fresh & fun

Ever since I saw the sneaks for Flourishes Dove and Holly set, I knew I NEEDED that set. Marcella creates the most amazing stamp sets.

So when the set came right before I had to come up with a video for the Joy Fold card, I knew I was going to use it. And to mix it up a bit, I created a square Joy fold card….because, I LOVE square cards.

My card base is a 4 1/4″ x 6 1/4″ piece of Chocolate chip cardstock scored at 4 1/4″. The edges were sponged with Walnut Stain Distress ink. For the backing I layered a 3 3/4″ square piece of Basic Grey Boxer paper on a 4″ square of Very Vanilla cardstock. The layers were stitched together and adhered to the card base.

A 1 7/8″ x 4″ piece of Basic Grey Fruitcake paper strip was adhered to the front flap. Behind the front flap I taped a strip of Vanilla cardstock that had been punched with an EK punch. It was sewn to the card front. May Arts Olive Silk Ribbon was tied around the flap.

The flap base is a 3″ x 6″ piece of Chocolate Chip cardstock, sponged with Walnut Stain ink and folded in half.  A 2 1/2″ square of Old Olive Cardstock was stamped with Vintage Wallpaper and Peeled Paint ink, the edges were sponged and it was sewn to a 2 3/4″ square of Vanilla cardstock.

The doves were stamped in Rich Cocoa Memento Ink on Gina K’s Pure Luxury Ivory cardstock and colored with Copic Markers (E51, E55, E57, YR23, YR24, YG93, YG95, R46, R59, W1). It was cut with Circle Nestabilities, sponged with Antique Linen and layered on a Burgundy cardstock scallop that was sponged with Aged Mahogany. It was attached to the flap with dimensionals. Crystal Effect was added over the Holly berries.

The inside of the flap was layered with a 2 3/4″ square of Old Olive cardstock and a 1/4″ smaller piece of Pure Luxury Ivory cardstock. The holly stamp was stamped in Rich Cocoa Memento ink in the right bottom corner and colored with the same markers that were used for the Dove image. Again Crystal Effect was used to enhance the Holly berries.

Here is the video for the visual learner:

Today is the last day of the Holiday Blitz week on Splitcoaststampers.  Angie Tieman came up with a Pizza box covered with Top Note die cuts last year and she agreed to write a tutorial for us. Make sure to check out her Top Note Box tutorial. It’s easy, fast and GORGEOUS!

I used Kraft colored cardstock for my box and stamped images from the Vintage Christmas set from Crafty Secrets on the box with Frayed Burlap Distress ink. I sponged the edges of all pieces with Frayed Burlap as well.

The main image was stamped in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink on Neenah Solar White cardstock and colored it in with Copic Markers (W00, W1, W3, Y28, E44, R29, R59, Yr14, YR21, E30, BG96, E51, R12).  The image was cut out with Oval Nestabilities, layered on a slightly bigger black oval and a scallop red oval. Green May Arts Silk ribbon was tied around the box and the image was attached over it with dimensionals.

To finish the box off I added some Dimensional pearls on the Holly on the Santa hat and another Snowflake Medallion on the top left. The snowflakes were cut out with Create a flake 1 dies from Spellbinders, sponged with Shabby Shutters ink and Shard Vintage Glitter was added with Crystal Effect.  The medallion was topped off with a button from my Mom’s stash and Linen thread.

Here is a video for the visual learners:

I love Gina K’s Holiday Cheer set. So when I needed to come up with a variation picture for the Luminaria tutorial, I grabbed that set.

The Riding Hood cardstock base was stamped with the snowflakes from the set in Cranberry ink from Adirondack and sponged with the same color. I added a chocolate Chip cardstock strip on the top that had been punched with an EK Success border punch (sorry….forgot the name).

The windows and the Chocolate chip frames were cut with Label Four Nestabilities. The frame was sponged with Expresso ink before I adhered them to the window with Mono Multi liquid glue.

The bird was stamped in Expresso ink on Vellum. I used my heat gun to dry it, turned it over and sponged Butterscotch and Cranberry over the back. 

To finish it off, I created another snowflake medallion. It was sponged with Cranberry ink in the center and with Antique Linen Distress ink on the edges. Shard Glitter and a button from my Mom’s stash finished it off. It was adhered to the Luminaria front with dimensionals.

Make sure to check out today’s Holiday Blitz Tutorial. Julie Buhler shows us how to make a Window Treat box.

Have a great day! Hugs and smiles

I worked ahead this week and already made this card on Monday as my entry for the Technique Challenge, which was to create a Wiper card.

I haven’t made a square one before, so it was perfect to use the sketch with the challenge. As my main image I chose this cute stamp from JustRite’s Old Fashioned Christmas set. Frosty was stamped in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink on Gina K’s Pure Luxury White cardstock, cut out with Circle Nestabilities and colored with Copic Markers (RV13, RV14, RV17, YG01, YG03, YG05, W1, YR04, YR07) and airbrushed with Copic Marker B000. White Flower Soft was added the to the pompom on the hat.

My card base consists of two 4 1/2″ x 7 1/2″ pieces of Textured Whisper White cardstock scored at 1 1/2″ and 3″. A 3 3/4″ square of Fancy Pants Happy Holidays Patterned paper was sewn to a 4″ Black square. The three smaller patterned paper squares measure 2 5/16″ and are from the same paper pack. They two outer ones were layered on a 2 7/16″ black cardstock square, the one in the middle on a scalloped black square that had been cut with Square Nestabilities.

Melon Mambo dotted ribbon was tied around the big square layers before the smaller square were adhered. A retired felt snowflake from Stampin’ Up! with a My Mind’s Eye Brad in it’s center was added to the top right corner of the main image. Three little pink rhinestones filled the left top corner.

For the sentiment I chose another JustRite stamp from the Merry Little Christmas set. It was stamped in Tuxedo Black Memento ink directly on Fancy Pants patterned paper, punched out with a 1 1/4″ circle punch. It was layered on a 1 3/8″ black circle and adhered to the bottom left of the main image.

My wiper pop up image was a little Santa hat cut out with Spellbinders Holiday Cheer die. It was cut out twice, once out if White cardstock, once out of red/pinkish patterned paper from the Happy Holidays Paper pack. I cut the red center out, sanded it a bit and taped it to the white layer. White Flower Soft was added to the rim and pompom of that hat.

You can find the step by step tutorial for wiper cards on Splitcoast. Here is the video for the visual learner:

Helen Orr posted a cute Watering can a while back. I asked her if she could write a tutorial for SCS and she did! For the video, I created this sample.

I printed the template on Kiwi Kiss cardstock, cut it out and scored all the score lines. Next I stamped the bottom of each watering can side with a stamp from Unity’s “Growing In Unity” stamp set. I added some highlights with a white gel pen and taped the sides together with Scor-Tape, forming the watering can. The edges were sponged. Handle and spout were added.

I added 1″ white May Arts Satin Ribbon to the top of one of  the sides. A sentiment from SU’s Teeny Tiny Wishes was stamped in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink, punched out with the small oval punch and sponged with Pumpkin Pie. Butterflies were punched out of Summer Sun cardstock, sponged with Pumpkin Pie and adhered to the watering can. A few tiny Twinkles were added.

Here is a video for the visual learner:

I know this is an older tutorial. I try to add videos to those tutorials that are featured in the newsletter. The Grid technique was one of the techniques in yesterday’s newsletter.

For this video I used all Unity stamps.

I started with a 2 7/8″ x 3 5/8″ piece of Shimmery White cardstock. I added the score lines with my Scor-Pal. The Tea Time Pattern Background was stamped in second generation Old Paper Distress ink. Then the bird from the August 2009 KOM was stamped in Vintage Photo Distress ink over it. I sponged the edges of the cardstock first with the Old Paper, then with the Vintage Photo ink and adhered it to a Chocolate Chip scallop rectangle that had been cut with the largest of the Classic scallop rectangle Nestabilities.

The sentiment is from the February 2009 KOM. It was stamped in Vintage Photo ink on Shimmery White cardstock, punched out with the large oval punch and layered on a Chocolate Chip Scallop Oval Punch-out.

The card base is a 8 1/2″ x 11″ piece of cardstock folded in half. It was layered first with a 3 15/16″ x 5 3/16″ piece of Whisper White cardstock, followed by a 3 3/4″ x 5″ piece of Fancy Pants Patterned Paper. Before adhering these two layers to the card base, I paper pierced the edges and wrapped ribbon around them. The ribbon was also threaded through my main image. I had cut a slid on lower right hand side for that. The ribbon is Satin May Arts ribbon. I LOVE wider ribbon now and have a hard time using thin one.

Here is a video for the visual learner:

Today’s tutorial on SCS is for a Double Pocket Card.

My card base is a a 4 1/4″ x 11″ piece of Sahara Sand cardstock folded in half. It is layered with a 3 15/16″ x 5 3/16″ piece of Chocolate Chip. The Double Pocket card piece is created out of Whisper White cardstock. All designer paper is from Thoroughly Modern Designer Paper Pack.

The Ruffled backing of my circle layers is created with the Eyelet Shapeabilities Pendant. The circle layers were cut with Nestabilities. Both butterflies were cut with Big Diez Beautiful Butterflies Die. The bigger butterfly was first pained with Shimmery Paint and sponge dauber, then the edges were sponged with Chocolate Chip. The pearls are from the Pretties Kit.

The sentiment is stamped twice, once in Basic Brown and once in Bermuda Bay. The You from the Basic Brown layer was colored with Rose Red ink. I cut slightly inside the oval lines and taped this piece on my Bermuda Bay oval, that had been cut out with the large oval punch. That was layered on a scallop oval that had been punched out of Chocolate Chip Cardstock. The gorgeous ribbon is from May Arts.

The inside of the card is pretty simple and mirrors the layers on the card front.

Here is a video for the visual learner:

Here are two Double Pocket cards I made a while ago:

Christmas Card

Baby Card

I am sure most of you have heard about the new demonstrator agreement form we Stampin’ Up! demonstrator will have to sign at the end of this month. I am afraid I might not be able to stay a demonstrator with the new agreement. I sent an email to Stampin’ Up!’s compliance office, but haven’t heard back yet. I feel bad, since I love Stampin’ Up! products, but I won’t give up my work at Splitcoaststampers so I can stay a demonstrator. I will let you know what happens. My blog might be changing to a more Non-Stampin’ Up! blog soon.

Hugs and sad smile

Today’s tutorial goes hand in hand with the Spellbinder Borderabilities and Pendant review. Becca Feeken created a gorgeous Ornament with Fleur De Lis Pendant dies and was kind enough to share it with us today. Unfortunately I don’t have those dies yet (I so have to order them!!!).  So I created a different ornament out of the Kaleidoscope Pendant dies I do have.

I cut three Kaleidoscope Pendant shapes out of Brushed Silver cardstock. I didn’t like the way the die cuts looked when I folded them like Becca did with her Fleur De Lis, so I just folded mine mountain valley fold and taped three together to create my base. I cut three smaller pendants out of Whisper White cardstock and repeated the mountain/valley folding and taping with these die cuts. I placed the smaller version over the bigger one and secured them with a big Basic Gray Corduroy Button. The white satin ribbon is from May Arts.

I am sure I don’t have to tell you that I LOVE the Spellbinders new Borderabilities and Shapebilities Pendant dies. Check out what the rest of the team thought and their gorgeous creations.

Have a wonderful day! Hugs and smiles

P.S.: Here is a video on how to cut, emboss and stencil with Borderabilities.

Today’s tutorial on SCS for the Wiper Card. It was shown a few years back at a Stampin’ Up! event it became pretty popular right after.

My card base is created out of two pieces of 4 1/4″ x 8 1/2″ pieces of Chocolate Chip cardstock. Next are layers of Whisper White cardstock, followed by Thoroughly Modern and Pumpkin Pie Print Designer Papers.

The sentiment is from Unity’s Quotes Bundle Pack and was stamped in Chocolate Chip ink. Over it I stamped a butterfly image from Unity’s Kit of the Month Club from February 2009 in second generation Pumpkin Pie.  I cut the image with Rectangle Nestabilities, layered it on a slightly bigger Chocolate chip Nestabilities cut out a Pumpkin Pie Scallop Rectangle, also cut with Nestabilities. I added Dazzling Diamond Glitter with the Quickie Glue Pen.

For the wiper Image I inked up the butterfly in Pumpkin Pie ink. Before stamping it on Whisper White cardstock, I stamped the Easter egg image from the same set in Real Red on top of the Butterfly stamp. It was cut out and Dazzling Diamond Glitter was added with the Quickie Glue Pen. then I added Crystal Effect over the entire butterfly. After it dried completely, I mounted it on a 1 1/4″ white circle with dimensionals under it’s wings and Scor-Tape on the body center.

Here is a video tutorial for the visual learner:

Today my mailman brought the new JustRite “A Merry Little Christmas Set“. I had to use it right away. The colors for today’s color challenge on Splitcoaststampers was Taken with Teal, Very Vanilla and Close to Cocoa. I thought I could make that work for a Christmas card.

Ever since I shot the video for the Recessed Window tutorial, I was itching to try it as a Photo Christmas card. I didn’t have a good professionally printed tutorial, so I decided to just printed one out from my computer. It’s not really a good print, but I thought it would work until I get one printed out from a store.

The card base is a 5 1/4″ x 10 3/4″ piece of Taken with Teal cardstock scored at 5 1/4″ and 5 1/2″.  My window frame consists of a 5″ square of Very Vanilla and a 4 13/16″ square of Close to Cocoa Prints Designer Paper.

The photo was cut out with Square Nestabilitiesand layered on a slightly bigger Very Vanilla Scallop Square, cut with Nestabilities as well.

The medallion was created by stamping the sentiment from A Merry Little Christmas set in Close to Cocoa on Very Vanilla cardstock. It was punched out with the 1 1/4″ circle punch and layered on a 1 3/8″ Taken with Teal Circle Punch-out. the bottom layer was cut, embossed and stencilled with the Kaleidoscope Pendant Shapeabilities. Last I added cream pearls from the Pretties Kit and covered the Vanilla sentiment layer in Crystal Effect.

On the inside I covered the back or the recessed window first with the same size Very Vanilla cardstock scallop square that I used on the front. Then I added a Close to Cocoa cardstock piece that had been cut with the Kaleidoscope Pendant die. The edges were sponged and more pearls from the Pretties Kit were added. The sentiment is another stamp from the Christmas Stamp Ensemble. It had been stamped in Close to Cocoa, cut out with Classic Circle Nestabilities and layered on the next size up Circle cutout in Taken with Teal.

(I think before I sent it away, I will create another frame like the one on the card front to add around the center piece here.)

The first layer is a 5″ square of Close to Cocoa cardstock followed by a 4 13/16″ square of Very Vanilla cardstock. The top right corner was paper pierced. On the lower part I added a 1 1/4″ x 5″ piece of Close to Cocoa Print Designer Paper.  The image is another stamp from A Merry Little Christmas set. It was stamped in Basic Brown ink and colored with Copic Markers. It was cut with a 1 1/4″ circle punch, then layered on a 1 3/8″ Close to Cocoa Circle. The last layer is a Taken with Teal piece of cardstock that had been cut with Kaleidoscope Pendant Shapeabilities from Spellbinders. I added Crystal Effects over the bow and the flames in the image.