Digi Paper to Match!

Isn't this paper just BEAUTIFUL?? Want some??? Want some for free???? I got it from Emily at Stamping and Stuff. She designed this wonderful paper using the color keys to match the Stampin' Up! colors. I printed this one out on #24 copier paper. I highly recommend using #28 for this. It's a much firmer paper and is easier to work with. You can print out on card stock but you don't get the flexibility of it like you do with paper. The ink does absorb differently on card stock than it does on copier paper too. That is why I recommend the #28 paper.

It was so fun to print out this paper and have it not only look like what was on the computer screen but to have the color so precise too! I have mixed emotions doing this though. It's not like I don't have enough decorative paper and now I'm printing my own. What is wrong with me??? Oh PLEASE, don't answer that question!!!! LOL

For the flower I used the "True Friend" set by Stampin' Up!. I added a couple of black brads to the vanilla card stock and a clear rhinestone brad from the "Pretties Kit" to the center of the flower.

To make the flower I took the Bravo Burgundy marker and colored in the flower. I stamped off twice. Then I took the marker and I colored in the dots on the flower plus some of the outer areas. You can see where I colored by looking closer at the flower. To get an even closer view just click on the photo it will enlarge. Once I got the flower done I used Sage Shadow and Garden Green markers on the leaves and stem. I huffed on the rubber and stamped the image on very vanilla card stock. Another fun card to make!!!

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Making Someone's Day!

Would you like to make someones day? There is a SplitCoastStampers user name Shellapoo. Click here to read her story. She does not have a blog but she does have a gallery at SplitCoastStampers. Just click here to view it.

To make her day just leave her some comments on her postings. I had run across this last week when I posted a comment on a card she had made for the Sketch Challenge. I wasn't aware of her story until after I had left my comment and received a private message from her friend. I then found out her story and I passed this information on to the DIVA gals. I will also be sending this off to the gals in my stamping groups as well.

SO brighten her day by leaving a comment or two on her posts!! It's amazing how something so simple can make another person's day!

Thanks SO much,
Wanda

REALLY Old Flowers!!

At one of our DIVA Day events Sue had this card for us to make. The technique was "Non-metallic Polished Stone." I had such a problem with this technique. I took it home with me unassembled because I was going to redo it. I put it in a bag and brought it home. Now if you saw the piles of "stuff" I have here you would understand how I was able to lose this card for 6 months (or maybe even longer!). SO when I ran across this card I took it out and I actually liked the Polished Stone effect. I came to the conclusion that I was doing the same thing the stampers that come here do. I was comparing my work to the one done in front of me. I always tell my stampers not to compare their work to the original card and that was exactly what I was doing. SO I put the card together. I added a layer of Mellow Moss behind the Polished Stone paper.
I colored in the flowers (I told you I didn't finish the card at Sue's!!!) and I put the layers together. I actually like this card now!!!

The background was made using the Stampin' Up! "Flannel Plaid" background stamp. The flowers came from the Stampin' Up! "Fun and Fast Notes" set.

Once I got past the Polished Stone issue I really liked the card. It's also a very versatile card. It will work for Mother's Day, Birthdays, Get Well or Thinking of You. It's a very fun card to make and give!!

This card was made entirely of Stampin' Up! products. To view more items made entirely of Stampin' Up! products click here

Thanks SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Dear Dear Ruth!

I cased this card from a fellow demonstrator Ruth B. from California. She is using this card in one of her classes. I changed it just a little. I had added some punches in the corners, I added the bee and I colored the background of the flower. I added the bee because I had never used it in all of the times I've used this set! It's such a cute bee too.

This card can be used for many occasions. Birthday, Sympathy, Mother's Day, Thinking of You or Get Well.

Isn't this such a pretty card? Thanks SO much Ruth for letting me CASE your card. Ruth doesn't have a blog so I can't direct you to it to view her to her other wonderful creations? She is a VERY talented lady!

This card was made entirely of Stampin' Up! products. To view more items made entirely of Stampin' Up! products click here.

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Altered Album

I got this small photo album at Michael's about 3 weeks ago. It measures 3-5/8" x 3-1/8". I used the Stampin' Up! "Sticky Strip" tape to adhere the decorative paper to the album. Other tapes are just not strong enough and I didn't want to use a glue in the event that it may warp the paper. The tape was easy to apply and once I got it on the outside of the album I just set it on top of the paper and pressed it in place, rolling it along from the front to the back. For the strap part I traced it on a piece of decorative paper and cut it out. I also taped it in place and at the end of it where it meets the edge of the album I tucked it in with my fingernail. Before tucking it in I did use Crystal Effects to help hold it in place. I wrapped a pony tail holder around that part of the album to hold it in place while the Crystal Effects dried. I usually give that stuff a good 20 minutes to set up.

While I was allowing that to dry I stamped the flower from the Stampin' Up! "Live Your Dream" set. I hope this one makes it into the new catalog. I like it and I haven't got to play with it much!!! Anyway back to the stamping. I stamped the flwoer image using Chocolate Chip ink on Whisper White card stock. Then I punched the image out using the 1-1/4" round punch. I punched out a 1-3/8" Groovy Guava circle. And I layered both of those on top of a scalloped piece of Chocolate Chip card stock. I taped it in place and then got out the Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon and tied it around the front cover of the album. The cover still needed a little something more so I took out the 1/2" circle punch and punched out a piece of Chocolate Chip and taped it in place on the strap. It made the strap look like it had a snap. SO cute!!!

And that was it. Not much to it but it sure changed the appearance of the album, didn't it??? These would make a great Stamp Camp item, Hostess gifts or Customer Appreciation gifts!

This card was made entirely of Stampin' Up! products. To view more items made entirely of Stampin' Up! products click here.

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Wednesday Sketch Challenge at SplitCoastStampers

I actually found some time tonight to play with today's sketch on SplitCoastStampers.

Once again they have come up with a VERY fun sketch. I flipped mine. Instead of having the larger space at the to of the card I put it at the bottom where I added the "Thank you." I just couldn't get it to look right with the words at the top. I think I'm just to traditionally minded when it comes to that. You see the picture first and then your eye moves down to the words. I need to challenge myself a bit more to things like that. But for this one the wording is at the bottom of the card

I am also challenged in other ways. NOT enough time to mention them ALL here but I will tell you one. I'm looking at the card as I'm typing this thinking that my fingers are on the keyboard where they should be. But NO!!! And if you're off just one key it's amazing how funny the words look. Oh and get this. Even the spell check can't help you out completely!!! LOL You would think that when I typed an "f" I would have felt that little bump on the key or noticed that something was wrong. But as I'm thinking about it, as I type my fingers hit the keys just above that area so I never feel those bumps at all. SO that explains that part. As for the not paying attention. Well, we will save that story for some other day!!! LOL

Ok on to my card (it's all about "me" right now! LOL). I used the decorative paper from the Stampin' Up! decorative paper series "Bali Breeze." I actually looked at the package for the name this time so I got it right!! Both of these colors are found in that pack of papers.

I didn't really measure my paper. I printed out the sketch and used that as my pattern. I LOVE how you can do that. It's set up to print out the same size as a card. Isn't that great??? I just set my paper on the area I want that color to be, mark and cut it!! Then I add 1/4" all to the layer (on two sides) and cut it out. It made making the layers SO easy. Now the lamb image didn't quite look right on the piece they had in the sketch and I didn't want to change the sketch. I believe that they are challenging you to use what they put in front of you. Turning it upside down or sideways does not change the sketch, it's still exactly the same size. SO I try to stick within their printed boundaries. It makes the challenge a challenge to keep it as printed. SO with the lamb I taped off the wording on the stamp and just stamped the adorable lamb. I added ribbon in the area below the lamb to fill that space (and it was just what not only that space needed but the entire card!!). I added my wording at the bottom. The "Thank you" came from the "Artfully Asian" set. Notice how straight it isn't??? LOL And you're going to LOVE this. I even used the Stamp-a-ma-jig! Looks like I need a little practice with that tool too!!! LOL

I added a couple of black brads to finish off the bottom area and taped it all together. Such a fun card!

If you have time go to SplitCoastStampers and play with this weeks challenge. Click here to be linked to this sketch.

This card was made entirely of Stampin' Up! products. To view more items made entirely of Stampin' Up! products click here.

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Just a Few Words!

"Just a few words" cuz there isn't any room for more!!! LOL Aren't these fun?? These are made using the small 2" x 2" Post-it Notes. There are several tutorials out there on these which makes it difficult to know who is the originator of it. SO if you know who it is, please let me know so I can give them credit. I have been informed that the original idea for these came from Angela at Chic n' Scratch. Thank you SO much for letting me know.

I will give you the short version of how to make these.

You need a piece of card stock cut 2-1/8" x 4-1/8". Score on the long side at 2" and 2-1/8" (sorry, I had 1-1/8" in there for the size and it should be 2-1/8" so I changed it. Yes, 1-1/8" x 4-1/8" would be too narrow! Thank you Cheryl for pointing that out to me!)

Now take your post it pad and remove about 25 pieces of paper (all at once - not one at a time). You want them to be stuck together. The notes I bought have 3 different colors in the pad and I was able to get 3 little pads from one color. Such a deal!!!

When you have your 25 sheets, stick it to the inside of the card stock.

Decorate the top/front of your holder. Using the Crop-a-dial punch a hole in the upper left corner and insert a 1" binder ring. Add some ribbon to the ring and you're done.

These are pretty simple to make!!! It all depends on how much time you want to spend on the front design!!!

For mine I used the Stampin Up! "Garden Whimsy" set and the "En Francais" background stamp.

The colors I used are Close to Cocoa, Pretty in Pink and Whisper White. I used Basic Black and Pretty in Pink markers to color in the ladybug before I stamped it. That technique is called "Direct to Rubber." You color on the rubber with markers and then huff on it to get the steam of your breath to moisten the ink and then you stamp the multicolored image!!

These notebooks would be great Stamp Camp items or fun for Make N Takes. They make great Hostess gifts and Customer Appreciation gifts too. I haven't tried them at craft fairs but it would be worth it to see if the sell.

This card was made entirely of Stampin' Up! products. To view more items made entirely of Stampin' Up! products click here.

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

When a Good Idea Goes Bad!

I had been playing around with some different layouts for a swap I'm going to be participating in and I wanted to try out this layout. This is not the layout I'm going to be using for the swap but I liked it so I thought I'd run with it and make a Father's Day card. Well, it got off to a good start and once I got to that front flap/fold I was totally LOST!!!

I liked it up to the top fold. I thought the "dear dad" in creamy caramel looked good. I had a piece of vanilla on the top of the Handsome Hunter but it looked too plain so I thought I'd break up the color a bit and put the hunter on top. But then the hunter needed a design in it. I wanted to stick with the Father's Day "theme" so I used the necktie and made it a background. I didn't like it and I knew it still needed something to the right if I was going to keep the circle part. So I did the "dear dad" three times in a long row and cut it out. I didn't like that either. Plus the tie in that circle wasn't sitting well with me either.

I felt I needed to add a bit more to the card so I punched out the teal ring and set it on top of the hunter around the tie circle. That did improve that part a bit but I was and am still not satisfied with it. But I'm leaving it this way because I'm not feeling well tonight. My plans are to clean up my worktable and go lay down. I hope I'm not coming down with anything. I don't get sick very often but when I do, I do it up BIG!!

The stamps used here are from the Stampin' Up! "Holiday Blitz" set. It contains 28 little stamps to have a LOT of fun with!!

SO here you have it. A pretty ugly card that will sit in my workroom until I figure out a way to make it look better. I want to keep the "dear dad" creamy caramel background and I want to keep the tie in the circle. I'm open to some suggestions. I will change the card as you suggest so be clear on your instructions. I will post the card on my blog and then I will mail the card to you. SO suggest away and lets see if we can make this card more pleasing to the eye. Please keep in mind the "dear dad" in creamy caramel stays and the tie in the circle stays. Now the colors can be changed but not the two elements (the background and tie). Let's see what you can come up with!! Have fun!

This card was made entirely of Stampin' Up! products. To view more items made entirely of Stampin' Up! products click here.

Thanks SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

I Know You WANT It!!!

Look what I found at Jan's blog "Paper Tango!!!" Yup! Half off!!! How fun is that? Just click here to be brought to the link to the page where you can officially print this coupon. Now the Michael's here in Blaine doesn't accept the JoAnn printed coupons and I guess I'll find out tomorrow if they accept their own coupons off my printer. Let's hope they do!!

Oh and after you are done printing out this coupon take a few minutes to view Jan's blog. This lady is a riot! Plus she has some wonderful items posted too! Thanks for the coupon Jan!!!

Have fun shopping!!!!

Weekend Project! Business Card Holder

It's not just for business cards, it has a bit of depth to it so you could add some candies or even put the gum back in the package!!! I saw the tutorial for this on Michelle's blog "Michelle's Rubber Room." It's pretty simple to make too.

First you do need an package of Orbit gum. I just happened to have a package of it. I saw it on one of the shelves in my workroom. It was opened so I didn't feel too guilty about taking the box! I took a piece of gum out and thought I'd chew some while I was working on this project. Well, apparently I bought that gum a LONG time ago because after just a couple minutes of chewing it the gum got very tough and m jaw became extremely tired. Hmmm, must be old gum. SO I did have to toss it out. Now the box is my template!! And for my box it will be a business card holder!!! Not much left to decide there now was there? LOL

In Michelle's instructions she tells you to trace the box onto a piece of firm but not too thick cardboard. She recommended the "stuff" that comes on the back of the Stampin' Up! decorative papers. The REALLY nice white think cardboard. Well, don't you have to use up a package of papers to get to that cardboard???? LOL SO I got this piece of cardboard and I traced my pattern to it. Tape some decorative paper to the other side of the cardboard. I forgot that step and cut out my cardboard piece. SO I had to tape the paper on and then cut that out too. UGH!!! Once you have your pattern cut out you score the lines the way they are scored on the box.

To adhere the box together she recommends you use the sticky strip tape. You do need something strong to hold the box together. Once you get the box taped together you can decorate it as you like. She even suggested putting in some holes on the top and making it into a purse.

The flap closes with Velcro dots. Add your business cards and you're done!!

Pretty simple and just TOO cute!!

For more weekend projects click here.

This card was made entirely of Stampin' Up! products. To view more items made entirely of Stampin' Up! products click here.

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Whatever!

This is one of those "whatever" cards. You can sue it for almost anything you need a card for. It would make a great birthday card, thinking of you card, friendship card, etc.

I was playing around with some leftover strips of decorative paper and decided to layer them and use them. I mean, it's almost a crime to toss out any decorative paper!!! LOL If you can't hoard it then you MUST use it but NEVER NEVER NEVER toss any out!!! LOL

The paper is from the Stampin' Up! Berry Bliss decorative paper pack. The ladybug is from the "Garden Whimsy" set. I added a few brads to the upper corner because it cried for something to be placed there. And I wove some cocoa and pink grosgrain ribbon between the 3 strips of layered decorative papers. It was a fun card to make.

This card was made entirely of Stampin' Up! products. To view more items made entirely of Stampin' Up! products click here.

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

A Fast & Fun Thank You!

Here's a fun (and fast) thank you card I made using the Stampin' Up! "Fun and Fast Notes." I just LOVE this little bird, it's so cute and sweet! The "Thank You" is from the "Holiday Blitz" set. These words fit perfectly inside the 1-1/4" circle punch. It makes it easy for layering on the Scallop. Such a fun punch to play with.

I used the decorative paper from the "Bali Breeze" pack. It's so bright and colorful. I added 5 brads on the bottom right corner. It needed something there but something wouldn't take away from the main part of the card. I was going to just add one towards the corner but with the design in the paper the brad would get lost or look out of place. So I took out all the color groups of the brads and found the ones that matched the paper and put the matching ones in the centers of the printed marks. It was just enough to give the corner a bit of texture.

This was a very fun card to make and when coloring in the bird and flower I used the markers directly on the card stock. I wanted them to be just as bright and vivid as the background.

This card was made entirely of Stampin' Up! products. To view more items made entirely of Stampin' Up! products click here.

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Anniversary Inspired Card

I was inspired by a card I saw on Nancy's blog, iStamp. I have found a LOT of cards on her blog that I really like and may be doing some SERIOUS casing here!!!

I really liked the simplicity of this card. Plus it had such an elegant touch at the same time

I used the Cuddlebug folder to make the dry embossed background. Speaking of Cuddlebug, did you know that you don't need the Cuddlebug machine or even the Sizzix machine to use a Cuddlebug folder??? You can use a rolling pin! Fortunately I have a Sizzix machine. I didn't want to go out and buy a rolling pin!!! The one I have is a plastic Tupperware one and it's not firm enough to do the job. You really need one that you hold on to the handles and they stay stationary in your hands while the roller part moves.

I have a bunch of wedding bands and I actually knew where they were (shocker, huh?) LOL I slipped them on a piece of organdy ribbon and tied them together. Before I pulled the knot tight I slipped in another piece of organdy ribbon. Once the knot was tight I taped the edges of the ribbon on the backside of the card. I taped that to a brushed gold layer and those two layers went on top of a half sheet of Whisper White card stock folded in half. The words came from the Stampin' Up! "Hugs & Wishes" set. I used the Stamp-a-ma-Jig to position the "Happy" on top of the "Anniversary". I needed them close and stacked on top of each other so I could use the oval punches here. After stamping the words I punched them out and then punched out a larger oval out of Brushed Gold. I taped them together and taped them in place on top of the card.

Now this was a VERY quick card to make!!! For more Quick Cards, click here.


Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

SC179 True Friend Birthday

Here is the card I made for the Sketch Challenge (SC) at SplitCoastStampers today. This was a very fun and different layout. My first attempt at this card was to make it a masculine card using the Stampin' Up! "Noble Deer" set but the deer or circle of a deer just didn't look right so I set it aside and gave it a bit of thought. Then I came up with the idea that a flower would work better in there. I didn't want to find a frilly flower since I still wanted to use the more masculine "Flannel Plaid" background I had already stamped. It's not like I couldn't just stamp a different background. I wanted to try to work with what I had. VERY unusual for me. Normally I would have just taken a fresh piece of card stock and made a new and different background piece. But I stuck to my guns and worked with what I had before me. I had the colors all picked out and I had the Old Olive pieces all stamped and cut out too. It was the circle part that I needed to focus on.

I got out the Stampin' Up! "One of a Kind" set and took the markers out and colored away. Once I got the flower done and stamped the image on the white card stock I sponged then punched it out. I sponged the edges and set it down to see what else it needed. A brad but not just a regular brad, a shiny rhinestone one was what it needed to brighten up the card. I layered and taped the circles in place and set it on the card. The top upper left area was very large and very empty. I stamped in the "Birthday Wishes" greeting there and gave the card a final look. It still needed something. SO I took out my Mat Pack and added a line of holes for some black brads. The brads just seemed to finish off the card.

This was a very fun and yet quick card to make. If I had to make a bunch of them for a swap it would be a good layout to use. Actually it would be a fabulous layout to use because you can get a lot of those little green strips out of one piece of stamped card stock!!!

If you have time I highly recommend you head on over to SplitCoastStampers and give the Sketch Challenge a try. Or one of the other challenges. Tuesday they have a color challenge that I am seriously thinking about giving a try. I'm afraid to though because I find these challenges addictive!!! LOL

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda