Tuesday Tips - Got Ruffles?

This photo of a ruffled draped fabric on a home-designing blog inspired me to create a few cards with ruffled ribbon.  There are several ways to create the look of ruffled ribbon on your cards.  Today's card ruffle was created using sticky strip and ribbon.

 

Lay a piece of sticky strip across the card on the place where the ribbon will be and remove the red liner from the tape.  Beginning with the end of the ribbon, smooth down about an inch of it onto the end of the sticky strip.  Gather a loop of the ribbon and press down with your finger onto the ribbon once again on the next sticky area in the row of sticky strip - just press about a half inch worth.  Make a second loop and press the ribbon down again, repeating all the way across the sticky strip.  You will have a looped {ruffled} ribbon across your card.  Trim the edges of the ribbon.  I like to insert a very small piece of sticky strip in between the loops so the loops lay down instead of stand up.

Ruffled ribbon and ribbon flowers can also be created by pulling a thread from the ribbon ends and gathering the ribbon all the way down the length of it.

I'd love to see your ruffled card creations!

Linda

Fast Friday - "Hi" on Stampin' Up Card Stock

Love the card, Hate the cheap non Stampin' Up card stock

Happy Fast Friday and Happy Black Friday!  I must be in a time warp because I cannot believe that Thanksgiving is over and the Christmas season is upon us!  Time sure flies!

This week's Fast Friday post serves two purposes:  (1) to offer you another quick card idea, and (2) to display the benefit of Stampin' Up quality card stock.

First, the card stock........  I accidentally stamped this card onto white card stock that was not Stampin' Up cs.  Do you see how the Lucky Limeade "hi" scallop square image is mottled and blotchy?  That is the result of poor quality card stock.  There is a definite difference between the quality of an image stamped onto Stampin' Up's Whisper White cs and that of an image stamped on other cs.  Isn't it astounding to see?  I wish I had stamped another image on Stampin' Up cs to show you its visual distinctive quality, but I'm sure you can imagine a perfect looking Lucky Limeade stamped image just the same.

I also want to point out that using Stampin' Up cs is of even more importance when using a solid image stamp {line image stamped image quality is important too, but you can notice the quality difference much more in a solid stamped image}.  The difference is remarkable.  So, make sure you always have Whisper White Stampin' Up card stock {and Very Vanilla} on hand for your most beautiful, professional-looking stamping!

Stampin' Up card stock high-quality benefits:

Super smooth

Cuts cleanly

Creases well
dyed with pure color all the way through

No white core

80-lb. Weight

acid free, lignin free, and buffered

Now, on to the card design.  What could be quicker?  Punch a bright strip of cs with a border or edge punch, and stamp one image on the card!  This card will take two minutes!

Linda

Think About Color Thursday - Cherry Cobbler, Night of Navy, Regal Rose, Whisper White

Add caption

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you and your family have a blessed, healthy and happy Thanksgiving and holiday season.  True friends are just one of my many blessings.  Today's card post is a shout out to those friends to say "you are a blessing".

The color combination:

Cherry Cobbler
Night of Navy
Regal Rose
Whisper White

This card was a swap card at a recent Stampin' Up meeting.  Stampin' Up's new denim ribbon is featured on it, along with two current stamp sets from the 2011/2012 IB&C, Lean on Me and Charming {the tiny butterfly}.  I wanted more than solid color, so I substituted a little piece of both Night of Navy and Regal Rose Patterns dsp instead of plain solid card stock.  I love how easy that is to do with Stampin' Up's color collections! 

Linda

Whatever Wednesday - Nugget Box

Four chocolate nugget candies in one box!

First of all, please excuse the poor quality photo.  If I get a few minutes later, I will try to remember to take another pic & repost.  I couldn't pass up the opportunity to show you this absolutely scrumptious treat project!  My friend, Ellie, and I made these the other day and can't wait to give them away!

I may give you an opportunity to make one of these decorated for Valentines Day at my Valentines Day stamp camp in late January or early February! 

Happy Thanksgiving prep!

Linda

Fast Friday - Turquoise and Trellis

Today my inspiration comes from a turquoise cushioned white wicker chair on the Honey We're Home blog.  Does it qualify for a "Fast Friday" post?  This card was finished in less than 5 minutes.


Don't you think the Bigz Lattice die and Tempting Turquoise patterns dsp mimic the chair nicely?  The stamp is called "Elegant Thank you" AND can be found on page 20 of the current IB&C.

Have a great weekend!

Linda

Whatever Wednesday - Simply Soft Espresso

Room design to card design

My inspiration today comes from a beautiful warm bedroom on the I-Village website.
I have transferred the colors, shapes, and lines from the room design to an anniversary card design.

I used the Hostess Stamp Set called Simply Soft for the first time on today's card.....and I SIMPLY love it!  This 2-step stamp set really does give a softened effect to your stamped flower images.  Here I have stamped the line image stamp with Sahara Sand classic ink and stamped the solid image with Peach Parfait classic ink.

Various paper strips of card stock and designer series paper in the color scheme of Early Espresso, Peach Parfait, and Sahara Sand pull everything together.  The message of "love" from the Pennant Parade stamp set is stamped in Early Espresso classic ink onto Peach Parfait Patterns dsp and punched with the small oval punch.

A clear bitty button in the shape of a heart, on a glue dot, embellishes the message.  Stampin' Dimensionals have been used under both the message and the cameo element.

I hope you have a happy day!

Linda

Tuesday Tips - Wreath Petals

I finally just recently purchased the Petals-a-Plenty Embossing Folder from Stampin' Up, and I don't know what took me so long!  I am getting creative with using this embossing folder as a background, as embossed paper, and for making wreaths!

Give it a try!  Use a sponge dauber and Stampin' Pastels to dab green chalk directly onto white cs that has been pre-embossed through the Big Shot in the Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder.  Dab the chalk into a donut shape, but it doesn't need to be exact.  Once you have a wreath shape the way you like it, blow off the stray chalk powder and/or tap the card stock to remove the powder.  Sometimes a very gentle rub of a tissue can help - just be careful not to smear.

I wanted berries on my wreath, so I added small flecks of Real Red Stampin' Write marker around the wreath.  Dress up the wreath in a pretty ribbon or whatever embellishments you have on hand.  I had some of last year's Polka Dot red brads left, so I added one with the bow.

Thanks for visiting my blog today!  Are you registered for Thursday evening's Christmas card Stamp-a-Stack event?  If not, get in touch with me asap!  Why not send out your own handmade holiday cards this year?  You can make 25 of them on Thursday evening (if you need more than 25, you can let me know in advance & make additional card sets in bundles of 10).  I have such pretty cards lined up to make!

Linda

Map It Monday - Pumpkin Clothespin

Today I am posting one of the cards we stamped at last week's Thankful Thoughts stamp camp.  I absolutely love this card!  The map layout is so unique.  Here is a map to help you make another card using the same layout.

Linda

Think About Color Thursday - Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive, Concord Crush

This week's featured color combination:

Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive, Concord Crush

 Here is an untraditional Christmas card that is sure to attract attention.  The Concord Crush and the Tempting Turquoise are a nice change from the usual holiday red and green.

The Petite Penants punch is used on Old Olive cs.   I did stamp the tree trunk with Pennant Parade stamp set, however, I did not stamp the tree itself.  Only the punch is used to create the tree.  I also punched holes with a Crop-o-dile in the tree to give the appearance of ornaments.  After matting the tree onto Tempting Turquoise cs, the turquoise "ornaments" show through the punched holes.  I also punched some holes along the edge of the Tempting Turquoise cs and matted it onto Whisper White cs, so the white shows through the edge punched holes.  It is an interesting look, don't you think?

The Concord Crush background layer needed some interest, so I have embossed it.  You could use an embossing folder, texture plate, or even Stampin' Up's Simply Scored platform to create a criss-cross pattern.

The "merry" message is from the Pennant Parade stamp set.  The pennants really are designed to also become Christmas trees; I haven't come up with this idea on my own!

The  eyelet border punch also decorates the edge of the Old Olive cs.

Stamp camp soon - gotta run!


Linda

Whatever Wednesday - Lattice Leaves {yes Lattice, not Lettuce}

An Autumn card is a must today since I looked out the window and was amazed by the beautiful and breathtaking red leaves on a tree in my front yard.  If only I could somehow stamp leaves exactly like the real ones!

I've colored the leaf stamp with Stampin' Write markers and applied Dazzling Details glitter glue for a bit of sparkle.  The lattice diecut is not just a background for the leaves.......the leaves are inserted into the lattice slots.

Another element on today's card that I want to point out is the Hodgepodge Hardware.  The ribbon slide hardware is colored with Tangerine Tango, which is the same color ink that I used for the message, the sponging, and on the leaves.  How did I color it?  I squeezed a dime sized puddle of Crystal Effects into a plastic brad container, then added a drop of Tangerine Tango reinker to the puddle, mixed it with a paint brush, and applied the "tangerine crystal glue" to the tops of the hardware.  Make sure to let the hardware dry on a surface that it won't stick to.

We will be stamping this card at tomorrow evening's stamp camp!  If you haven't registered, let me know if you still want to attend!

linda

Tuesday Tips - Edge Punching with non-edge punches

fabric inspiration

I saw a beautiful gray and black fabric on the Designers Guild website that inspired today's card.  The Decorative Label punch creates a decorative design on both the card's bottom edge and the main white element on the card front.   To create this look on a card, insert the punch only partially into the cs and press the punch, then simply align the punch across the cs, each time punching while "eyeballing" the spacing so the punch is always lined up with the same spot on your punched cs.  Give it a try on some scrap card stock until you have an appealing border!  It's fun!  If you would like a detailed instruction post, let me know.

The main white element on this card is stamped with the Parlor Prints background stamp in the current Stampin' Up IB&C.  It is a lovely vintage print.  Stamping in Basic Gray and then sponging the white cs with Blushing Bride ink gives it a distressed, vintage appearance.


The message element consists of a stamp from the Petite Pairs stamp set, along with one of the stamps from the Four Frames stamp set.  The "frame" can be stamped once or layered for a jazzed up message piece like I've done here!

Linda

Map It Monday - Gently Falling Tree

There, I did it.......I have posted a Christmas card!   Whew!  Christmas is right around the corner and the first week of November is over.  That means we need to get stamping on our Thanksgiving and Christmas cards and gifts!  Lots of stamping!

I don't have a map today for Map It Monday........simply stamp across the card front, adhere a strip of something pretty across the bottom edge, and then wrap the card with 5/8" satin ribbon.

The trees are actually leaves from the Gently Falling stamp set.  Isn't that cool?  I sponged Pool Party classic ink around the trees, dotted tiny specks of Dazzling Details glitter glue, and added an adhesive rhinestone jewel to the top of one of the trees.

Linda

Fast Friday - Happy Yellow Ottoman

Happy Fast Friday!

I generally think of heat embossing as a technique that requires a few extra minutes and certainly not an alternative for a Fast Friday post.  However, today is an exception.  After a couple of blah colored cards this week, I decided to bring you some sunshine, in the form of this card!

I heat embossed with a Versamark inkpad and white embossing powder on bright yellow card stock.  If you have Daffodil Delight cs, it is the perfect color!  A retired hostess stamp set from last year's IB&C is my stamp choice, however, here are some great alternatives of a solid image stamp ideal for today's card design that you may currently own in your stamp collection or that you might want to email me to order for you.


Array of Sunhine Hostess Stamp Set in the current 2011-2012 IB&C (only $11)
Tags Til Christmas or Delightful Decorations (current IB&C - for a unique, untraditional holiday card)
I Heart Hearts (current IB&C - Valentine's Day alternative)
Button Buddies
Funky Four
Fox & Friends, Look Who's Turning, or Barnyard Buddies (for a baby card or young child's birthday)
Friends Never Fade
Baroque Motifs

And, those are just a few ideas......there are numerous other bold solid images that would work well.

This cheerful yellow upholstered Ottoman inspired today's card post.  Inspiration from the Lather. Write. Repeat blog. 

 

Have a great weekend!

Linda

Think About Color Thursday - Chocolate Chip, Basic Gray, Whisper White

I've been back from convention for five days now and have been itching to get into my studio to create beautiful cards with the inspirational ideas I brought back with me.  My son had some minor surgery this week and my studio remained dark and lonely, but today that changed!  I have made time for stamping!  My inspiration today comes from a card I saw at convention, and a blog picture from the Miss Mustard Seed blog inspired the color combination and pearl adornment.

Color Combination of the Week (blah like the sky today):
Chocolate Chip
Basic Gray
Whisper White

These colors caught my eye on this cloudy day.

NOTES:

Stamp sets:  Medallion, Petite Pairs, Delicate Doilies

Inks:  Classic Stampin' Pads - Chocolate Chip, Basic Gray; Stampin' Write Markers - Chocolate Chip, Basic Gray

cs:  Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Basic Gray

punches used:  small and large oval, 2 3/8" scallop circle, 1" and 1 3/4" circle 

other:  Stampin' Dimensionals, Basic Pearl Jewels

How did I create the multi-colored "medallion"?  I inked the rubber on the Medallion stamp with the Basic Gray inkpad, wiped around the edges of the rubber to remove some of the gray ink, then colored the outer edges of the rubber image with a Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write marker.

Notice the center "doily" image?  The Delicate Doily image stamp is inked with a Chocolate Chip inkpad, then the center portion of the rubber is colored with Basic Gray Stampin' Write marker without rubbing off the Chocolate Chip ink on that area.  The gray appears darker here than the gray on the medallion.

Finishing Touches:  Bling!  I added a touch of elegance with Stampin' Up Basic Pearl Jewels!

Linda