Tag: Cards

Cards for the Blind

5 Comments

(Sept. 18th: If you are visiting from Clean & Simple Stamping, Welcome! While this card isn’t an exact replica of the FTL #108, it was such kismet that I had created it earlier in the week that when I saw the layout, I had to share!)

My friend, Sherrill Graff, asked for donations of birthday cards for the Blind Center in Las Vegas, so I pulled out some of my retired products and started playing. It seemed like a strange request, but when you are making cards for people who can’t see (or don’t see well), you start thinking with your other senses, like touch and smell.  This is the favorite card I came up with:

I used the Scallop Circle Die and Finial Press embossing folder in the Big Shot to create the shape of the card and the texture on the front. Then I mixed a little orange-flavored Kool-Aid in with some clear embossing powder and embossed the orange image to create a “Scratch-n-Sniff Focal Point”…or would that be a “Fragrance Point”? Want to see more samples I created? “Like” my Facebook page and I’ve uploaded a few more samples there!

Tote-ally Tess

2 Comments

Sometimes you just need to ignore the housework and do something fun. Which is where I found myself this morning…needing a little creative time. So here is my “Tote-ally Tess”/Poppy Parade version of the Clean & Simple Fall-to Layout #107:

And here is the FTL 107 sketch:
Recipe for my card (all Stampin’ Up! Supplies):  Tote-ally Tess stamp set, Poppy Parade, Chocolate Chip, Pear Pizzaz and Shimmery White card stock, Early Espresso Classic Ink Pad, In-Color Markers, Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Paper, Pinking Hearts Border punch, Brights Designer Buttons, Linen Thread
Speaking of “Tote-Ally” cool…you can get a Greenhouse Gala Tote FREE when you join my Stampin’ Up! family of demonstrators before October 18th! Click on the “Tote-ally Awesome” button in the right column for more details or call me: 801-376-8685. Want to see what it’s like to be a demonstrator? Attend my Stitched Stampers Group Gathering on Tuesday, October 5th in Spanish Fork, Utah. Let me know if you can come!

Give a HOOT!

1 Comment

I’ve been seeing owls everywhere lately: On jewelry, lunchboxes, t-shirts, grocery totes and even shoes! So it was a delightful surprise to see a new punch from Stampin’ Up! in the 2010/2011 Idea Book and Catalog that follows this trendy guy:
Give a HOOT!
As you can see, this amazing tool creates more than owls…if you click on any picture (above) you can go to my SU! website, then click on “SHOP NOW” to order your own Two-Step Owl Extra-Large Punch! One thing I love about it is how well it uses up all my scraps of card stock 🙂

Here are a few tips to remember when you are using this punch:

  • Hold your punch upside down while using it to ensure that you punch where you want to on your card stock
  • Keep your garbage nearby to sweep all the scraps into, but DON’T punch over your garbage or the little pieces are a bother to pick out!
  • Use your Paper Snips (catalog pg. 199) to pick up the teensy-tiny pieces with and build your owl: Just open the sharp tips a bit, slide them under the piece and close the tips to pick it up and place it where you want it.
  • The Multipurpose Liquid Glue (pg. 197) has a fine point that works best for owl-production 🙂 I put the glue on my owl base and then lay the pieces on top of the glue with the paper snips!
Just to show you how well this punch “dresses up”, I created this card with the Owl and Pinking Hearts Border punches, the Elegant Bouquet Big Shot Embossing Folder and the new Word Play stamp set:

Clean & Simple, Revisited

2 Comments

Now that the kids are back in school, I had time to stamp for fun again! It was delightful and I am reminded how much I enjoy being creative.

Here is my creation showcasing some new colors and stamps:

Recipe (all Stampin’ Up! supplies, of course):  Marina Mist, Whisper White, Basic Black card stock, Basic Black and Versamark ink, Just Believe stamp set,  Scallop Edge Border punch, Marina Mist Taffeta ribbon.

I followed the Clean & Simple Fall-To Layout #105 sketch:

A Mom’s Ode to Teachers

Leave a comment
In May the teacher’s plight was lost 
Amid the joyful day
As children books and pencils tossed
And hurried off to play.
The next three months pass in a haze
While mothers entertain
And sweep and clean for endless days~
Summer days wash down the drain.
Exhausted, August finally comes
And school begins once more!
A smiling teacher now welcomes
Each child at classroom door.
A Mother feels both sad and glad
As she waves her goodbyes.
Grateful and appreciative, Mom knows (and Dad!)
That teachers deserve a PRIZE!

(Sample by Pam Clyde, from the Summer Mini Catalog Swap)
Only 6 days left to order from the Stampin’ Up! Summer Mini Catalog!
Click here to go to my website and choose “Shop Now“

Rhaphsody in Blue

2 Comments
You can never go wrong with a monochromatic color palette 🙂 and while this one was created with a now retired color (Ballet Blue), I’ve made this card in MANY colors recently and they were all equally as beautiful!
Have you tried the Embossing Resist technique? It’s very simple: emboss an image using the Versamark ink pad and clear embossing powder on white card stock (I used the swirl from the Elements of Style stamp set…my FAVORITE set from the Summer Mini Catalog!). Let it cool for a few seconds, then sponge a classic ink color over the top and wipe off any extra ink with a tissue. The embossed image “resists” the ink.
I used the Finial Press embossing folder with the Big Shot for the background texture, and the Top Note die for the white background shape. And who could resist that hummingbird (from the same stamp set)?
Try this technique and share it with me by posting a link in the comments to your card!

Go FOURTH!

1 Comment

Here is some patriotic inspiration for the holiday weekend! This card using the “July Fourth” stamp set from the Summer Mini catalog is loaded with bling and created by my stampin’ “granddaughter” Kristi Kelly:

And I had to steal this crafty idea for an adorable centerpiece from my sister’s blog since they are so stinkin’ cute:
You can find the directions for these “Paper Lollies” at this ultra cool site called MAKE AND TAKES, which you really should bookmark, too!

Summer Time, and the Stampin’ Is Easy

Leave a comment

…I just wish BREATHING were easy today (darn allergies!)

Summer is filled with trips to the pool, family vacations, yard work, blockbuster movies, sleeping in, barbecues and escaping with a good read. It’s also a great time for a few easy creative projects, and I’ve got you covered! I’ll prepare everything for you to come and spend an hour or two and go home with a bunch of finished greetings cards or even a WHOLE SCRAPBOOK!

This is a peek into my ALBUM-IN-A-DAY CLASS: Finish a complete 6×6 scrapbook using the Stampin’ Up! Simply Scrappin’ kit. Class includes vinyl post-bound album, 10 sheet protectors and 20 pages ready for you to add your photos for just $30. Bring scissors, adhesive and a paper trimmer if you have one. Seriously, it’s that easy.
Saturday, June 26th in Hurricane at 2 p.m.
(Winkle Distributing, just off I-15 near Coral Canyon)
~or~
Wednesday, June 30th in Spanish Fork at 1 p.m. OR 7 p.m.
ALSO (or instead of) on Saturday, June 26th in southern Utah, you can attend the Stamp-a-Stack Card Class at 10 a.m. We’ll have everything prepared for you to stamp and assemble 16 cool greeting cards (4 each of 4 different designs, including the one shown below) for $20. Bring scissors and adhesive. If you need to order a SNAIL adhesive refill, order when you register!
***Make a day of it on June 26! Attend both classes and a catered lunch for $60.***
RSVP for any event at least one week prior to class so I can order and prepare the materials you need. And remember, summer fun is even hotter when you share it with a friend!
Call 801-376-8685 to register or send paypal to loni@sfcn.org
More summer stamping fun to come! Stay tuned!

A Cool Ride for Dad

Leave a comment

The a la carte Motorcycle stamp in the Occasions Mini Catalog creates a few classic greetings for Father’s Day, as shown here by Sandra Hansen, my friend and member of my Stitched Stampers family:

And how stunning is that Square Lattice Embossing folder texture in both Navy and Silver??

Memorial Day: King of the Grill

Leave a comment
In honor of those backyard chefs who display their skill on Memorial Day, here’s a card by MaryAnn Meyers (from the Summer Mini Swap) to kick off your weekend:
 

…and just in case you tire of the same old hamburgers and hot dogs, this is my all-time favorite and super-simple marinade for chicken (try it and leave a comment to tell me how you like it!)~

Marinated Grilled Chicken
1/2 c. Soy Sauce  
1/4 c. Honey
1 clove Garlic, crushed
1/2 t. ground Ginger
Mix all ingredients together and marinate chicken tenders overnight or at least 4 hours. Grill chicken on BBQ (or broil in oven on a rainy day!). Be careful as it does not take long to cook 🙂