A time for some gratitude

Whew.  I have felt like a hamster on a wheel as of late.  I am grateful that the wheel is slowing and I'm preparing to climb off the wheel and work toward more "normal"... if there is such a thing in Life.  One of the things that I am grateful for are the customers who have decided to stick with me as their point of contact for Stampin' Up merchandise.  I made this card for those that ordered from me this month. It's a simple card.

 

This is my version of a vase full of mums.  Ever since being back east during the fall color change many moons ago, I have adored mums.  If you're wondering, the vase is punched out using the owl builder punch!  Clever eh? 

 

Thanks for continuing to stop in and visit.  I am grateful for your support!

 

Kristine



 

 

Recipe:

Stamps: Apothecary Art

Inks:  Soft Sky (retired), Bravo Burgundy

Paper: Watercolor paper, Bravo Burgundy, Apricot Appeal (retired), Really Rust (retired), Creamy Caramel (retired)

Punches: Owl Builder Punch, Triple flower punch (retired)

Fun tools and embellies: Aqua painter, basic rhinestones (colored with a orange and yellow Sharpies)

Two ribbon tricks!

Today's cards both use ribbon.  I have a trick to share with you for each.

Number one is a card that mimics a store front window.  I'd like this store since it sells cupcakes!  For awhile, I saw awnings on cards.  Haven't seen any lately, but I wanted to give it a try.  I think it's cute! I used the Word Window Punch to create the stripes.  Simply punch and adhere to a strip of cardstock.  Fold the ends in opposite directions and adhere to your project.

This card qualifies as a punch art card.  The only stamping on the card is the sentiment, from the set in the last Occasion Mini Bring on the Cake.  That set is no longer available, but I'm a hopin' that it makes it into the new 2011-12 Main Idea Book and Catalog coming out in July.  It's a great set.  I hope you purchased it!  If not, cross your fingers along with me for the July release of the new catalog!  I did offer Glimmer paper to the ladies at the workshop, but my sample has just basic Real Read hearts and cherry.  I used the Cupcake Punch to make the cupcakes (uhhh, yeah duh Kristine).  The paper wrappers of the cupcakes are crimped using the Paper Crimper.  Just crimp a strip of paper before you punch it with the Cupcake punch.  Super easy.  I think this is the kind of card that has a wow effect, but really is simple to put together.  The bow is a "Stay Put Bow" taught to me by a wonderful demonstrator, Mary Fish. 

Here is a picture tutorial for the stay put bow.  It really is simple and keeps your bow from loosening and sliding off the project.  First, place a hole in your cardstock where you want the bow to be.  I have punched a 1/8" hole.

Take your ribbon and pull both ends from the back to the front side of the project.

Take the loop hanging from the back and bring it around the sides of the project to the front.

Pull the two ends tight and place one end on each side of the ribbon you looped around.  No need for someone else's finger.  You can now easily tie the two ends!

I did a simple knot and then trimmed the ends!  Waalaaa!!

The next card is striking in its simplicity. 

The card is a CASE from my upline Linda Gutierrez   She made a bunch of samples using the Four Frames Stamp set and the DSP Paisley Petals.  These two items are not available right now, but will be in the new catalog. (They were a promotion in April)

 I want to show you how to make the bow on this card without having a HUGE lump due to a knot.  The larger ribbon can be hard to use for this reason.  I never want a huge knot, and bows can be ginormous with 1 1/4" ribbon!  So, here's what I did.  First, wrap the ribbon around the card to get the length you want.

Next, figure out how long a ribbon "tail" you want and snip a hole into the center of the ribbon.  I gave myself  about 2" from the end before I snipped.  This is a small snip.  Don't get all crazy and make a big hole! :-)

Now, pull the other end of the ribbon through the small hole.

I used an Antique Brad on this card, so I opened the brad's legs and wrapped them around the ribbon.  (Is it just me, or did that last sentence sound...ummm...naughty?) Trim the ends of the ribbon, and another Waaa laaaa!!!

  It's not bulky at all! You could even mail this!

Well, thanks folks for stopping in.  I hope you find a opportunity to do a ribbon trick or two! 

Kristine

On the softer side

Happy Tuesday morning to you!  Today I am in a funk.  Ever have those days?  Just cannot get the rear in gear! Fortunately, I am ready to post some more cards for you!

The first uses the watercolor roses technique shown to me by my friend, Lynnette.  She's a talented lady! (Shame, shame shame she does not have a blog we can all oogle. Sigh)  Using an aqua painter and some reinker, you float the color on top of glossy or shimmer paper and let it dry.  I used So Saffron and Peach Parfait reinkers because, as Donkey says in Shrek, "Everybody like Parfait!." I used that wonderful flourish from the set Baroque Motifs (may it never retire) and the rose image from Fifth Avenue Floral.  The leaves of the rose are punched from the wing of the Two step bird punch! 

 "Ahhh!" you say, "What a versatile punch!"

  "Yes," I answer wisely, nodding my head, "It is not just for the birds!"  hahahahaha 

 Okay, add ramie to that funky thing I got goin'.  With a Polka Dot dry emboss on the Peach Parfait panel (again, because "Everybody like Parfait!")  and a vanilla Top Note, the card has a Victorian feel.  Yes?

 

"But, Kristine...how did you make those bird wings look like such realistic leaves?" 

I blush, smile and say, "It's easy!  Punch out the wing from Pear Pizzazz card stock.  Then crumple it 'til it's tiny, tiny.  Then uncrumple it and press it against a Pear Pizzazz classic ink pad.  The ink fills in the crumples and makes it look great!" 

You smile at me and we are both happy to know how to make leaves from bird wings.  I only wish I could press myself up against a classic ink pad and make my "crumples" look great. {sigh}  Basic pearls in the swirls of the flourish, some Victoria Crochet ribbon and a pretty font in the sentiment from Fabulous Phrases finish off the card.  Okay, you now get to look!

Next up is a direct CAS card from Mary Fish.  She is becoming my idol.  Love her stuff!  This card uses the Rub-ons from the Occasions Mini called Love Impressions.  An aside: Have you ever stopped to think that there is someone,( maybe multiple someones!) whose job it is to name the stuff in the catalog!  Hmmm, guess that would take a talent for alliteration or maybe just a need to control the world and name things?  Anyway, moving on....The card is framed with the pretty Tulip Embossing folder.  Simple black, red and white with a touch of pink keep it simple.  Not an ounce of ink is used on this card!  I suppose this isn't a stamped card, technically.  It's a rubbed card!  No inky fingers.

And the final card.  Thank you for reading this far.  My... you're a saint. 

This card uses Lap of Luxury DSP and the Square Lattice Embossing folder.  To get the look of a quilt, first layer all pieces and then run the whole thing through the Big Shot with the embossing folder.  It squishes (a very technical stamping term) all the layers together and it looks very "quilty."  The sentiment is from the Occasions set You're a Gem.  And really...YOU'RE a gem if you read my whole post today.  Gracias!

Three more Christmas cards

One of the nice things about Stampin' Up! is the people you meet as a demonstrator.  I belong to a group of demonstrators here in the Reno area.  A few of us are orphans, meaning our uplines are gone.  To support each other, we get together and play and talk shop.  We got together a week ago and made Christmas cards.  Below are some of the cards others brought to. 

The first card is designed by Lynnette Parker.  Her stuff is always wonderful.

Next is a card provided by Mary Cargill.  I didn't finish it while there, so mine looks a bit different than hers.   I just love the sparkle of the card.  The trees are stamped in wild wasabi craft and then embossed with irridescent ice embossing powder.  Really pretty IRL.

And finally is a card from a newbie to our group, Nancy Stafford.  This card is too cute.  Easy to put together as well--a huge bonus for Christmas cards if you're going to make a lot!  The card is basically punches punched, cut and arranged into Santa's jolly face.  Makes me laugh that just by placing the eyes a wee bit differntly, you can gve Santa lots of expressions!  I was going for a jolly expression, but he actually looks a little baffled to me.  Ah well, that more clearly reflects me! lol

A poodle punch card

For awhile, punch art cards were all over the blogs.   I think they are ever so clever, so I wanted to be clever too!  I have a wonderful Standard Poodle named Simon, and so in his honor, I created a punch art poodle! Since Simon is a male, I proably should have used a blue bow and backdrop, but...well I like red better!  I really enjoyed making this card and I do feel rather clever in how it turned out!

Isn't he just adorable!  It's hard to see in the picture, but I ran the whisper white through the big shot with the swirly texture plate.   It makes his fur look curly!  Makes me smile.  Simon actually never has had a poodle haircut, so he's not so elegant looking.  He would never put up with a bow, either. People ask me all the time if he's a labradoodle.  "Nope," I say, "He's just Simon."  That says it all in my mind. :-)

Here's the real Simon with his friend Ada, the Boxer puppy. 

Too cute, huh?  They make me laugh when they play.  Simon is six, and Ada isn't even a year yet, but they have the BEST time.  Hard not to smile when watching their antics.

Thanks for popping in today.
Kristine