By The Tide Bookmark Card

Happy Thursday!

Wow ... That's February done, then!  My how the time flies!  ... it's all good, though ... now that we are heading into March the snow will soon be gone and we can all come out of hyberation up here in the Great White North!

So today is my fourth and final project using By The Tide.  As I mentioned yesterday this one almost killed me.  In the end I got there, though!  Here the picture:

When you open the card the inside reads "aren't things".  My family struggled to "get" this one.  I thought I was so clever!  You know ... reading a book ... smelling the flowers ... taking a bubble bath ... watching your children at the park ... THESE are the best things in life.  "So why are you putting a book mark in it then?  Isn't that a thing?"  Sigh.  Can't they just accept that I'm a creative genius and my vision for this card and gift in is beyond brilliant???? 

Well ... whether you "get it" or not ... her are the instruction on how to make it *lol*  (get comfortable ... it's not an easy ... or fast ... read ... then again, how many of my posts are??  Part of my charm, right?  RIGHT??!!)

PAPER: Very Vanilla, River Rock, Soft Suede

STAMP SETS: By the Tide, Feel Goods

INK PADS:  Sahara Sand, River Rock, Soft Suede

ACCESSORIES: Petit Pockets Bigz XL Die (and Big Shot), Labels Collection Framelits, Natural 7/8” Cotton Ribbon, Two Tags Bigz Die, Dimensionals, Sticky Strip, 3/16” Corner Rounder punch, Fancy Fan Embossing Folder, 1 ¾” Scallop Punch

INSTRUCTIONS: 

·         Cut Very Vanilla card base measuring 8 ½” x 5 ½”
·         Cut River Rock Layer measuring 4” x 5 ¼”
·         Cut Very Vanilla Layer measuring 2 ½” x 5”
·         Cut Soft Suede Petite Pocket using Petite Pocket Bigz XL Die
·         Cut (2) Soft Suede bookmarks using Two Tags
·         Cut a Very Vanilla piece measuring 1 ½” x 3” and round the corners using corner rounder punch
·         Create your own DSP on the Vanilla pieces using By the Tide.  For my project I stamped the coral in Sahara Sand, the sea shells in River Rock and the script and “Nantucket” circle in Soft Suede.
·         Attach your DSP to one of the bookmark pieces and to the card base.
·         Fold the Petite Pocket piece on all score lines and keep it “closed” to run it through the Fancy Fan embossing folder. 
·         Using Sticky Strip tape the pocket closed.  TIP:  Fold the “top” flap of the pocket down first and tape it down – then fold the side pieces and tape them down (using sticky strip) on the OUTSIDE of the pocket.  This seems to allow slightly more room for the bookmark to be inserted easily.
·         Cut a strip of cotton ribbon approx 4” long.  Tie a knot in the middle of it and attach it to the Petit Pocket (snail works fine)
·         Attach the pocket to the card front.
·         Using your Soft Suede marker, directly color “The Best Things In Life” stamp and stamp it on Very Vanilla card stock.
·         Punch your sentiment out using your framelit and attach it to the card front using Sticky strip (along the left hand side) and dimensional (along the right hand side)

For the Bookmark:

·         One of your bookmark pieces has your DSP attached to it.  Trim the second bookmark piece so you only have the top scallop piece.
·         Stamp the sea horse image in Soft Suede on Very Vanilla card stock and punch it out with the 1 ¾” scallop circle punch:

·         Attach the Scalloped sea horse piece to the half scallop Soft Sued piece.  Only apply snail to the LOWER HALF of the sea horse scallop

·         Attach the seahorse scallop to the bookmark – applying snail only to the UPPER HALF of the sea horse scallop.  This will allow for the book mark to hook onto the page of the book when in use:

·         Insert bookmark into pocket – complete sentiment inside (by using your “marker direct to stamp” technique and punching out sentiment and mat accordingly) and you’re done!

"Oh!  Is THAT all" I hear you cry!  Never mind ... just take your iPad or laptop down to the craft room with you and copy whay I did.  You'll know what I mean *lol*

So those are my 4 projects.  I truly hope you enjoyed them and maybe even got some inspiration from them.  I really liked that it stretched me creatively to use a set that I wouldn't normally gravitate towards.  It was an awesome challenge and opportunity.  I'm thrilled and honoured that I was asked to contribute to the one magazine I read cover to cover ... the day it lands in my mailbox.  Until next post ... have a stampy day :)

Tam

By The Tide Birthday Card

Happy Wednesday!

Today I'm sharing my standard card using By The Tide (page 19 of the spring catty).  This is a great card to make at a workshop or party - quick, easy and nice :)

It's very simple to make ... and was the first one I designed for the article.  I really struggled with what sentiment to use.  I settled on Happy Birthday ... although Craig did mention that "fish, coral and shells don't really scream HAPPY BIRTHDAY" to him.  Humph.  Guess he's not getting THIS card for his birthday *lol*.  Here is the recipe:

PAPER: Very Vanilla, Basic Grey

STAMP SETS: By the Tide, Family Reunion
INK PADS:  Basic Grey
ACCESSORIES: 1 3/8” Square Punch, 1 ¼” Square Punch, Dimensionals

Need I say anything more?  *lol*  Didn't think so.  It's pretty straight forward.

Tomorrow I'll share my final project.  This one almost made my mind explode ... and took the longest for me to design.  Alas I did it!  Pop in to check it out ... have a stampy day :)

Tam

By The Tide Envelope Gift Card Holder

Happy Tuesday!

Thanks for coming back to check out my second project from the Stampin' Success article :)

I just LOVE these gift card holders.  I decided to make one for the magazine because when I reviewed the statistics of the hits on my blog I found that the Envelope Gift Card holder was in the top 3 looked at posts.  So I figured everyone would want to see another version of it ... this time a masculine version ... using By The Tide (page 19 of the Spring catty - $24.95 clear; $33.95 wood).  Here's the project:

I have posted the instructions for making these twice before (see the side bar on the left).  I made a Christmas one ... and just a few weeks ago I posted my Valentine one.  Now we have a Father's Day / Male Birthday one.  Here are the instructions (if you want full pictures to help you out check the post for the Valentine Gift Card Holder)

PAPER: Very Vanilla, Not Quite Navy

STAMP SETS: By the Tide, Family Reunion, Best Dad Ever, Wonderful Mother
INK PADS:  Not Quite Navy
ACCESSORIES: Simply Scored Scoring Tool, Medium Very Vanilla Envelope, Labels Collection Framelits, Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Fancy Fan Embossing Folder (and Big Shot), Dimensionals, Sticky Strip, Mini Glue Dots
INSTRUCTIONS: 

·         Start with a standard 8 ½” x 5 ½” piece of Very Vanilla card stock

·         Score the long side at 2 ½” and 5 ¾” and fold along score lines
·         Attach a 1” x 5 ½” strip of Not Quite Navy card stock to the 2 ¾” section of the Very Vanilla base with snail adhesive
·         Close the card base and run it through the Fancy Fan embossing folder.  It will be a tight fit due to the 3 layers that are being embossed but it will fit and the paper won’t crack
·         Take a Medium Very Vanilla envelope and seal it.  Fold the envelope in half (so it is 4 ¾” long x 2 14/16” wide). 
·         Using your Table Top cutter, place the fold of the envelope on the 2 ¼” mark and cut off the top of the envelope.  Flip the envelope – place the fold on the 2 ¼” mark again and cut off the top of the envelope.  You will now have the envelope measuring 4 ¼” x 4 ½” with two open ends.
·         Tape the two half of the envelope together.  You now have an envelope with two “openings”.  (These are where your sentiment card and gift card will go).
·         Attach the envelope to the inside of the Very Vanilla base with Sticky Strip (along the flap that does NOT have the Not Quite Navy strip attached to it).  It is important to use Sticky Strip rather than snail.  Snail won’t be strong enough to keep the envelope stuck to the embossed base.
·         Stamp your “dad” sentiment in Not Quite Navy and punch it out with the Large Oval punch.  Pop it up on your Scallop Oval Punched Not Quite Navy piece with dimensional.  Attach to the base with Sticky Strip.
·         For the envelope inserts, cut (2) pieces of Not Quite Navy card stock measuring 4” x 2 ½”.
·         Cut out (2) labels using the smallest Label Collection framelit and attach to the Not Quite Navy pieces.
·         Cut (2) pieces of Very Vanilla card stock measuring 3 ¾” 2 ¼”. 
·         Stamp or write your sentiment on the Very Vanilla pieces and attach to the Not Quite Navy pieces.
·         Attach (2) mini glue dots to one of the inserts and attach your gift card.
·         For the Belly Band – Cut a piece of Very Vanilla card stock measuring 1 ½” x 7 ½”.  Don’t score the Belly Band – simply close your gift card holder (WITH the inserts and gift card inside) and wrap it around the holder.  The thickness of the holder may vary and this method ensures the Belly Band is neither too loose nor too tight.  Secure the Belly Band with Sticky Strip (again, this ensures it will stay closed over time.  Snail may “give” over time due to the pressure).
·         Stamp the fish image in Not Quite Navy and punch it out using the 2^nd smallest Labels Collection framelit.
·         Punch a Not Quite Navy framelit piece using the same size – turn it and layer it with the “fish” piece.  Attach to the Belly Band.

Ta Da!  I said it before, I'll say it again ... LOVE these gift card holders!!

Tomorrow I'll post my easiest project ... the standard card.  Until then ... have a stampy day!

Tam

By The Tide Easel Card

Happy Monday!!

Woo Hoo!  Monday!  I'm not sure which makes me happier ... Fridays or Mondays *lol*.  Soooo ... did you check out my Stampin' Success projects?  Here again are all 4 projects that are featured in the magazine:

Didn't see the article yet?  Here is the link (I THINK it will work ... I'm not sure if you have to be a demonstrator to access it or not ... my article is on page 16 ... and 17)

http://www.stampinup.com/ca/documents/US_SS_03_04.pdf

I love how these projects all turned out ... despite the fact that it resulted in 3 week of sleepless nights!  It really was a challenge to come up with these projects.  The stamp set just screams SCRAPBOOK ME! ... but I'm not a scrapbooker ... and I didn't want to make projects that weren't "me" ... so I come up with a standard, quick and easy card, an envelope gift card holder, a card that has a bookmark in it and an easel card.  It really stretched my thinking and creativity and I'm really proud of what I came up with.  Today I'll share how I made the Easel Card.  Here is close up of it ...

Love it!  This is a picture of my Rebecca when she was about 4 years old ... in San Diego.  That was her "signature hat" ... I still have it *sniff*.  But I digress ...

I had never made an Easel Card before ... so this was a learning process for sure!  Thank goodness for all the talented card makers out there ... and Google!  Here is the "recipe" to make the card ... I hope it makes sense ...

PAPER: Sahara Sand, Basic Grey, Pink Pirouette, Vellum

STAMP SETS: By the Tide, Word Play

INK PADS:  Sahara Sand, Black Staz-on

ACCESSORIES: Simply Scored Scoring Tool, Labels Collection Framelits, Big Shot, Mini Glue Dots, Black Emboss Powder, Heat Tool, Neutrals Designer Buttons

INSTRUCTIONS: 

·         Start with a piece of Sahara Sand card stock measuring 8” x 5 ½” and fold it in half.

·         Take what will be the front of the card and score it from the top right hand corner to bottom left hand corner fold line (look at the picture to understand where the score line is).  I used my Simply Scored Scoring Tool – I placed the angled card on the very edge of the tool and scored it using the very last groove.  I found this more accurate than using the diagonal plate.
·         Fold the front inwards.
·         Stamp a piece of Sahara Sand card stock measuring 1 ½” x 5 ½” with your By the Tide images in Sahara Sand ink.
·         Attach a strip of Basic Grey card stock measuring 1 ¼” x 5 ½” to the Sahara Sand strip and attach to your card base.
·         Cut your photograph using whichever Labels Collection Framelit best fits your picture best.  For my picture I used the two largest framelits – the larges for the Pink Pirouetts mat and one size smaller for the photograph. 
·         Attach your photo and mat to the card base but ONLY the lower right hand portion.  You need the upper right hand section to be loose so it will “stand up” when the card is open.
·         Stamp your sentiment in Staz-on, sprinkle it with Black Embossing Powder and heat set.  Punch it out using the appropriate size of framelit.  Attach to the photo with snail.
·         Attach buttons using mini glue dots making sure to apply the inside buttons at a height that will prop the front at an appropriate level when open.

 So that's the first project!  I hope you like it ... and that the instructions make sense!  Come back tomorrow for the second project.  Until then ... have a stampy day!

Tam

Honeycomb Embossed Embossing

Happy Sunday!

I couldn't wait to share this card with you!!!  I just LOVE it!  It really is one of those cards you need to see in person to get the full effect ... I'm not sure the pictures show the shimmer sufficiently but ... here goes ...

Ok ... I can't see any shimmer on that one ... let's try this one ...

A little better.  Well ... you're just going to have to take my word for it ... it's FABULOUS (yes, I love myself *lol*).  The outline of the honeycomb shapes are all shimmery ... and remind me of golden honey ... mmmmm ... honey ....

This is the card we will be making at my Technique Class in March.  I'm calling it "Embossed Embossing".  The colors used are Very Vanilla and Soft Suede (apparently Soft Suede is my new "go-to color this month!!) and So Saffron.  I applied Versamark directly to my honeycomb folder (on the NON bumpy side) put the vv layer in the folder (making SURE to use my embossing buddy on the cs first!!) and ran it through the big shot.  (**NOTE:  I was making this card again and I found that you want to use an OLD Versamark pad if you have one ... if your pad it too new ... or too "juicy" you get Versamark ... and subsequently powder all over the inside of the honeycomb ... which I don't think looks as nice.  If you use an older, less juicy pad it seems to only stick on the outline of the honeycombs.  If you DO get powder all over the inside of the honeycomb just take a small paintbrush and brush awy the powder where you don't want it before you heat set it**)  I then sprinkled it all over with Iridescent Ice embossing powder ... is that how you spell iridescent?  Looks wrong ... hang on ... hmmm .. yep, that's how you spell it ... Right!  Then I heat embossed it.  The embosing powder only sticks to the bumpy parts of the honesycomb shape and gives it a fabulous golden shimmer.  LOVE IT!!!  I ran some scrap pieces of Soft Suede and So Saffron through the honeycomb folder as well (after cleaning the folder off with a wet baby wipe) and then used my paper snips to cut the shapes out (I DO hope Stampin' Up! is planning to release a honeycomb punch in their next catty ...while it isn't a LOT of work to snip the shapes out life is a little too short to be making too many of them!!)  I stamped the bee from Collage Curios (page 24 of the mini - $19.95 clear; $25.95 wood) in Soft Suede.  Stamped the Thank You in Soft Suede (from Lacy & Lovely - page 99 of the catty - $21.95 clear; $30.95 wood) and punched it out with the Decorative Label Punch.  I used a finger dauber with Soft Suede to color the edges and popped the whole thing up on dimensionals.  Can you see the itty bitty pearls on the bums of the bees?  Hee hee ... I crack me up :))  I added one more, medium sized pearl on one of the honeycombs ... you know ... just to be wild and crazy :)  I popped 3 of the snipped out honeycombs on dimensionals.  DO you like it?  Do ya, huh?  I do ... a LOT :)

That's it for today ... check back tomorrow for my Stampin' Success projects!  Have a stampy Sunday!

Tam

Madison Avenue Case ... from Shelli!!

Happy Saturday!

Can I just say I had a FABULOUS time last night with my stampers??!!  ... and can I just say (once again) I LOVE MY JOB!!!  Sharing what I love with others makes my heart smile.  Stampin' Up! demonstrators are always saying "the best part of being a demonstrator are the relationships I've formed through stamping".  For the first few years of hearing that again and again I thought it was a little cheesey ... but ya know what?  The longer I do this ... and the more people I meet ... and the more friends I make ... I gotta say ... they are all 100% right.  I truly cherish the friendships I have made (and am making!) through this passion of mine.  Stamping truly is more than just crafting ... and stamping parties are SO much more than making a few cards.  They really ARE like the quilting bees from days gone by.  Most of my customers, club members and stampers don't come over to learn something new (but they often do!) ... I believe they come from the fun night out ... the escape ... the girlie yick-yack ... the "just be"ing.  I'll say it again ... I love my job :)

You know who else loves her job?  Our mighty leader, Co-Founder and CEO Shelli Gardner.  She has such a genuine passion for stamping ... and an even more genuine love for her demonstrators and employees.  You know that everything she says and does is truly from her heart.  She's an amazing, inspirational lady in SO many ways.  The card I'm posting today is HER card - 100% cased ... I just added a few rhinestones for some shine.  She created hers digitally on her MDS system.  I made mine the old fashioned way ... with paper and ink (and my stamp-a-ma-jig).  Her it is:

Isn't it great?  I was struck by it's simplicity ... it could be used for any occasion.  Love it!  It uses the Madison Avenue SAB set - and I grabbed the sentiment from Best Dad Ever.  The inks are Island Indigo, Crumb Cake and Rich Razzleberry - all on Sahara Sand cs with a Whisper White base.  Quick, easy and striking.  Love it.  Thanks Shelli for sharing what you love :)

Pop back soon to check out my By The Tide projects.  They make me smile :)  Until then ... have a stampy weekend!

Tam

Bloomin' Marvelous Case

Happy Friday!!

Woo Hoo!  The weekend!  ... you'd think it wouldn't matter to a SAHM whether it was Monday or Saturday but mentally there is just something about the weekend that puts you in a good mood!  Perhaps for me it's because Friday nights are usually my Stamping Classes/Parties .. or maybe it's because I somehow give myself permission to eat really "bad" food *lol*  Whatever the reason I'm glad it's Friday ... and yes, I DO have a party tonight ... my OWN party!  This was a bit of a stretch for me and oddly took me out of my comfort zone!  I'm very good at telling OTHER people what to do but not so great at doing it myself.  This party is a case in point!  I'm very good at telling my potential hostesses to "invite EVERYONE" but when push comes to shove it's not an easy thing to do!  However, do it I did ... after all ... I didn't want to look like a real goat by having my own party and then having no one show up, now did I?  I'm thrilled that I asked all different friends, aquaintances, customers and stampers ... and that 8 said "yes"!  I have a great mix of seasoned stampers and complete novice stampers (our favorite kind!!!) coming to play tonight.  Eeeeeee!  So excited! 
So!  What projects are we making?  Well .... with a little help from my friend Mary (hi Mary!) I've decided on these 3 (The first 2 you've seen before ...)

This one is new ...

I can't take credit for it ... I cased it from fellow demonstrator Linda Pasmore - great card Linda!  I'm SO ready for some bright, spring cards (although you really wouldn't think so given that all my cards lately are vintage and/or earth tones!!)
For this card I used Whisper White with a layer of Old Olive to mat it.  The stamp set is Bloomin' Marvelous (one of the Sale-a-bration sets) stamped in Tangerine Tango.  The dark flowers are inked then stamped ... then stamped again to get the softer orange flowers.  The leaves are old olive and the sentiment is in Early Espresso.  The butterly uses the Bitty Butterfly from the spring mini and the ribbon is from the SAB Sycamore Street Ribbon/Button bundle.  I added a few rhinestones to some of the flowers and to the butterfly body.  Wa-low!  Super quick, easy and pretty.  This set has really grown on me ... hope you like it too!

Pop back tomorrow ... I have another case ... from none other than Co-Founder and CEO Shelli Gardner! ... AND ... make sure you check back next week to see the projects that I had published in our magazine - Stampin' Success!!  I'll have full pics and tutorials on them ... yay!  I've been published :)))  Until tomorrow ... have a stampy day!

Tam

Oops!

Oops *lol* ... looks like I forgot to schedule my Friday post for Friday!  (I'm not used to being a day ahead of the game!!)

In the meantime ... let's see if the link to my Stampin' Success article works!  The article where I'm the Featured Guest Artist is on page 16 and 17 ... :)

http://www.stampinup.com/ca/documents/US_SS_03_04.pdf

Here is a picture of all four projects I made ... the details and tutorials will follow starting Monday :)

Have a stampy day!

Tam

Postage Due Thank You

Happy Thursday!

Another "quick" post today ... I need to finalize my projects for my class tomorrow night (SO excited to see some old friends!!)

This is the third card I made using Postage Due ...

I like it!  So!  How do you think I got the vanilla image on the Soft Sued card stock?  Yes ... it DOES look like I used Vanilla Craft Ink ... or maybe that I used vanilla embossing powder ... but I didn't!  I actually started with a piece of 5" x 3 3/4"WHISPER WHITE card stock.  I stamped the image in Versamark and used CLEAR embossing powder to emboss it.  I then broke out my brayer (haven't used that in 100 years!!) - inked it up with Soft Sued ink and completely and uterly saturated the whisper white with it.  When I wiped the image with a dry baby wipe it is a real vanilla shade - who knew?!?  I added a piece of vanilla to layer it (4" x 5 1/2") and used the eyelet border punch along one side.  The whole thing is then mounted on a Soft Suede base.  Before taping the layers down I stamped "Thank You" - from "Essentails" - page 22 of the mini - $8.95!!! in soft suede on the Natural 7/8" Cotton Ribbon (page 36 of the mini - $9.95) - wrapped it around the corner and used an In Color Designer Printed Brad for an accent (page 152 - $9.95).  Oh!  and I added a little piece of Calypso Coral cs (1 1/2" x 3 3/4" plus 2 ticks *lol*) behind the image layer for a little pop of color.

Well?  Have I convinced you that the Postage Due set is one worth ordering?  I think I will bring it out more often and challenge myself to use it in a new way.  You should do the same!

Until next time - have a stampy day :)))

Tam

Postage Due - Monochromatic

Happy Wednesday!

I'll get right to it today as I have a VERY busy day ahead (well ... when Isay "busy" I mean I have a lot of coffee dates lined up for the day *lol*)

This is the second card I made using Postage Due.  It took me quite a while for me to be happy with all of the little details on this card ... but I AM really happy with how it turned out (I seem to be on a bit of a monochromatic roll this month!)  Here it is:

Eeeee!  Love it!  So crisp and clean!  I stamped the main image with White Craft Ink on a piece of  3 1/2" x 4" piece of Soft Suede cs.  After having the strip of white Details Lace Tape (page 3 of the mini - $7.95 ... LOVE this stuff!!) in every conceivable position I settled on it being down the LHS of the suede piece.  Perfect!  The stamps are all in Soft Suede and punched out with the Postage Stamp punch.  To get the "writing" along the background I simply used my Crumb Cake marker to color JUST the writing on the stamp and stamped it in various positions.  Of course AFTER I made the card I realized there is a Builder Wheel called Travel Journal (page 108 - $5.95) that I will use next time to make the job a lot faster (of course I don't really USE my wheel any more - I now always cut the rubber image down the seam and then peel the rubber OFF the wheel (it's just stuck on with double sided tape) and then use the rubber with a clear block.  I find this method a lot more accurate and a lot less frustrating than wheeling - one day I'll take some pictures of how I do this!)

S o that's it for this card!  It's much quicker than yesterday's card *lol*.  Come back tomorrow to see my third and final card using this set.  Until then - have a stampy day!

Tam