat embossed…giving it a bit more POP!  Such a variety of color choices with this DSP!

In the next picture…the heat embossing is a little more obvious!

  • Stamps:  Mixed Bunch (wood…125535;  clear…125537), Fabulous Phrases (wood…117002;  clear…120501)
  • Ink:  Tempting Turquoise (126952), Daffodil Delight (126944), Versamark (102283)
  • Paper:  Summer Smooches DSP (125409), Whisper White CS (100730)
  • Tools:  Blossom Punch (125603), Labels Collections Framelits (125598), Bitty Banners Framelits (129267), Embossing Buddy (103083), Heat Tool (129053), Big Shot (113439)
  • Accents:  Daffodil  Delight 1/8″ Taffeta Ribbon (119254), Tempting Turquoise Stampin’ Emboss Powder (122950)

Hope you have a colorful day!  And if you want to add a LOT of color to your life…Come Join With Me!

Stamping Makes Me Smile!   Susan  ♥ 

 

 

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Posted in Friendship Cards, SCS Challenge

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Freshly Made Sketch Challenge 49

Posted on August 24, 2012 | Comments Off

Freshly Made Sketches has a new challenge…#49:

I didn’t add a sentiment where it is indicated because my circles are the message, so I substituted with a ribbon!  I often see stampers veering a bit from the sketch, so I hope it’s OK!

The letters I used are too large for longer words, but perfect for small words (and fortunately there are plenty of those!)….they could also be used for scrapbooking…any scrapbookers out there?

  • Stamps:  Lovely Letters Alphabet
  • Ink:  Lucky Limeade
  • Paper:  Candlelight Christmas Specialty DSP and Whisper White CS
  • Tools:  1 3/8″ Circle Punch, Stamping Sponges
  • Accents:  Lucky Limeade 3/8″ Ruffled Ribbon, Designer Ribbon Slides

AND there’s Great News:

Due to all the summer busyness, getting kids ready to return to school, and the big reveal of MDS2, Stampin’ Up! has decided to extend the 31% Off Digital sale until September 14!

WHEW!  Now everyone can have a little more breathing room ….Be sure you take a look at the 31 digital items on sale and snatch up your favorites before September 14.   Here is some info on the MDS2 trial and the 13% discount!

Have you LIKED me on my Facebook page? 

Stamping Makes Me Smile!   Susan   ♥ 

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Posted in Digital, Holiday Cards, Other Challenges

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Brand New Digital Downloads

Posted on August 22, 2012 | Leave a comment

Here are seven new digital downloads for all you Digital Dons and Dollies!

                                 Topsy-Turvy Celebration Kit #131217 

                                          Knots and Ties Trim #131211 

                                       Lovely Little Labels Kit #131231 

                            From My Heart Stampbrush Set #131234

                            Noel Noted Greeting Card Templates #131468 

                            Tweet Leaves Stampbrush Set #131230 

                     Seasonal Salutations Greeting Card Template #131216

Have fun with these….Shop my Stampin’ Store 24/7….HERE!

Stamping Makes Me Smile!  Susan  ♥

 

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Posted in Digital, SU Promotions

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Mojo Monday 255

Posted on August 21, 2012 | Leave a comment

Here is the Mojo Monday Sketch and the site where you can join in:

I had a tough time selecting papers for this one…..still not completely pleased, but here it is…the weather is too hot  for me to change my approach!!

                                                       click to enlarge

Believe it or not, both of these brown (Early Espresso) papers are in Christmas packs!  I’m pretty traditional and it’s difficult for me to incorporate brown into Christmas cards!  What about you?

The really cool part of this card is that I got to try out the new ornament bundle in the Holiday Catalog…I’m looking forward to stamping and die-cutting lots of ornaments for Christmas cards!

I don’t know how well you can see the paper-piercing on the ornament! With the new Festive Paper-Piercing Pack in the Holiday Catalog, you can paper-pierce every one of the ornaments in the new set!

  • Stamps:  Ornament Keepsakes (wood…128048; clear…128051), Teeny Tiny Wishes (wood…115370; clear…127802)
  • Ink:  Basic Gray (126981), Raspberry Ripple (126859)
  • Paper:  Candlelight Christmas Specialty DSP (126901), Festival of Prints DSP Stacks (126904), Whisper White CS (100730), Midnight Muse CS (126843), Raspberry Ripple CS (126842), Silver Glimmer Paper (124005)
  • Tools:  Holiday Ornaments Framelits Dies (127816), Snow Flurry Bigz Die (127813), Window Frames Collection Framelits Dies (129021), Bitty Banners Framelits (129267), Perfect Polka Dots Folder (117335), Scallop Edge Border Punch (119882), Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430), Corner Rounder Punch(119871), Festive Paper Piercing Pack (127857)
  • Accents:  Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon (109070), In Color Dahlias (127556)

Now it’s time for you to show your stuff on Mojo Monday!   Everything on my card can be purchased in my Stampin’ Store…HERE!  And THEN….Please LIKE me on Facebook!

 Stamping Makes Me Smile!    Susan  ♥ 

 

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Posted in Holiday Cards, Other Challenges

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Bookmark It!

Posted on August 20, 2012 | Comments Off

Reading a favorite book is more fun than ever with these bookmarks!…seasonal and perfect as gifts for friends, family, teachers, etc.   I attached DSP (front) to cardstock (back) with light cardboard in between to give them some durability.  And how easy it was to make them with the Two Tags Bigz Die and my Big Shot!

                                                        click to enlarge

The tag I used is the smaller of the two tags and is a perfect size for a bookmark…don’t you love the scallop edge at the top?….adds some cuteness factor!

  •   Stamps:  Mixed Medley…Hostess set (wood:…128054;  clear…128057)  {this is an adorable set from the Holiday catalog with a variety of uses}
  • Ink:  Black Stazon (101406), Pumpkin Pie (126945)
  • Paper:  Neutrals DSP Stacks (117157), Whisper White  CS (100730), Pumpkin Pie CS (105117) {on the back of the bookmark}
  • Tools:  Big Shot (113439), Two Tags Bigz Die (115954), 1/16″ Circle Handheld Punch (101227)
  • Accents:  Brights Designer Buttons (119747), Basic Black 1/8″ Taffeta Ribbon (119261), Pumpkin Pie 1/8″ Taffeta Ribbon (119253)

  • Stamps:  Perfectly Preserved (wood…126690;  clear…126692) {Holiday Catalog}
  • Ink:  Lucky Limeade (126984), Early Espresso (126974), Basic Gray (126981)
  • Paper:  Orchard Harvest DSP (126895) {wonderful Fall paper in the Holiday Catalog}, Very Vanilla CS (101650)
  • Tools:  Big Shot (113439),  Cannery Set Framelits Dies (127822), Two Tags Bigz Die (115954), 1/16″ Handheld Circle Punch (101227)
  • Accents:  Lucky Limeade 3/8″ Ruffled Ribbon (122977)

Can’t you just imagine the possiblities of these bookmarks with the holidays and other special days coming our way?….I’m already getting some ideas for stocking stuffers….

Please shop my Stampin’ Store 24/7 …here!

Stamping Makes Me Smile!  Susan   ♥

 

 

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Posted in 3-D Projects, Crafts

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OK…Time to Cool Down!

Posted on August 19, 2012 | Leave a comment

Hope your weather is cooling down…..I’m not at my best in extreme weather conditions…maybe that’s why I’ve stayed in southern CA!

Here is a little video for you…Have a blessed Sunday and see you on Monday!

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Posted in Trivia, Video

Free MDS2 Trial Reminder

Posted on August 18, 2012 | Leave a comment

Do you need a reminder about the new MDS2 and the 31% discount in August?

Let’s start with the FREE TRIAL for MDS2!  That means NO obligation!  Here is a link to the free trial…

Next:  31 Digital items at a 31% discount (during August Only)….HERE….Isn’t it difficult to turn away from an opportunity like this?    Especially if you aren’t that familiar with using digital….this is a Try it for Free With No Commitment day for you!  Easy Peasy!

Finally….I hope you are a Possibility Thinker because Stampin’ Up! has made a video to show you some of the possibilites when you use MDS2: 


Stamping Makes Me Smile!    Susan  ♥

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Posted in Digital, SU Promotions

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2 Weeks Left!

Posted on August 17, 2012 | Leave a comment

Beware!…..there are just 2 weeks left to earn the exclusive Howl-o-ween Printer’s Tray project kit—Be very afraid!  But Don’t be haunted by it for the rest of your life; take advantage of this spooktacular offer and the opportunity today!

Now really…take a good look at that tray…can’t you imagine all the projects (other than Halloween) that it could be used for ??   (As if the Halloween project isn’t cute enough all by itself!)

Here is my original post with ALL the spooky information! 

Stamping Makes Me Smile!   Susan  ♥ 

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Posted in SU Promotions

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PPA 141 Sketch Challenge

Posted on August 16, 2012 | 1 Comment

Here is another great sketch from one of the Stampin’ Pretty Pals, Margaret Moody….check the site at Pals Paper Arts and join in to the challenge!

This the the first opportunity I’ve had to use one of the Flourish Designer Frames from the Holiday Catalog….I thought it really enhanced the femininity of this card…would you agree?

                                                               click to enlarge

Besides red, white, and blue……purple and green are my favorite colors.  I find them very appealing and they make me happy!  Isn’t it interesting how our favorite colors have such an effect on us?

  • Stamps:   Tea Shoppe (wood…125545;  clear…125547), Papillon Potpourri (wood…123757; clear…123759)
  • Ink:  Rich Razzleberry (126950), Old Olive (126953)
  • Paper:  Polka Dot Parade DSP (126902),  Whisper White (100730)
  • Tools:  Elegant Bouquet Folder (115964), Decorative Label Punch (120907), Elegant Butterfly Punch (127526), Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430)
  • Accents:  Pearl Basic Jewels (119247), Silver 1/8″ Mini Brads (122941), Flourish Designer Frames (127835)

Ruby wants you to know her favorite colors, too…Black and White…wonder why! 

Please LIKE me on my Facebook Page!

Stamping Makes Me Smile!   Susan  ♥ 

 

 

 

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Posted in Friendship Cards, PPA Challenges

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Window Sheet Video

Posted on August 15, 2012 | 3 Comments

Here is the promised video regarding application of a window sheet to an image….if you followed my blog yesterday during the Stampin’ Pretty Pals Blog Hop….you saw the card I will demonstrate on the video!   Happy viewing!

Stamping Makes Me Smile!  Susan  ♥

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Posted in Tips and Techniques, Video

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