Potted Geraniums Birthday Card

This happy geranium card was popular at our June Stamp-a-Stack last weekend. I didn't set out to match my napkins, but it was a happy accident.  Anyone that has attended very many of my events knows my love of pretty napkins.  Maybe I was subconsciously thinking of the pinks in those napkins when I started stamping.  I used Flirty Flamingo and Melon Mambo for the geranium and it was just the right combination!

For anyone wondering, the treat was a white chocolate snickerdoodle blondie, and it was delicious.  Here's my Pinterest board of successful Stamp-a-Stack treats if you'd like to try them.  

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Sending Smiles Birthday Card

I spent my afternoon making a swap card.  It's one of the fun perks of being a demo.  We get to preorder from new catalogs, and then we swap with other demonstrators.  We make a set number and send them off to the swap hostess, and she swaps them out and sends us back that same number of different cards made by demonstrator friends.  It's a great way to get ideas or to see new product being used!  We make full cards so sometimes I have used one to send to one of my stampers who has seen and/or made all of my ideas already.  

I used the new Sending Smiles stamp set and dies to make this cheerful card, and I love, love, love the new In Colors, Parakeet Party and Orchid Oasis together.

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Springy Cards for a Snowy Day

Here in central Illinois, we are have another day of snow.  I designed cards for this weekend’s stamp-a-stack knowing this weather was coming. It looks like I’m going to need to reschedule and will need another card design.  I’m afraid the valentine card will be too late when we are able to stamp next weekend.  Maybe I can put together a slightly modified to go kit for valentine cards!

These other two cards definitely have us thinking springy thoughts!

My friend Mary McCormick designed this bird card for a group swap. I made a few changes, but this card was definitely inspired by Mary‘s creation. I love that little pop of Pool Party ink on the flowers.

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Time of Giving Fall Tags

A few months ago I was busy creating Christmas tags and other projects with the new bundle - Time of Giving. It’s an amazing set and it’s full of possibilities. I was demonstrating for a group of demo friends and I was focusing on Christmas tags. But this set has other fall stamps and dies so I couldn’t resist making a few fall tags as part of my presentation.  

I’m looking forward to sharing the over 75 tags, cards and projects soon!

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Summer Shadows You Inspire Me Card

The new catalog is coming out August 3 and I have so many pre-ordered sets that it's hard to know where to start!  I want to try them all!  I am doing a demonstration of one particular bundle in August for demonstrator friends so that was an easy place to begin.  And thanks to the swap I participated in, I got to play with a different new mini catalog bundle and also some Sale-a-bration products.  

Here is my Sale-a-bration swap card:

I love the black, white and pink combination so when I saw the Beautifully Penned 12 x 12 Designer Series Paper, I knew that's what I was going to do!  This DSP is so great because it coordinates with the Hand-Penned  Petals bundle in the annual catalog on one side and is a much simpler black and white pattern on the other. 

My base is the new in color, Polished Pink, and then I added the basic black and DSP.  Also in the Sale-a-bration catalog, there is a new Summer Shadows die set.  It also coordinates with an annual catalog item, Shaded Sumer Stamp set.  I don't own that stamp set, but as you can see, there's no need to own the stamps to still get a lot of use out of the dies.  I cut my flower pieces out of more Polished Pink and Melon Mambo.  And the leaves are Pear Pizzazz.  I popped the square panel up with dimensionals and attached all the flower pieces flat. 

To finish off the card, I used the "you INSPIRE me" sentiment from the free Sale-a-bration set Delicate Dahlias.  I even made a few extras for myself to drop in the mail to some friends.  

If you live in the US and don't have a demonstrator, I would love to send you copies of these two new catalog.  

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Ice Cream Stand Up Card

 No Designer Series Paper?  No problem!  Sweet Ice Cream is a great set!  Everyone loves ice cream in the summer, and I’ve made another fun fold that stands up when you take it out of the envelope.  

For the card base, start with a 8 1/2 x 5 1/2.  Coming in from the side, score at 2" and 3 1/8".  I find it easiest to turn the card and do the same thing from the other side.  Less mesurements to worry about that way - you do the same thing on both sides.

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I Scream, You Scream, We all Scream for Ice Cream

I made this fun Z fold card to show off the Sweet Ice Cream stamp set and coordinating punch.  The punch makes it so quick and easy to make a cute card by punching cones and scoops - stamped or from the Designer Series Paper.  

There’s just something about a Z fold that really fancies up a card, and I love to use it on a card that doesn’t have ribbons and other embellishments.  The card base is the recently retired Purple Posey, but the sentiment and ice cream cones would make a perfect card for adults, children, male or female. Because it’s so versatile, I included this card in July’s take and make to go kits so my stampers can make their own at home.    

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Butterfly Gala Sponging

 The new Butterfly Gala stamp set has so many fun possibilities when it comes to adding color. You can use some of the images in the stamp set to add wing color, you can color with Stampin' Blends or markers or the easiest way of all - sponging! 

Sponge you light color with a sponge dauber. 

Add an additional color or colors with a new sponge dauber.  If you are just making one card, you can sponge from light to dark with just one dauber.  I planned to make several so I used a clean dauber for my second color.  

Punch the butterfly out and get rid of the "messiness" of the sponging.

Finish your card!

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Tutti Frutti Cards and Envelopes

I think one of the reasons I have fun designing for my Keep It Simple Card Class is that everyone only makes one card of each design.  There is never any worry about running out of DSP or accessories.  I can design freely knowing I have what I need for several people to make one card each.  It's an early night too because usually the cards are pretty quick to put together.  This month we still used the Big Shot several times and worked in the Rock and Roll Technique, but when just making one card of each, it goes quickly. 

This card used the Tutti Frutti Cards and Envelopes from the Sale-a-Bration brochure and the Picnic With You stamp set from the Occasions catalog. 

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Christmas Tags

It's time once again for my yearly Christmas tags class.  Supplies will be flying around fast and furious tomorrow night as we share supplies.  

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Singing Reindeer Punch Art

Over the years, there have been different versions of this carol singing reindeer out there, but I have never made one.  As different tools come and go, the reindeer change their looks just a bit, but that's the great thing about crafting... you can always come up with something.  Thanks to fellow demo Linda Parker for some inspiration.  

The Merry Music Specialty Designer Series Paper makes a perfect background with my Sahara Sand, Basic Black and Whisper White reindeer.  And here are some of the other tools I used!

If you'd like to make your own, you can order anytime through my online store, but you can take advantage of our Cyber Monday free shipping on Monday only.  Better yet -- come to my weekend stamp-a-stacks and make some with my pre-cut materials!

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It's Beginning to Look Like Fall

Usually my September Stamp-a-Stack is an assortment of all occasion cards. I begin to shift to fall colors and flowers when I can, but the stamps sets this year really made for some great fall cards.

We've already used the At Home With You stamp set for Christmas in July but it's easy to switch up seasons with this versatile stamp set. If you look carefully, I think the sunflowers on the wreath are really daffodils, but with a little creative coloring- voila! 

Wild about Flowers stamp set is such a versatile set, but what makes it unique is that it has retirement words, and not many of our sets do. But can't you imagine this card as a birthday, thinking of you or even sympathy?

I thought adding part of the wood crate framelit would just add to the fall-ness of this card.  If you look closely, there's even a faint stamp that says farmers market on the crate.  I added a butterfly from the You Move Me set and the new Jute Twine from the holiday catalog for handles.  

I'll have to admit when I first saw the Painted Harvest stamp set in the catalog I wasn't bowled over. However I am a believer now!  Look at these beautiful sunflowers! Different color combinations can create widely different cards, but here I used Daffodil Delight, Cajun Craze and Chocolate Chip.

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Gluing Made Easy

In yesterday's post, I promised a great tip for gluing those intricate die cuts that was neat and easy.  As I was putting 30 of these together, it was especially handy and made for quicker work!

Put a little Multipurpose Liquid Glue (green lid glue)  in an empty container lid and dab it on using a small piece of a Stamping Sponge.  Be sure to work with a Silicone Craft Sheet under it to avoid sticking to your workspace.

If you are someone who has a heavy hand with the glues, I recommend you give it a try.

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Life is Beautiful Adirondack Chair Card

If you follow me on Facebook, you may have seen a couple of pictures of this work in progress.  (And if you don't, please hop over there and start)!  I was getting it ready for a demonstrator swap and it was one of the first projects I did for the new catalog.  I made 28 of these and got 28 different cards back from my demonstrator friends - so much fun to get that package in the mail!

The Colorful Seasons Bundle is going to be a regular in my rotation because it is so versatile.  It includes beach chairs, leaves, flowers and snowflakes so each season, it will be new again!  

To create the sand and water, I tore the top edge of cardstock and Color Theory Designer Series Paper.  Our cardstock has color throughout so you get a colored edge even after tearing.  But if you tear towards yourself on the Designer Series Paper, you get the white edge for whitecaps on the waves.  I did borrow some stamps from High Tide for the sand, grass, and birds.  Check back later this week for my best tip for gluing all of those chairs on neatly!

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Basket Bunches Sucker Holder

I was finishing up putting away the goodies from the retreat I went to a few weekends ago, and I wanted to share this cutie my friend Liz made.  Look at all of the pieces and detail she put into each sucker holder!  There were 18 of us so it kept her busy for a while!

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A Bunch of Birthday Cards

Every once in awhile, I like to do strictly birthday cards for my stamp-a-stack.  So this year I decided to  do the birthday cards in my birthday month so I can easily remember when we did them.  Many times we do all occasion cards that can be made into birthday, but these are pretty clearly birthday only!  (We will sneak in an Easter bunny card too this month.)

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Basket Bunch Easter Card

When I opened the Occasions catalog, I just knew I needed the Basket Bunch stamp set and framelits!  I've made spring cards and of course this little guy is perfect for Easter.  Stay tuned for more projects featuring this awesome set!

We'll be making 3 of these guys on Friday and Saturday at our monthly stamp-a-stack along with some birthday cards.  

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Inside the Lines Color Spritz

If you're not sure you want to color this Inside the Lines Designer Series Paper, you can always spritz it!  A few drops of reinker and rubbing alcohol in a spritzer to creat a light background makes for a quick card!

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Beautiful You Reflection Technique

For anyone who has been stamping for awhile, the reflection technique has been around.  But not many stamp sets lend themselves to the technique.  I've used Lovely as a Tree several times, but now Beautiful You has changed all of that!  I started out with the umbrella lady, but then I decided to try the dancing lady.  I can't decide which one I like the best.  So Tuesday night, my stampers get to choose.  

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Valentine Sampler Sealed with Love

I had my stampers here last weekend for team meeting.  One of our Make-n-takes involved a tub of valentine supplies. We all work together and created this fun sampler.