A Passion for Stamps

CARTE POSTALE & FRENCH FLAIR doing double duty!

It has been a few days since I posted here-because I've been busy...after being a lurker for years, I just uploaded my first cards to the SCS Gallery and created my own Gallery...not being familiar with how to do this, I ended up with the same card in my Member Gallery twice! Then I discovered info in the Forum that says to only upload to the main Gallery, and copies will automatically be sent to the Member Gallery! Oh well, I guess I'm "Like No Utter"...check out My SCS gallery and you'll find out what I'm referring to...

I recently participated in two Winter Mini Catalog Swaps and quite by accident, discovered how to make two sets of swaps simultaneously if you are using the tearing technique! I tore the cardstock on the vertical diagonal for my first card and didn't want to waste the other piece, so I created a similar card IN REVERSE using the other torn piece-ending up with a Valentine and a Birthday card! The same products are used in both cards with the exception of a saying set-I used All Year Cheer III for the Valentine card and Elegant Greetings for the Birthday card...so now I have 2 cards for 2 friends-for two separate occasions!

All images Copyright Stampin' Up! 1990-2007

Here is how to make both cards:

SUPPLIES:

Stamp Sets:Carte Postale, French Flair & saying (as stated above)

Cardstock: Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose

Ink Pads: Rose Red, Versamark

Accessories: Silver Brad, Silver Cord, Light Pink EP, Heat Tool, Stamping Sponge, Large Oval Punch, 1 1/16" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Square Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, SNAIL Adhesive, Dimensionals

INSTRUCTIONS:

First I stamped the French Flair background with Versamark ink on the Rose Red and embossed with Pink EP. I then tore that on the diagonal, sponged the edges and attached to the Regal Rose foldover cardstock. I stamped the main cardstock with the floral stamp, then embossed the birthday/valentine saying.

Next, I stamped the square design with Regal ink on Rose cardstock and used square punch. Do the same with the circle design but EMBOSS with lt pink ep. Use the 1/16" punch in the center and insert the brad. Punch the top of the square punch out and insert the silver cord BEFORE attaching the circle to the square with dimensionals.

I made the B-day card first, so I punched straight up from the bottom corner for my oval opening and the used the punched out oval on the Valentine card. On the birthday card,the cord is wrapped around the rose cardstock and adhered to the back, then I made tied a separate piece around it for the bow, before attaching to the main card, and stamping the Mon Amie saying.

For the Valentine card, I stamped Mon Amie on the oval cardstock, then made a hole using the 1/16" punch before pulling the cord thru and attaching. The oval is raised and attached with Dimensionals.

It sounds much more complicated than it is! This is a terrific way to use those extra torn pieces of cardstock and saves you time if you create both cards at the same time! Happy Stampin'!

ACCORDIAN SCRAPBOOK KIT

What's nice about being a demonstrator are the wonderful friends we make along the way. Some of the members of our SOS Team of demonstrators attend events together that other demonstrators do such as the INKredible Team's Spring Fling and Fall Fest events. I always take pictures at these events-but at last year's Spring Fling event I made sure to get a picture of each demo on our team that attended so I could make up an Accordian Book Kit. Here it is:

Cover-Accordian Book Kit-closed

Accordian Book Kit-opening first section

Accordian Book Kit-opening second section

Accordian Book Kit-opening  side panel to reveal rest of team photos

These accordian book kits are so wonderful to give as gifts-they fit into a regular envelope and hold 8-10 pictures...Stampin' Up! offers these kits which include enough materials to make 2 books per kit, an instruction sheet and 3 each of 2 colors per package (6 12x12 sheets total). There are six color assortments to choose from! I'll be teaching this at a class later in the month, so sign up to receive my newsletter for all the information.

The kits have many small tabs, tags and pieces so you can custom your scrapbook with little pull-outs and tabs for more photo storage! Here is an example of what I'm referring to:

See the ribbon above? When you pull it to the right, it reveals a tag that is hidden in the pocket! This is a great add-on for journaling or a small photo..

I've used alot of accessories such as buttons, Hodgepodge Hardware, Twill Tape etc. to add visual interest. I love making these little scrapbooks...they don't take long either so it's practical when you want to finish a project in an afternoon. If you would like to place an order for these, remember that during February you can get a FREE Sell-A-Bration set with every $50 purchase-but this special ends soon so take advantage of it before time runs out!

Of course if you would like to join the fun, consider becoming a demonstrator on our team! We are a friendly, sharing group-the more, the merrier! And during February only, we have that wonderful mini kit that is only $99 so if you are looking for a budget way to join Stampin' Up!, this is the best time to do it! For more info about this special, click HERE! As an added bonus for signing up during February, you will receive the stamp set shown below, called Polka Dots & Paisley-absolutely FREE in addition to all the other wonderful products included in the kit..to see this cute set click on this link:

http://www.stampinup.com/us/documents/polkaDotsPaisley.pdf

This is the adorable set Stampin' Up! gave to all it's demonstrators as a GIFT during December-now you can get it for free too! Email me for more information. I just love being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator! It's so rewarding and the most fun job around! (I must love it-on February 23 I will be celebrating 11 years as a Independent Demonstrator for this terrific company!)

Birthday Card

It's hard to believe that our youngest just turned 14! Seems just yesterday I was holding her in the hospital after she was born...

Being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, of course I made her card! It's so cold here in north Jersey I decided to stamp something springlike to remind me that warmer days are not too far ahead! Here it is:

  I love to use Unfrogettable and Looks Like Spring sets together..I used the Cutter Kit to distress the edges of Celery cardstock. After cutting out the flower, I rubbed the edges across the Versamark Pad, dipped into Heat and Stick powder (which becomes a wet glue when heated), heat with the Heat Tool, then dipped the edges into Dazzling Diamonds Glitter-once more with the heat tool to set the glitter, then stamped the HB in center and attached a Clear Button in the center with Crystal Effects. The flower is attached to the card with a Dimensional (a sticky two-sided foam dot) to raise it and give it depth.

The colored cardstock pieces under the trio flowers was done with the Paper Piecing Punch.

It's hard to tell in the photo (click on the picture to view larger) but the Hoppy Birthday was actually scored with two mountain folds and one valley fold to give the faux effect of being popped open when the frog leaps up. The bow is actually a cheater's bow with the ends tucked back in. Crystal effects was applied to the frog's eyes and centers of the flowers. It was a fun card to make and of course it was a hit with our daughter Kelley!

Bunches of Punches!

I'm having a class next week called Bunches of Punches-this is one of the ATC's I did for a swap..I'll post the 28 other ATC samples in the Photo Album when I receive it back. Meanwhile, can you name and guess how many punches I used to make this? Respond by posting a comment...

I really like the cardstock color combinations of Bashful Blue, Tempting Turquoise and Cool Caribbean...

A very dear friend of mine who LOVES turquoise, has has been going thru a  tough time for quite awhile and of late has some serious medical issues and hard decisions to make. I wanted to cheer her up, and remind her that God is in control-and everything will be ok if she remembers her faith so I used this ATC as a base and made it into a card. (That's what's so great about ATC's-you can build them into cards or put them into scrapbook pages later!). Here is how the card turned out...

I thought the French Flair background stamp from the Winter Mini Catalog and Organdy Ribbon would add elegance to the otherwise whimsical ATC and switched to the Small Oval Punch for the saying and changed from Bold Brights Brads instead of silver. A simple adaptation converted this cutesy ATC into a lovely card!

Inside I used a saying from Elegant Inspirations which says: "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer" Romans 12:12.

My friend LOVED it! More importantly, it lifted her spirits and she said she will refer to it over and over again whenever she feels the stress taking over...that's just what I wanted to hear!