#TBT Googly Ghouls Boooo Card!

Well we are NEARLY to October, so what could be better than a CREEPY Halloween Card!  Now’s the time to claim your 2013 VINTAGE Googly Ghouls stamp set.  Don’t think I can give up the spider web folder, though!

Boooo CardHere’s the card from the Googly Ghouls 2013 stamp set (retired already!).

Lots of other ways you can do the card using the many images in the stamp set:

2013 Googly Ghouls

 

A hint for the techniques – clear embossing, vellum and black ink spritzing!

 

Here’s how #TBT works!  If you want this wonderful vintage stamp set, you may purchase it for $9.00 plus shipping. (US purchases only please).  You will receive the stamp set and the card!  IF you purchase the stamp set AND place an order (www.mystampalooza.stampinup.net) for at least $30 of merchandise, you will receive (besides your order of awesome Stampin’ Up products), the vintage stamp set, handmade card and envelope, a selection of vintage Stampin’ Up embellishments (googly eyes Googlie Eyesand 4 vellum embossed spiderwebs) AND the instructions for making the card above!  Please email or comment on this post if you are interested in one or the other!  This is a limited time offer, and you have until midnight next Thursday – then there will be a different, wonderful, vintage stamp featured!

Listed below are the current Stampin’ Up products used for this card.

101856 White Vellum (20 sheets) $6.50
102316 Naturals White Cardstock (40 sheets) $7.50
121045 Basic Black Cardstock (24 sheets) $6.95
101910 Shimmery White Cardstock (10 sheets) $7.95
109130 Clear Embossing Powder $4.95
126185 Stampin’ Spritzer $2.95
133773 Sponge Daubers (5) $4.95
102283 Versamark Inkpad $7.50
126980 Basic Black Inkpad $5.95
102512 Basic Black Ink Refill $2.95
107301 Whisper White Envelopes (40) $6.50
132172 Envelope Liner Framelits $26.95
132968 Word Bubbles Framelits $24.95
104332 Snail Adhesive $6.95
104430 Stampin’ Dimensionals $3.95
118485 Clear Mount Block D $8.50
113439 Big Shot Die Cutting (& Embossing) Machine $99.95
129053 Heat Tool $29.95

#TBT Inspired by Nature

Welcome to Week Two of Throw Back Thursday!  This week’s stamp is “Inspired by Nature”, a stamp set that was released in 2010.  This is a BIG stamp, with the large daisies on one side of the block and blades of grass on the other side.  So versatile!  The two sentiments are also mounted back to back on a wooden block.

Inspired by Nature stamp set

Inspired by Nature stamp set

 

Inspired by Nature card

Inspired by Nature card

The fun part about creating this card was seeing the daisies emerge after embossing the images and then spritzing the background.  Smooth that spritzing around with a baby wipe or paper towel, and the crisp outlines of the embossing just POP!

The other “secret” is that the new Stampin’ Up Blendabilities will be permanent on TOP of the embossing, so you can add more color on top to make it look even more 3D!

 

Here’s how #TBT works!  If you want this wonderful vintage stamp set, you may purchase it for $13.00 plus shipping. (US purchases only please).  You will receive the stamp set and the card!  IF you purchase the card AND place an order (www.mystampalooza.stampinup.net) for at least $30 of merchandise, you will receive (besides your order of awesome Stampin’ Up products), the vintage stamp set, handmade card and envelope, a selection of vintage Stampin’ Up embellishments AND the instructions for making the card above!  Please email or comment on this post if you are interested in one or the other!  This is a limited time offer, and you have until midnight next Thursday – then there will be a different, wonderful, vintage stamp featured!

Listed below are the current Stampin’ Up products used for this card.  As you can see, I like to use a LOT of products.  But that is because I HAVE a lot of products, and that is because I LOVE Stampin’ Up and the fact that all the colors MATCH!  You can certainly make this card beautiful with fewer choices. 😉

135707 Project Life Cards & Labels Framelits $24.95
130998 Daffodil Delight Stampin’ Blendabilities Markers $11.95
129370 Skin Tone Assortment Stampin’ Blendabilities Markers $22.95
109130 Clear Embossing Powder $4.95
118772 Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz $4.95
102283 Versa Mark Stamp Pad $7.50
130934 Neutrals Candy Dots $5.95
132293 Candy Dots Brad Bases $2.95
133671 Hello Honey 3/8″ Stitched Satin Ribbon $8.95
107297 Crumb Cake Medium Envelopes $6.50
101849 Naturals Ivory Cardstock $7.50
101910 Shimmery White Cardstock $7.95
133678 Hello Honey Cardstock $6.95
133643 Hello Honey Stamp Pad $5.95
133649 Hello Honey Ink Refill $2.95
129679 Chocolate Chip Stamp Pad $5.95
101065 Chocolate Chip Ink Refill $2.95
104332 Snail Adhesive $6.95
104430 Stampin’ Dimensionals $3.95

#TBT (Throw Back Thursday)

I LOVE Facebook, but every once in a while some of the abbreviations really “throw” me, as this one did, for MONTHS, until finally I saw the actual full title!  Now the back story is that I have, literally, HUNDREDS of vintage Stampin’ Up stamp sets.  When I started this wild ride (i.e. obsession -uh huh, I admit it!), I was consumed by all the stamps in the older catalogs that I DID NOT HAVE, and lo and behold, they were available on EBAY!  Since then I have SO MANY STAMP SETS I could not even go through them all if I stamped cards EVERY DAY!  (and I do try!).  So I have decided that these stamps will find NEW homes!  Some may go back to EBAY, but some I really like will be featured on THROW BACK THURSDAY!  Today I’ve created a card using two vintage stamp sets with current Stampin’ Up products:  “Measure of a Life” (2006) and “Mixed Greetings” (2005).  Here’s the card:Dragonfly #TBT

…and here are the two stamp sets:

 

 

 

 

 

Measure of a Life

Measure of a Life 2006

 

 

and

 

Mixed Greetings

Mixed Greetings 2005

 

The way this will work is if you like these stamp sets, which have been officially retired by Stampin’ Up, you can purchase them, for the price stated below,  AND receive the card for FREE! (US Orders only, please)

If you purchase the stamp sets AND place an order of $30 or more of Stampin’ Up products from my website

(www.mystampalooza.stampinup.net), I’ll ship these lovelies to you for FREE, along with the card AND a selection of vintage embellishments, because once you get these stamps, you will be INSPIRED to make a bunch of cards.  Heck, I’ll even throw in the techniques I used to make this card (hint: there are more than one!).

The two stamp sets will be sold for $15 (total).  S/H will be $5.25 (Priority Mail Small Flat Rate Box)

Here are all the supplies used in this card:

126974 – Early Espresso Classic Stampin Pad $5.95
130136 – Coastal Cabana Designer Series Paper (40 sheets) $21.95
101856 – White Vellum (20 sheets) $6.50
102316 – Naturals White Card Stock (40 sheets) $7.50
133672 – Lost Lagoon Satin Stripe Ribbon (10 yards) $6.95
107297 – Crumb Cake Medium Envelopes (40 envelopes) $6.50
104332 – Snail Adhesive $6.50
103683 – Glue Dots $3.95
104430 – Stampin Dimensionals (300) $3.95
104294 – Sticky Strip $6.95
133672 – Lost Lagoon Satin Stripe Ribbon (10 yards) $6.95
126895 – Stampin Spritzer $2.95
133773 – Sponge Daubers (5) $4.95
102283 – Versaamark Inkpad $7.50
131000 – Coastal Cabana Stmpin’ Blendabilities Markers (3 Markers) $11.95
130998 – Daffodil Delight Stampin’ Blendabilities Markers (3 Markers) $11.95
128980 – Early Espresso Stampin’ Emboss Powder $4.95
119882 – Scallop Edge Border Punch $15.95
119859 – Extra-Large Oval Punch $16.95 (oops, the punch used on the card is retired, but this one is current and would work also!)
132965 – Hexagon Hive Thinlit $24.95

Bleach! Technique of the Week!

One of my favorite “inks” actually removes color – that’s Bleach!  This is more effective on medium – dark solid color card stock.  I usually stamp an image with versamark and then emboss with clear or colored embossing powder.  Then I put some bleach in a small container and “paint” with a small brush over the image inside the embossing.  This keeps the bleach effect from spreading outside the lines.  Very shortly, the color of the paper bleaches out to a lighter color – sometimes one you don’t expect!  After the bleach dries thoroughly (you can use a embossing/heat gun to dry if you are in a hurry), go back and ink up the resulting lightened image with markers.   There are a couple other methods to use bleach in stamping cards, but I’ll save that for another week ;-).  Here’s my sample, using a card from a Project Life pack as background, and the “Baby, We’ve Grown” stamp set.  I’ve added a few dots of Crystal Effects over the Owl Eyes!

Bleach Baby

To order any of these products, be sure to shop at www.mystampalooza.stampinup.net.  To join my mailing list and subscribe to my NEW monthly newsletter, Stampin’ Nooz, enter your name and email address to the form on the right!

drum roll please…… WHAM! PROJECT LIFE!

project-life-post-2picture1

YES, it’s TRUE!  Stampin’ Up is now selling Project Life kits and supplies!

If you haven’t heard of “Project Life”, and you are overwhelmed with your scrapbooking new year’s resolution, this is for YOU!  No glue, scissors or pesky embellishments required!   Think simple, streamlined and fitting in YOUR busy schedule!  There is a basic Project Life Scrapbook, clear pocket pages, and 3 sizes of doublesided cards to fit in the pockets.  Some cards have journaling spaces, some are just decorative.  The cards come in their own little box (so CUTE!), and are ready to add to your photos for documenting or not).   I just received my first set of cards and I can’t wait to get started, and the good news is that YOU can start TODAY, too!

If you want to order Project Life components, just go to www.mystampalooza.stampinup.net and place your order.  Tune in for my regular updates of MY life – and I can’t wait to see YOURS!  Project Life Products are listed in the PDF below:

Project Life Product List

Happy Birthday Elvis!!!

ElvisOk, maybe this isn’t REALLY Elvis, but believe me, it’s as close as you are going to get these days!  (Well, unless you believe that EL isn’t really DEAD)

Every year on the first  weekend of December, I attend an event called “Night of 100 Elvises”, aka “NO100E”.  It is fabulous FUN, and folks get dressed up in their 50’s garb, HON Hair (you’ve got to be a Baltimore-on to know what this is…), and sometimes even the JUMPSUIT.  This gentleman IS one of the entertainers (Elvis impersonators)- who cover the Elvis songs all night, along with local bands doing the same.  Open bar, free food and, the pi-ece de résistance – Grilled Cheese, Peanut Butter & Banana Sandwiches.  This has been held in Baltimore’s Lithuanian Hall for over 15 years, and those Lithuanians have THEIR own special beverage, Vititus, a very SNEAKY Honey Liquer.  ’nuff said about THAT!  If you want to join me in 2014 – check out the website: www.nightof100elvises.com

Elvis 2

On that night every year “My Name is ELVIS!”

New Year’s Resolution – 2014!

Dirty…Little…Secret:  (SHHHHH!)  I have not sat down and actually designed and made a card in MONTHS! …and why is that you may ask??? Welllll, besides the crazy non-stop work-teach-class project neverending cycle this fall, my studio is a MESS!  <sigh>  Not a single clear space to be seen.   This is just not conducive to making ANYTHING!  Besides a few monograms on scarves, there were no holiday gifts created, no holiday cards made or sent, no holiday decorations lovingly hung on a holiday tree…NADA!  Just happy all that craziness is OVER!  Time to MOVE ON to 2014!

So at the top of my NYR2014 List is (no surprise here):

CLEAN & ORGANIZE!!!!

(Photos to come soon – !)

How about you?

Holiday Workshop Announced!

The Holiday Workshop is Saturday, November 23rd, 10 – 4 – see the flyer below for details.  We will be making a Thanksgiving banner and Christmas wreath in the morning session, cards and gift tags in the afternoon session.  Early registration – get $10 off the full day session!

November FlyerDownload link:  November Flyer

Serene Silhouettes Card

This a simple, fun card straight out of our 2013-2014 Stampin Up Catalog!

Stamp set: Serene Silhouettes

Sentiment set: A Dozen Thoughts

Inkpads: Crumb Cake, Gumball Green, Basic Black

Other: Raspberry Ripple Reinker, Aqua Painter

Technique: Masking

Lots of options to make card sets for gifts by switching out the sentiments or stamp images!

Download a PDF of the supplies and instructions here:Serene Silhouettes Card

Fiddley Level = 11! (Day 6)

Spidey #2 – on the Label…

I inked the spider image from the “Spider Cider” stamp in the “Monster Munchies” set with Basic Black and Old Olive markers and stamped him on the corner of the “Happy Halloween” Label.  I also punched a 1/16″ circle on the inside of the “O” in Halloween (must have been AFTER I took this picture!).   I fed the top end of the fishing line with SPIDEY attached through that hole and adhered a dimensional over top. 

I punched a 1/16″ circle at each end of the label, and inserted old olive glimmer brads.

I added dimensionals at the four corners and attached to the top of the card. 

Now Spidey can climb up and down from his web to the jar of eyeballs!  CREEPY, Yes?

Here’s another look at the final card:

and, a video of Mr. Spidey doing his daily exercise!  <ed. sorry, couldn’t figure out how to get it embedded!>

 

Until then…Keep Calm and Find Yourself a Rubber Stamp!