Wednesday, January 13, 2010

I am in Looooooooooooooove

I tease my husband sometimes that he has to compete with my love of stamps and all things stamping, lol. Thankfully he has a sense of humor and gives me a big smooch, (You can almost hear my kids going "eeeeeewww"!

But seriously! I am in love with the new Occasions mini. Wow, I love the new stamps, the clear acrylic blocks, all the new dsp!! My brain doesn't know where to start. So I opted to case a card that I found on one of my favorite blogs, only problem is, I'm not sure which one it was (sad, I know). It was either from "Pickled Paper Designs" or "Just give me Stamps". But as soon as I saw her card I knew I wanted to try that same card with SU's new Beautiful Wings embosslit die.

This was such an easy card to make, well it took me a little longer because I kept quietly gushing to myself about how beautiful the butterflies were, lol. Shh, don't tell my husband or he'll really think I've lost it! The middle piece of cardstock was embossed with Backgrounds 1 texture plates, love the effect it gives.

Stamps: All Holidays
Paper: Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, So Saffron, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Bermuda Bay
Ink: Soft Suede
Other: Rhinestone Brad, Beautiful Wings Embosslit die, Texture Plates

Thanks for stopping by, have a great day!
Tina

Sunday, January 10, 2010

The Evidence is gone...

Yesterday I spent the morning cleaning up all the Christmas decorations, and boy was there a lot to clean up. But when you're done it feels so clean and refreshed, I can't believe how much dust can collect on the decorations in such a short period of time. And my DH decided to take the kids snow sledding while I am baking us a little treat that I'm sure won't last for very long, our kids don't stop eating. Ever, lol.

But enough rambling, on to the card. I made this card once again using the new Abundant Hope stamp set, love it! I watercoloured on watercolour paper using SU! ink pads and my aqua painters, very easy. I used Old Olive on the leaves and stem and then used Always Artichoke to give a little deeper shading for the shadowed areas.

Stamps: Abundant Hope
Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Orchid Opulance, Old Olive, Watercolour pp, DSP-Cottage Wall
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, So Saffron, Always Artichoke
Other: Grosgrain Ribbon

Have a great Sunday!
Tina

Friday, January 8, 2010

Simple Thanks

Hi everyone, it's another cold, cold day here in Manitoba but it looks like we'll get some warmer weather soon. Yesterday I literally gasped as I stepped into the cold outside of Superstore, brrr! But at least I gave the gentleman coming in a nice laugh, lol.

I am in the process of making some Clean & Simple cards for a potential client and I thought this card fit the bill rather nicely. I always struggle with a card that has no designer paper on it, I can't help by think of how nice it would look to add just a strip. I guess you could say I have an addiction, lol.

As you can see it's a very simple card, the picture isn't showing the colours very accurately but you get the idea. I love the Pocket Silhouettes stamp set, it adds a nice elegant touch to any card.

Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes
Paper: Soft Suede, Kraft, Very Vanilla, Sage Shadow
Ink: Soft Suede
Other: Antique Brads

Thanks for stopping by!
Tina

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

The snow has been falling softly for the last two days, you would think that I would be making winter cards, but instead I made a card that is the opposite, lol. Maybe it's my way of coping with the cold...

Some of the paper that I used today is retired but every once in a while I like to use it, otherwise it collects dust forever! Very basic card, not much to say about it, but I did get to use my new punch again on this card, loooooooooove this punch. I did the faux stitching using the chocolate chip marker and that beautiful ribbon is from the clearance rack at Stampin' Up! LOVE this ribbon and it's so cheap, which means that I'll actually use it. I'm probably the only that does this but if the ribbon was a little pricier I try not to use "too much" or I'll run out, lol.

Stamps: Define Your Life, Seaside?
Paper: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Kraft, Whisper White, DSP-Retired
Other: Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon, Chocolate Chip marker

Have a great day!
Tina

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Happy New Year!

My poor neglected blog, it's been a while hasn't it! I hope everyone had a great holiday and enjoyed some time to relax. We had a good Christmas, spent it with family in Alberta and are now very happy to be home and back to our regular schedule.

I can definitely tell that I am in dire need of some new stamping stash, lol. It was a challenge to find the right paper, the right stamps, and the right layout. Funny how new stamps and paper can make the creative juices flow.

But after all that trouble I think I like this card. one of my favourite colour combos is black, kraft & very vanilla. I believe the layout was from a sketch challenge over at SCS, as soon as I saw it I knew I wanted to use it. The designer paper is retired and I can't remember what it was called. I embossed the main image in black and the rest is stamped in basic black. I added a black brad to the center of the little flower.

Stamps: Of The Earth, Flight of the Butterfly, (Sentiment is from a retired hostess set)
Paper: Basic Black, Kraft, Very Vanilla, DSP-Retired
Ink: Basic Black, Versmark
Other: Black Embossing powder, Black Brads, Black Grosgrain Ribbon, Nestabilities

Thanks for stopping by!
Tina

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Merry Christmas!

I was hoping I would have time to post one more card before the holidays but time ran away on me. We are on our way right now to Alberta for Christmas and we'll be back shortly after the New Year.

So Merry Christmas everyone, I hope your holidays are going well and I'll be back soon!

Tina

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Easter in December?

Well I think since we can have Christmas in July there's nothing wrong with Easter in December! LOL. I got my small preorder from the new occasions mini yesterday and I literally squealed in delight when I saw the new punches and the clear mount stamps. I am in LOVE with the clear mount, I didn't think I would be but I ordered one anyway and I think I'll be going clear mount. And the best part? It's cheaper!! Saving money means more stamp sets... only a woman could rationalize it like that.

This card is made using one of the new stamp sets, called Abundant Hope, beautiful set. Plus, you might notice the new border punch!! Wow I am so excited about this punch, and it comes with a matching corner punch so the possibilities are huge. You can expect to see a lot more cards from me using this punch, lol.

I also used some designer paper that had been on Stampin' Up's clearance rack, unfortunately it's all sold out now, I knew I should have ordered more. The flowers were stamped on watercolour paper and then painted with my aqua painters.

Stamps: Abundant Hope
Paper: Pacific Blue, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White, Watercolour pp, DSP-retired
Ink: Pacific Blue, Kiwi Kiss, Old Olive, Basic Black
Other: Rhinestone Brads

Have a great day!
Tina

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Last card of the Season

I think this will be last Christmas card this year, I am ready to move on especially with all the new stuff in the Occasions mini that starts January 5! Can't wait to get my hands on some of those new stamp sets.

Today's card is me once again trying to use the Holy Triptych set, I bought this set a few years ago thinking it would be perfect, but honestly I've struggled with this one. It's such a beautiful set and every time I battle with getting the layout right. So to fix that problem I bought myself some new coughcough-contraband-coughcough and it really helps give the card that little extra something.

Stamps: Holy Triptych
Paper: Soft Suede, Whisper White, DSP- Christmas Cocoa
Ink: Soft Suede, Basic Black, More Mustard, Bordering Blue, Sahara Sand
Other: Pretties Kit, Nestabilities, White Taffeta Ribbon

Thanks for stopping by!
Tina

Thursday, December 10, 2009

I am Almost sick of Christmas cards...

I NEVER thought I'd say that but I've been busy making Christmas cards since the beginning of November and I think I am officially ready to move on, lol. I made this card two nights ago for a Card class and I really like it, even if it is another Christmas card... It's a case from one of the talented ladies over at SCS but I used the same colour combo from another card that I've previously posted. I have to say that I have really enjoyed using Stampin' Up's designer paper this Christmas, such beautiful stuff!


Stamps: Serene Snowflakes, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Old Olive, Whisper White, DSP- Christmas Cocoa
Ink: Old Olive
Other: Old Olive Ribbon, Gold Brads

Have a great day!!
Tina

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

I made this card yesterday as I was preparing for a class and then I figured this would make a good card for that same class, lol. It's simple card and I love layers so I always feel like something's missing if it doesn't have at least 4 layers of cardstock! I like that the image only has some red coloured in, it gives it a nice splash of colour but you could still easily make a lot of these since you're not water colouring the entire image. I also added some dazzling diamonds to give it some sparkle, what Christmas card is complete without at least a little sparkle?!

Stamps: Home for Christmas
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Real Red
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Real red
Other: Grosgrain Ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds

Have a great day everyone!
Tina

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Scenic Christmas

Hi everyone! Today's card is a complete CASE from Andrea Walford, she is such a talented stamper. I wasn't sure if I wanted this stamp set until I saw this card and thought it would be perfect for workshops and classes. A little glitter and this card is a simple yet elegant Christmas card that you could easily mass produce.



Stamps: Scenic Season
Paper: Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Real Red
Ink: Soft Suede
Other: Dazzling Diamonds

Monday, December 7, 2009

So close

Is anyone else starting to panic at how close we are to Christmas?! Where did the time go? Needless to say, I think I better get cracking on Christmas gifts this weekend, lol.
Over the next few days I'll be posting some of the cards that we've been making at my Christmas classes, so some of you might not see anything new this week. But as soon as I get my preorder goodies for the new Occasions Mini and Sale-a-bration I'll be sure to post some new cards, I can hardly wait!!

Today's card is basically a case off of a card I did originally in Old Olive. I love Bravo burgundy and when I saw some retired dsp in this colour I thought a repeat was in order.

Once again I stamped the ornaments with the Delightful Decorations set and spritzed them with some champagne shimmer paint. I used gold cording to tie the bows, the cord is only available in the Holiday mini which runs out December 4Th.


Stamps: Delightful Decorations, All Holidays
Paper: Bravo Burgundy, Very Vanilla, dsp- retired
Ink: Bravo Burgundy
Other: Gold Cord, Bravo Burgundy grosgrain ribbon, Shimmer Paint

Thanks for stopping by!
Tina

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Snowman Buddies

It's been a while since I sat down and just created for the fun of creating. Usually it's with a class in mind but today was just about creating. The designer paper is from last years Christmas dsp, I still have a small amount that I try to use up or it'll sit there forever collecting dust.

I used watercolour paper to stamp the snowmen on using the masking technique, very easy. I also used dazzling diamonds on the snowflake and on the ground by the snowmen. Very sparkly!


And here's a shot of the inside:


Stamps: Snow Buddies (Mini Hostess set), Scenic Season, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Baja Breeze, Old Olive, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White, Water Colour pp, dsp
Ink: Various
Other: Snowflake Punch, Dazzling Diamonds, Silver brad, Baja Breeze Ribbon

Thanks for stopping by!
Tina

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Acetate Treat Box

This is such a cute little box for Christmas gift giving, love this one! You could fill these with mints, Hershey kisses, cookies, or if you're giving these to a fellow crafter you could fill it up with scrapbooking supplies!


Disclaimer: Other then the top and bottom picture, the rest of the pictures are all from Splitcoaststampers. I ran out of acetate and so I couldn't make it again to create the tutorial. I in no way want to take the credit for putting this tutorial together.

You're going to start with two pieces of cardstock cut into a 3"x 3" square. Score all four sides at 1/2".


Cut score lines up to where they connect with the other score line. All together you want four cut lines, two on one side and the other two on the opposite side. See picture.


Fold all the score lines and glue the flaps to the sides of the box, you want the flaps on the inside of the box lid.


Here's a picture of both the top and bottom of your box.


Now you're going to take your 8 1/4" x 3 1/2" acetate piece and score it on the long side at 1 15/16" intervals (this is just slightly less then 2"). You should have 4 score lines all together with the last one leaving you just a narrow flap that you'll use to adhere your box sides together. I like to stamp snowflakes on my acetate using white StazOn ink, I do this before I fold the score lines.

Apply Sticky Strip to the bottom using short strips and along the narrow flap, see picture.


Remove the tape liners and adhere the small flap to the other end.


Insert the acetate into on of the box lids. I find it easiest to bend the acetate so that only the four corners would touch the cardstock, basically you want it to look like a star cookie cutter when sliding the acetate in. Otherwise if the sticky strip touches before you have your actetate in place, it will stick and your box might be crooked. Does that make sense at all? Lol.


Take your strip of designer paper which you've cut to 8 1/2" x 1/2" and use your scallpe edge punch and go all the way across with it. Glue this around the box lid and base leaving some of the cardstock showing, see picture.


Punch two holes on opposite ends of your lid.



Place the lid over the box and use a black marker to indicate where you need to punch your holes on the acetate.


Now punch the holes on the acetate where your markers are.


All that's left is threading your ribbon through like you see in the picture. Make sure you leave yourself enough ribbon to tie a bow to keep the box shut. You don't want to tape the lid shut or your recipient will have to destroy the box to open it.


If you like you could decorate the box like I did with the scallop circle punch.


Well I hope you enjoy this box as much as I do! There are some wonderful talented ladies at SCS and I thank them for giving us such wonderful tutorials!

Thanks for stopping by!
Tina

Friday, December 4, 2009

I Love Snow

It started snowing lightly a few days ago and finally everything looks white, perfect for Christmas celebrations! I've been busy with classes and workshops this last month and so today's post is a tutorial on one of the projects we did at my Gift Giving Class this week. I love making creative inexpensive gifts for teachers and neighbors!

The picture shows two of the gifts that we made, I'll post the tutorial for the box tomorrow morning so check back then for the details. The other is a cute little post it note holder, everyone has use for those!

This next picture shows you what it looks like open.

You're going to start off with a piece of cardstock cut to 3 1/4" x 8" You're going to score it at 3 1/4", 3 1/2", 6 3/4", and 7".

Fold the score lines all in the same direction.

You can decorate it any way you like, if you want designer paper pieces like mine you would cut them into 3" squares and adhere to the front and inside flap. I also used the scallop edge punch to add to the front flap. Again, decorate any way you like. I used a stamp from the Punch Pals set and clear embossed in on to Real Red cardstock and use the Large Wide Oval Punch.

Next you'll want to use a small bit of strong adhesive to the back of the post it note pad. As you can see in the picture you really only need a small amount, and this way when the recipient runs out of post it notes they can simply adhere another one. I found that you can make two post it note holders out of one pad so carefully split it in the middle and use only the one half.

I used Velcro to keep the flap closed and besides, who doesn't love opening Velcro! Lol. You can find Velcro dots or strips with the adhesive at most dollar stores or any fabric store, very cheap! Tip: Keep the positive and negative sides together and first adhere the Velcro to the flap, peel off the second piece of lining and simply close your flap. This way you'll have both pieces in the exact location you need them in.



Well that's it, hopefully it all made sense. These are really great little gifts for anybody on your shopping list, and they won't break your bank!

Don't forget to check back tomorrow for the tutorial for the acetate box!

Thanks for stopping by.
Tina