Mosaic Madness Take II

Happy Thursday!!!!

Well ... I'm TRYING to maintain my "Happy Thursday" mentality ... but it's hard to do when I want to rip my nose right off my face!!!  Seriously!  Yes, I was sick to death of the snow we had for literally 6 months ... but I would gladly have snow back in place of raging allergies!!!  My nose is SO tickly ... my right eye feels like it is swelling shut and if I sneeze one more time I swear I'll have to put the dog in therapy as I've scared the living daylights out of him about 85 times already today ... poor thing *lol*

On the bright side I got to hide in the basement for an hour and "play"!  Ooooo I had fun!  I officially have a new favorite stamp set .. the new Mosaic Madness ... it's due to release May 31st!!  This is going to be one HOT stamp set!  The mosaic pattern is everywhere in home decor these days ... and I can't get enough of it!  Here is what I made today:

YAY!!!!  Love it!!  This was one of the fastest cards I've ever made!  I didn't fuss, fiddle or re-design .. well, ok ... I first tried using whisper white craft ink ... then crumb cake ink ... THEN the espresso ink but that only took about 2 minutes to settle on ... other than that I simply stamped the two large mosaic designs with Early Espresso ink on Crumb Cake cs and punched them out with the Mosaic Punch (also due to be released March 31st) - I stamped the smaller mosaic images and the sentiment directly on Confetti White Card stock (with the corners rounded) and mounted it on a Crumb Cake base (also with the corners rounded).  The sentiment is from another great new stamp set ... Really Great Greatings (this stamp is my favorite!!)  I added a few pearls to the mosaics and DONE!  Love it Love it Love it. 

Pop in again soon to see what else I can come up with whilst hiding from Mother Nature!  Until then ... have a stampy day *achoo*!


Tam

Mosaic Sneek Peak

Happy Tuesday!

All of us Canadian Demonstrators has Monday off so Tuesday is the new Monday around here *lol*  It's been a while since I posted ... but that's not because I haven't been crafting ... I've simply been mass-producing what I HAVE crafted!  Over the last week or so I finished off 2o of my Vellum Swallowtail Butterfly cards for a fundraiser, I made 60 of the baby Thank You cards for Mamma Sara and wee Brock and now I'm working on 25 of today's card.  I FINALLY got to spend an hour with my new toys from the catalogue that is due to be released May 31st!  It took me a while to get my mojo in order but I managed it in the end.  One of my new favorite sets is called Mosaic Madness.  Have you noticed mosaic patterns EVERYwhere lately??  I have!  ... and I've also noticed the new colors that are all over the soft furnishings - they are soft colors and SO pretty ... so ... naturally I paired the two (the pattern and the colors) and came up with this:

Love it!  I can't get enough of this pattern!  Lucky for me Stampin' Up! is all over it and has provided all kinds of toys that coordinate beautifully!  For this card I used the new Mosaic Madness stamp set, punch and embossing folder.  I also used the (5) new In Color colors ... Baked Brown Sugar (yummy!), Coastal Cabana (I just bought Alicia a pair of SHOES in this color!!), Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding and Strawberry Slush ... seriously ... these colors are EVERYWHERE in! the stores!!  The sentiment is from Lacy & Lovely (thank goodness THIS one isn't retiring!!) stamped in Staz-on Black ink.  This is a very quick and easy card ... good thing, since I just cracked off 25 of them!

No time for crafting today ... I have to do my 100 squats (yes, my latest 30 day challenge ... I started last Monday with 50 ... every day you do 5 more ... by the end I will be doing 250!!!), walk the dog and then I'm off to get my hair cut and colored ... then it's swimming lessons and dinner.  Hopefully tomorrow I will get a chance to play a little more.  Until then ... have a stampy Tuesday :)

Tam

Butterfly Gratitude

Happy Wednesday!

Woo Hoo!  Nothing on the calendar today!  Maybe I'll get some of my "to-do" list done!

This is the third card we made in class last week.  I have been playing with a lot of punches and negative spaces lately and came up with this little cutie:

I TRIED to come up with a DSP that was current but I couldn't find one that had patterns small enough for my liking.  If the pattern is too big then it doesn't look quite right when punched out with the small Postage Stamp punch that I used here.  I settled on my all-time favorite DSP - Mocha Morning (and yes, I think I'm hoarding 4 more packages for just such crafting emergencies *lol*).  I used Very Vanilla and Soft Suede with the DSP.  For the Postage Stamp pieces I actually used my Bitty Butterfly punch to punch the butterfly OUT of the square ... but you could also punch a Vanilla piece and tape it on TOP of the DSP piece ... it LOOKS like that in this picture, but the butterflies were punched out of the DSP ... and then used in the top right area of the card (I couldn't possibly WASTE them!!)  I used the Elegant Butterfly punch for the large butterfly (in vanilla) and attached it to the DSP with a glimmer brad.  The sentiment is from Pursuit of Happiness ... another favorite that is retiring :(.  It's is stamped in Soft Suede.  I added some pearls to the butterflies for bodies.  Another quick and cute card that can be used for most occasions!

I've been DYING to start playing with my box of new toys!  Hopefully I'll get a chance to do that this week so pop in again soon to see what is new and exciting May 31st!!!  Until then ... have a stampy day :)


Tam

Kindness Matters Mother's Day

Happy Tuesday!

Lots on the go today so I'll keep it quick!

Today I'm sharing another butterfly card we made in class last week.  Since class was the week before Mother's Day I used a Mother's Day sentiment but the card works well for most occasions ...

Quick and cute!  I used the Kindness Matters stamp set - another one that retired in 2 weeks :(  The lighting isn't great in this picture ... I used Elegant Eggplant and Whisper White for the color scheme.  It really is very regal in the proper lighting!  I rounded the corner of two corners both on the white front and the eggplant layer.  I stamped the image on a scrap piece of white and then used my Oval Framelits to punch it out.  I used my Scalloped Ovel punch to get the eggplant scallop that is behind the butterfly layer.  Thye picture doesn't show it well, but I used my paper piercing tool to punch a little hole in each of the scallops.  The butterfly layer is then popped up on dimensionals.  Again - the photo doesn't show it well but I also have a partial oval pierced to the left of the butterfly layer.  I used my Paper Piercing "Occasions" pack template to get the oval perfect, rather than freehanding it.  The sentiment is from "Wonderful Mother" - another retiring set - stamped in eggplant.  A string of (5) rhinestones adds a little touch of bling.  I love this card!  Clean and simple but packs a "Wow".  I hope you like it!

 

I have one more project to share from class last week.  Pop in again tomorrow to check that one out.  Until then ... have a stampy day :)

 

 

Tam

Baby Prints Thank You

Happy Monday!

I hope everyone had a nice Mother's Day!  I had a nice relaxing day finishing off 20 of the Stained Glass butterfly cards.  I made them for a friend who is raising money for Cancer ... she'll use the cards as Thank Yous for sponsors of the 12 hour walk they are doing in June.  The only down side of the day was that my allergies hit me HARD around 11:00 am and I spent most of the day sneezing, rubbing my tickly nose and generally feeling miserable :(  The girls and my husband took care or the chores, breakfast and dinner and I got some lovely home made gifts for my mantle. 

I habe a number of projects left to finish off this week.  I'm providing a basket of 50 cards and a Private Stamping Class to another friend who is attending a different fundraiser and needs a silent auction item.  I'm also making a number of "Thank You" cards for me friend Sara, who just gave birth to a beautiful baby boy last Sunday.  I hope her first Mother's Day was amazing!!  That is the project I'll share with you today:

These little cards are fairly quick and easy to make.  I used the Note Cards and Envelopes, as they are a little smaller than a standard card.  I LOVE these little cards and have just placed an order for 7 more packages as they are on the RETIRING list :(  They are only availale until the end of the month, or while supplies last (so if you want them order them QUICK!!).  I used Pool Party and Island Indigo ... two In Color colors that have been promoted to "standard" colors in the new catalogue - yay!  I love these two colors together!  The image is from Baby Prints ($26.95 clear; $33.95 wood).  I stamped them in Versamark and embossed them with Pool Party embossing powder ($5.95).  The sentiment is from Cuddles & Kisses ($22.95 clear; $31.95 wood) and punched out with the Modern Label punch ($22.95).  The sentiment is popped up on dimensionals ($5.50).  The ribbon is from the SAB ribbon bundle that I have left over.  The picture doesn't show it very well, but the card base was run through the Big Shot with the Chevron folder ($9.95).  Three rhinestones finish it off.  Cute and quick ... which is good ... the plan is to make 100 of them *lol*

That's it for today.  Pop in again when I'll share another butterfly card that we made in class last week.  Until then - have a stampy day!


Tam

Stained Glass Technique - Swallowtail

Happy Thursday!

I'm moving a little slowly today.  I'm feeling a little overwhelmed with all I have to do in the run up to the new catalogue release!  I just got my 8 CASES of new catalogue which need to be labelled (that's the fun part!) and my BIG case of pre-ordered items and new toys ... while that's fun too in order to find SPACE for all my new toys I have to purge my old toys :(  Not so fun!  I spend about 2 hours last night pulling all the retiring papers, inks and stamp sets ... boy oh BOY do I have a lot of retiring product!  I've pulled it all ... now comes the heart-wrenching chore of deciding what I KEEP and what I SELL - NEVER an easy decision!  Occasionally I have sold off items that I later regretted.  In fact, just this week I was on e-bay buying the "Wonderful Words" stamp set.  It was a keeper, but in one of my "purge" moods I sold it.  E-Bay to the rescue!  It is now on it`s way back to me :)  If you are in the Edmonton area mark your calendars for March 31st.  That`s when I`m holding my Catalogue Release Open House - swing by anytime between 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm to pick up your FABULOUS new catalogue, check out some of the new products up-close-and-personal and check out what I`ve decided to part with (but you only get to buy if you promise to give my babies a good home ... and use them from time to time *lol*)

So!  On to my newest favorite card!  We made this in class Tuesday (and will again tomorrow night) using the Stained Glass Technique:

Love it!!!  I only just bought the "Swallowtail" stamp set a few weeks ago (Spring mini page 18 - $16.95 clear; $21.95 wood).  While I thought it was pretty, as well as inexpensive, I've never been a huge fan of these really large images ... they don't fit on a standard sized card ... and that bugs me!  ... but I have been seeing more and more lovely cards made with it and I figured with a little therapy I could perhaps get over my "it doesn't fit" issues.  I was right!  I'm so glad I have this stamp!  I decided to try out the "Stained Glass Technique" - a technique I have never tried ... despite this being my 8th YEAR as a stamper!!!  How do you do it?  Well!  You simply stamp your image on Vellum card stock.  For my card I stamped it in Versamark and embossed it with black embossing powder ... but you don't have to emboss the image - you can just stamp it in Staz On (you COULD use Classic Ink but you would have to let it dry completely ... and that takes a while given that the vellum doesn't accept standard ink well.  You CAN use your "low" setting on your heat tool to speed things up a bit but I would just use Staz-on or emboss it.  Once you have your image embossed you flip the vellum OVER and color directly on the BACK of it.  While it looks like I spend HOURS coloring this image it really only took about 1 minute!  You don't have to be precise at all ... I just scribbled as desired!  When you flip the vellum back over the colors ae a lot softer and take on a stained glass effect.  SO pretty!  For my card I used So Saffron, More Mustard, Cajun Craze and Island Indigo markers.  The sentiment is from Word Play (it's RETIRING so get it THIS MONTH!!!) and is stamped in Cajun Craze.  I cut out the image using my paper snips and popped it up with dimensionals.  I mounted it on an Island Indigo base.  Surprisingly quick easy and beautiful!  My parents were over on Sunday and saw the card on the table.  Now while they both support what I do they don't really "get it" and/or always appreciate the end result.  They were both blown away with this card.  They couldn't believe it was a stamp!  ... or that I colored it! ... or that I cut it out!  They thought it took hours - it truly only took about 7 minutes.  *lol* ... I think I have my mom's Mother's Day card sorted!

Here is another beautiful card made using the Stained Glass technique.  Thanks Kerri-Anne for sharing it with me and letting me share it on my blog!

Isn't it beautiful?  Kerri-Anne used the Secret Garden stamp set and framelits for her stained flowers.  SO pretty!  Notice the dahlia in the centre of the pink one?  Framelits were also used to punch out the frames.  GREAT job!!!

Right!  Guess I should go walk "Doods" (my pet name for my pet Golden Doodle).  It's a short day at school so I better get cracking!  Until next time .. have a stampy day!


Tam

Water Bottle Hangers

Happy Monday!

Yep ... my favorite day of the week is here again!  Just me, the cat and the dog to get things back in order after a relaxing, warm weekend.  It was great!  The perfect mix of cleaning, crafting, napping, socializing, exercising and eating.  A great, great weekend :)

I'm FINALLY getting around to posting the little treats I made for my club girls last month ... I've had them done and ready to share ... but I just didn't find the time to POST them! Well today's your lucky day - the project with full pictures to boot!

I'll start by saying the idea didn't come from me - I came across it from fellow demonstrator Sherri Gross - I tried to upload a picture of Sherri's project but it wouldn't work so you''ll have to pop over to her blog at www.stampinsherrie.blogspot.ca - to see her original version - she has a great blog with some great project ideas!

So here is the project ... it is a Water Bottle Hanger ...

Aren't they fun??  I love these little guys!  I made them about 5 years ago and forgot how quick and easy they are ... and people LOVE getting them!  I was going to make 30 for my club girls and a few extras to have on hand "just because" ... but of course, you know me ... if 30 is good then 60 is better *lol* ... so I made 60 of them.  Tomorrow I plan to take a case of water in to the school and leave them for the teaching staff at the girls' school.  It's smokin' hot here this week and I figure the staff could use some water ... and sugar *lol*.  So here is a tutorial and dimensions on how to make these little cuties:

First off I made my own DSP ... yes, I KNOW SU sells DSP but I couldn't find what I wanted ... so I made my own.  I used 2" strips of whisper white and stamped it in Real Red ink using the Travel Journal builder wheel (page 108 - $5.95)

 Now ... I know I mentioned this before ... but I didn't have pictures for you ... now I do :)  I'm not a huge fan of wheeling ... well, I'm pretty good if it is one of the Jumbo wheels, but the standard and builder wheels not-so-much.  If I don't get just the fight pressure then I got blotches and edges that I don't want ... so I've started ripping the wheels apart and using the rubber portion like a stamp.  Here is how to do that:
Simply take your scissors or an exacto knife and slice along the seam in the rubber:

 ... then you just peel the rubber off the wheel!  It's only attached TO the wheel with a double sides sticky tape and it pulls right off!

 Once the rubber is off I usually cut it down to a manageable size, run a tiny strip of snail along it and stick it to a glass block to use.  Easy!

 For storage I just keep them all in on of the clear mount cases that you can buy: (page 7 of the main catty - $7.50 for 4)

 Once I had my DSP made I cut strips of black cs 8 1/4" x 2 1/4" and then scored them with my Simply Scored Scoring Tool at 2 1/4" and 6":

 Next I punched a hole in one of the 2 1/4" x 2 1/4" squares (I just acored) with the 1 3/8" circle punch.  Now!  You KNOW it would drive me insane if the hole wasn't perfectly centred in the square, right?  So in order to accomplish THAT quickly and easily I simply grabbed (2) of my post-it-notes and punched a circle in them (i.e. the post-it-notes are on top of each other so it is two sheets thick .... just to give it some sturdiness).  I made sure that when I punched I had a bit of the post-it stickiness on the circle so that the punched out circle would gently stick to my card stock.

 I then took the little punched out yellow circle, stuck it my cs and lined my punch up directly over the yellow post-its. Wa-low! A perfectly centered circle! Aren't I clever? *lol*

 I cut the 2" strips of DSP into 2" x 2" squares and rounded the top corners with my corner rounder punch (page 183 - $8.95).  I also rounded the (2) corners on my black cs ... the corners tht DON'T have the circle punched out:

 I then simply folded the hanger on the score lines, attached the DSP to the front and then used Silver Brads to hold the scored flap to the hanger.  It's important that you do this and don't just use tape.  Once you put your Crystal Light, Cool Aid or Hawaian punch in the holder grabity will take over and they will pop open on no time.  Poke a brad through the entire contraption and it will make a nice, tight, secure pouch.

I then used my 1 1/4" scallop circle punch (page 36 of the spring mini - $21.95) for the black scallop and my teeny little 7/8" scallop punch (page 17 of the spring mini - $15.95) to punch out the sentiment that is from the new "Round Array" stamp set that is in the upcoming catalogue.  You can buy it NOW for $17.95.  I stamped it in Real Red and popped it up on a dimensional.

All that was left to do might make some of you want to stick your pokey-tool in your eye but I had to do it (the punching, not the sticking in the eye *lol*).  I made a little scalloped edge to go around the hole.  Here is how you do it:
Punch a hole in your cs with the 1 3/8" circle punch:

 Then using your 1 3/4" scallop punch you punch again, over the hole you just made ... and it gives you a little borders.

I then used my tombow glue to glue the border to the hanger.  Yes, this last step added about 1 1/2 hours to the project completion time ... but I was crafting with my newest Mommy friend Sara and it was fun to just craft and glue.  CONGRATULATIONS Sara on your precious little Brock ... 1 1/2 days old!

 

Wa-low! Here again is the final product:

Pop in again soon ... I have an AWESOME card to share that we will be making in class tomorrow night (with the Stained Glass Technique) ... just gotta get it snapped and blogged!  Until then ... have a SUPER stampy day!!

 

Tam