Onstage Local Update

 Hello crafty friends!

I had a wonderful weekend (on 11/12/22) of stamping with some sweet and talented ladies while at Onstage Local in Arlington, TX , hosted by Stampin' UP!

There's so much to share so I'll get started with a few pictures that we took together at our table.

I'll have to explain the middle picture on the left... we had a emoji-matching activity together where we needed to match our face with the emoji they showed on the screen. Hence, our funny looking faces! LOL...

As part of our fun Onstage experience, there's lots of swapping happening throughout the event and am sharing with you what I received from other demonstrators. If that demonstrator shared their website, I have linked to it in their name.

Aletha Pershall	By Ann Cardile	By Caren Curtis
By Caron Bailey	By Cathy Bartlett - Oklahoma	By Debbie Russell
By Dena Grant	By Denise Sullivan - my sweet and talented Upline	By Diane Taylor
By Erica Cerwin - used her very own $1mill stamp set. I want to be like her when I grow up!	By Ethel Wegner	By Jen Kimber
By Kathy Morgan	By Kimberly Jones	By Pam Funk
By Sandra Ballas	By Sue Berreth	By Sue Sanders
By Susan Stitt	By Tracey Gouraud	By Tracy Walker - Oklahoma
Unknown Demonstrator	Unknown Demonstrator	Unknown Demonstrator
Unknown Demonstrator	By Jara Meshell	By Allison Hicks

My Swaps

As for me, I chose to create 2 different swap cards, where both are Christmas/Holiday themed. You may not believe this, but I hadn't played with the stamp sets that I used to design these cards until this point so this was the perfect opportunity.

Vintage Christmas Card

This is such an adorable and beautiful set - Vintage Christmas stamp set. 

I'm a sucker for those additional stamp sets that coordinate with a punch!

Cardmaking Tips & Supplies:

• Finished size is 5" x 3.5"
• When I'm making a large batch of cards, I gravitate towards using the Note Cards & Envelopes set because you already get 20 cards and 20 envelopes that are ready for you to make. This makes me giddy!
• For the stitched rectangle frame, I recommend you think ahead of time and use cut out for another card. I used mine for the next Christmas Scottie Card below. After cutting out the frame, emboss it with the Leaf Fall embossing folder.
• If you have a 3/4" circle punch, use it to punch out the "Happy Holidays" sentiment. Otherwise, you may look for a circle die that will be close enough to cut it out.
• After stamping the background images, use the largest flower as a guide for placing your Vintage Bottle. Place a bow at the neck of the bottle then adhere another large flower that you will have to fussy-cut out. Don't forget to add some Wink of Stella for some shimmer and shine!

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• Below is a list of supplies that I used to create this card.

Christmas Scottie Card

I am partial to the Christmas Scottie stamp set because we have a male black mini schnauzer that looks just like the images in the set. Although we have a boy dog and was the inspiration of this card, it turned out to be a girl-dog card because of the Polished Pink I used throughout the card.

Cardmaking Tips & Supplies:

• Again, when I'm making a large batch of cards, I use using the Note Cards & Envelopes set because you already get 20 cards and 20 envelopes that are ready for you to make.
• Use the Stitched rectangle cut-out from the previous card to use on this card. Hard to tell in the picture but I did heat emboss some snowflakes on the background using clear embossing powder. 
• The thin strip of ribbon that resembles a leash was cut from the Polished Pink Ribbon 
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• Below is a list of supplies for this card:

All in all, it was a much needed time away from the normal routine at home and sure as heck beats having Onstage Online! I missed the interactions between demonstrators and the fun we had together! And that was just the cherry on top! 

As demonstrators, we get the perk of pre-ordering products from the NEW 2023 Mini Catalog and Sale-a-bration brochure that's coming on January 5, 2023!!! I may have ordered a few extra products for my birthday 😉! It's always exciting to see those new products on display and in presentations!

Thanks so much for joining me this week and please don't hesitate to comment below if you are inspired by any swaps made from our demonstrators!

Until next time ... 

No black ink with "Kindest Gnomes" bundle

Hello and Happy Happy November!

I LOVE November and I may be partial to it because it's my Birthday month 😉. 

This week I chose to play along with this week's TGIF Challenge 392 - What would you do... without black ink? 

This is definitely a challenge for me so I had to be careful about my choice of stamp set or bundle for this one. 

While I was admiring a cute little tag that was given to me by Erica Cerwin, from a class kit, I thought this was the perfect opportunity to re-use this tag and create a card with it. Sorry, I should've take a picture of the original tag to share with you. 

My creation uses the Kindest Gnomes Bundle, the Storybook Gnomes DSP, and the Snowfall Accents puff paint. All these products (and more) are included in the Storybook Gnomes Suite from page 42-43 of the 2022 Jan-June Mini Catalog by Stampin' UP! This bundle really does lend itself to creating projects without black ink so I was able to re-use the cute tag and join in on the challenge at the same time! 

Cardmaking Tips:

• Cut 3/4" x 4-1/4" strips of DSP, Poppy Parade CS, and Calypso Coral CS to adhere to Balmy Blue card base. Stamp "Warm wishes" onto CS using Poppy Parade ink.
• Assemble the gnome using the Storybook Gnomes Dies cut from Poppy Parade CS, Basic White CS, and Pale Papaya CS. 
• Use the coordinating dies to cut a mushroom from the Storybook Gnomes DSP and place a drops of the Snowfall Accents Puff Paint onto the circles that are on the mushroom top. Heat paint with heat gun until puffy. Adhere the finished mushroom overhanging the Balmy Blue Scalloped rectangle (3rd largest die). Then adhere the gnome on top of the mushroom with dimensionals.
• Cut a piece of basic white cardstock using the 3rd largest Deckled Rectangle die. Adhere the Balmy Blue rectangle centered on top.
• Finish with the "warm wishes" sentiment stamped with versamark ink on Early Espresso CS. Use the heat tool for the white embossing powder. Cut off both ends of the sentiment piece with your scissors at an angle.
• Finish off the inside of the card with the largest deckled rectangle from white CS and a mushroom.

Cardmaking Supplies:

Thanks so much for joining me today! 

Until next time ... 

"Hello Harvest" fun-fold Gift Card Holder

 Hello Crafty Friends!!!

I have been having too much fun with the Hello Harvest Bundle along with some of the other products in the Rustic Harvest Suite. This suite of products is located on page 48-49 of the Jan-June 2022 Mini Catalog by Stampin' UP!

I want to share my latest creation with you, a fun-fold gift card holder that will surely be enjoyed by its recipient! I love the deep and rich fall colors and theme of this card and it's just so much fun to open and close!

I have put together a video tutorial for you so gather your supplies and create this card along with me! 

Please note that the original fun-fold design is not designed by me but is CASED from Erica Cerwin at pinkbuckaroodesigns.

Cardmaking Supplies & Measurements

• Pumpkin Pie Cardstock: 
• 5-1/2" x 11" scored on the long side @ 1-3/4", 3-1/2", 5-1/4", 7".
• 5" x 3-3/4" scored on the long side @ 2-1/2".
• Cajun Craze Cardstock: 4-1/4" x 3"
• Basic White Cardstock: (2 pcs) 2-1/4" x 3-1/2"
• Rustic Harvest DSP:
• 2-1/2" x 3"
• (2 pcs) 1-1/2" x  5-1/4"
• 3-3/4" x 5-1/4"
• Linen Thread: (2) 8" pieces

Below is full list of products used for this fun-fold card:

Cardmaking Video Tutorial

Thank you SO MUCH for joining me today! I do hope you will give this fun-fold card a try!

Until next time... 

A peek at "Fitting Florets"

 Happy Wednesday!

I'm so glad I can get back into working on my own card creation after a busy two weeks of preparing for other events.

This week I'm joining in with TGIF Challenges #390 with a Sketch Challenge!

I chose to use a Collection that has not yet been released to the public, called the Fitting Florets Collection. This collection will soon be available for purchase beginning Tuesday, November 1st. These are an early release collection of products from the January 2023 Mini Catalog. 

The card I created is flowery and elegant with the soft combination of colors that are included in the Designer Series Paper (DSP): 

It was hard for me just to focus on one design in the DSP since they're all so beautiful! However, I did use both sides of this DSP. While playing with the sketch, I chose to turn it 90degrees (clockwise) then add a few flowers and leaves to represent the scalloped edge in the sketch. I'm happy with the turnout, how about you?!

Card-making Tips:

• Cut the background piece of DSP to 4-1/8"x5-3/8". Use the plaid design from the Artistic Mix Decorative Masks to add a subtle touch of Soft Succulent ink to the DSP with a blending brush. Also add some splatters of white ink, randomly on the DSP.
• Mat the finished piece of DSP onto a Basic White piece of CS that measures 4-3/16" x 5-7/16".
• The flowery side of the DSP measures 3" x 4" and is mounted with dimensionals towards the top middle of the card front. This is so that the leaf pieces can slide under the left side of the DSP.
• Stamp the leaf images using Balmy Blue ink onto Basic White cardstock and also Balmy Blue cardstock then cut out with the coordinating dies. 
• Stamp the other "leaf" images using Blushing Bride ink onto Basic White cardstock and Blushing Bridge cardstock then cut out with coordinating dies.
• The oval frame was cut from vellum, the flowery DSP, and Basic White cardstock.
• Use some Soft Succulent ink and a blending brush to add some ink to the oval frame that was cut from Basic White cardstock.
• The sentiment was stamped onto the vellum with Versamark ink then heat embossed with gold embossing powder.
• The finishing touch on the card are the embellishments: Gold Adhesive Backed Swirls.

Card-making Supplies:

The supplies listed below does not include the products from the Fitting Florets Collection. Stay tuned for the release of this collection on November 1st.

Thank you SO MUCH for joining me today and I do hope you are looking forward to getting your hands on this elegant collection of products!

Until Next time... 

End of September Promos + Blog CANDY!

Happy Fri-YAY!!!

As we approach the LAST day of September (I don't understand how we're already here), I want to share a couple of crafty Stampin' UP! promotions/events that end TODAY.

First Up, Perfect Partners Promotion

Stampin' UP! created six (6) new dies that coordinate with stamp sets in the 2022–2023 Annual Catalog and the July–December 2022 Mini Catalog. These coordinating dies will only be available thru TODAY (11:50pm MT) and will not be offered in any catalog.  

These stamp sets and dies are available separately OR as a bundle. By buying the bundle, you will save 10% off the retail price. 

Put these wonderful stamp sets and dies together for more papercrafting fun! Order now at my Online Store!

Next up, World Card Making Day

This Saturday, October 1st from 3pm to 6pm (CST), we will be celebrating World Card Making Day (WCMD) with crafters that will come together as a crafting community to do what we all love—make cards! 

During the event, Stampin' UP! will walk us through several projects, and we’ll create the cards right along with them. You’ll end up with new project ideas and some stunning new cards!

I will have 1 of each Stamp & Die bundle along with supplies available for us to use. 

If you wanna join me, please let me know before 5pm (CST) today, for this FREE event at my house so I can plan accordingly. Click HERE to let me know you're coming!

And now, Blog CANDY!!!

Sadly, I haven't done enough giveaways lately BUT you're in the right spot because today I will choose 3 lucky winners to win 1 of the following items:

Winner #1 Hippest Hippos Stamp Set	Winner #2 4 pack – Glitter Washi	Winner #3 2022-2024 In Color Glimmer Tumbler

To win 1 of these items, comment below on what you're looking forward to for the month of October. I will choose 3 people, randomly, then announce the winners on Tuesday, October 4th at 12pm (CST). 

BEST of Luck to everyone & HAPPY Fri-YAY!!!

Envelope card using "Tech Support"

 Hello, Hello!!!

I'm jumping on this week to share with you the "Tech Support" stamp set that I've been wanting to play with for some time. I LOVE everything about this stamp set because it's perfect for any "tech-y" person in your life. I have a few of those in my life.

I chose to enter this envelope-card into this week's TGIF Challenge #383. 

This was certainly a challenge to work on! I use white cardstock about 95% of the time! I was up for the challenge so I knew I had to make it happen somehow. My creation focused on what I found to be called the "tech blue" color scheme, which I found on my search on the internet. 

I really liked this color combination so I went with it. I associated the colors in the color palette with the following SU! colors: Night of Navy, Starry Sky, Coastal Cabana, Pacific Point and Gorgeous Grape. The Crumb Cake cardstock was my substitute for the White cardstock- the neutral color.

I love envelope-cards because it's simple to create and it's just a fun card style altogether. 

Cardmaking Tips:

• The envelope was created using the retired Stampin' UP! Envelope Punch Board for a 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" card size. One end of the envelope was trimmed off. Finished size is 4-3/8" x 5-7/8".
• Randomly stamp the keyboard image onto the envelope and the 1" x 4-3/8" strip of Coastal Cabana Cardstock using White Craft Ink.
• The Night of Navy strip of cardstock measures 2-1/2" x 4-3/8".
• Randomly stamp the "error 404" sentiment onto a 2-1/4" x 4-3/8" piece of Starry Sky cardstock using Starry Sky ink. Adhere onto the Night of Navy piece.
• The stamped Coastal Cabana cardstock strip is adhered on top of the Starry Sky piece.
• Cut a long piece (maybe 24"?) of linen thread and tie the ends together to make a circle. Twist the thread so that it makes an infinity shape and fold it in half to make two smaller circles, overlapping one another. Adhere the linen thread with some glue dots.
• Set a Gorgeous Grape square, cut from the largest die in the Stylish Shapes die set, on top of the linen thread with dimensionals.
• Stamp the binary numbers onto another stitched square, cut from the 2nd largest die in the Stylish Shapes die set, on Pacific Point cardstock. Using the Amazing Phrasing stamp set, stamp "Woo Hoo" as shown with versamark ink then heat emboss with white embossing powder. Adhere this piece onto the Gorgeous Grape square.
• PLEASE NOTE: The Amazing Phrasing stamp set is only available until August 31, 2022.
• Adhere two 4-1/4" pieces of Starry Sky metallic ribbon behind a 9/16" x 3-1/2" strip of Coastal Cabana cardstock that has the "to another year" sentiment embossed onto it.
• For the inside of the envelope-card, Adhere a 4" x 5-1/4" piece of Coastal Cabana cardstock onto a 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" piece of Starry Sky cardstock. Stamp the keyboard image randomly in white craft ink then the "happy birthday" sentiment. Lastly, Staple some Starry Sky ribbon towards the top.

Cardmaking Supplies

All supplies for this project are listed below except for retired products, basic tools and adhesives.

Thank you so much for joining me this week! Please feel free to comment below on how you feel about this Tech Support stamp set.

Until next time... 

Fall pumpkin card

 Hello Crafty Friends!

This week I present to you a fall-style card that I created, inspired by this week's TGIF Challenges #380.

The fall season is my FAVORITE season of all, especially after enduring a very hot and dry summer, here in North Texas. 

I wanted to the focus of the card to be the pumpkin and I believe I was able to achieve the look I was going for. What do you think?

The only downfall to this card is that it wouldn't do very well in an envelope because of the curled-up cardstock. I was tempted to squish it but I couldn't bring myself to do it so I just left it alone. You could also consider creating this as a frame piece instead of a card. 

I'm running low on time to provide you with cardmaking tips but I can at least provide you with dimensions.

Cardmaking Tips

• Use the largest deckled die for the frame
• Use the retired 2nd smallest stitched oval from the Stitched Shapes dies. 
• the top of the pumpkin was created by adhering two short pieces of Early Espresso faux suede trim, side by side.
• the curly strips of paper were created by cutting an 1/8" strip of Crumb Cake cardstock and wrapping the strip around a skinny paint brush. Adhere some of the spots of the paper with tombow glue to keep them in place. 
• use the Bermuda Bay Stampin' Blends to color onto a piece of Snowflake Specialty Vellum and also for the extra lines in the Gingham Cottage DSP.

Cardmaking Supplies

I do hope you enjoyed today's card. Please don't hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Until Next time ... 

Back-to-school Teacher Card

 Hello, Hello & Happy August!!!

I am excited to share with you a quick fun-fold card that will delight any teacher since it holds a gift card inside. I hear that most teachers welcome gift cards to stores that can help them purchase any school supplies they may need.

I was inspired by this week's TGIF Challenge #379 along with a Stampin' UP! sketch (that I LOVED), provided by their concept artists. 

I chose to use the rectangles in the sketch as colored pencils in Stampin' UP! colors: Daffodil Delight, Poppy Parade and Pacific Point. Then I used my FREE stamp set that I earned - the Amazing Phrasing Stamp Set, during the Sale-a-Bration promotion (SAB), for the sentiments placed on the card.

I worked with two different papers for the frame of the card front. One was Basic White Cardstock and the other was the Silver & Gold 6"x6" DSP (another FREE SAB item). Which one do you like best? I think they both look good in their own way.

Cardmaking Tips:

• The Gray Granite cardbase measures 10" x 5.5" and was scored at 1.5" and 5.75" along the length.
• Adhere 1/4" x 5.5" strips of Daffodil Delight, Poppy Parade and Pacific Point cardstock to the center of the card front, using Tombow glue.
• Cut a piece of cardstock (Basic white or Silver & Gold DSP) using the 2nd largest Deckled Rectangles Die. Use your Stampin' Blends in Daffodil Delight (dark), Poppy Parade (dark), and Night of Navy (dark) to flick some ink from the brush-tip onto 1/3 of the cardstock piece for each color.
• Cut a 1" x 3-1/8" piece from the following colors of cardstock: Daffodil Delight, Poppy Parade, and Pacific Point. Using your grid paper and a straight edge, draw a pencil line from the top middle towards the right edge at the 2-1/4" mark. Same thing on the left side. Cut along the lines for all 3 pieces of cardstock.
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• Cut a 5/8" x 4" strip of Very Vanilla and adhere to the strips of colored cardstock such that the bottom edge lines up with the bottom of the triangle you created. Trim along the left and right sides.
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• Your "colored pencils" are ready to be adhered. Place some dimensionals on the back of each one and begin with adhering the Daffodil Delight piece, making sure to center it on the frame. Adhere the other two as well, making sure to leave even spacing on both sides of the "colored pencil".
• Stamp the sentiments from the Amazing Phrasing Stamp Set onto a strip of Gray Granite cardstock using Memento Black ink. Trim around the words as shown then adhere onto the "colored pencils" using Stampin' Seal.
• The inside of the card includes the Gift Card and another frame cut from Basic White cardstock using the Deckled Rectangles die. Flick some Stampin' Blends ink onto the frame, same as before. Then Stamp the "woo-hoo" sentiment in Memento Black ink as shown.

Cardmaking Supplies:

Thank you SO VERY MUCH for stopping by today! Please don't hesitate to leave me a comment on which version of this card your prefer! I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Until Next Time...