Using Clear Blocks to make a Watercolor Background

Hi Stampers!  It's been a while, hasn't it? To say things have been challenging around my house would be an understatement!  We've experienced a health scare with our youngest son, a busy end of the school year and big changes with my husband and his back injury.  Family is number one for me and while I still continued my clubs and some classes, the good 'ole blog took a seat on the back burner for a while. 

I'm happy to say that our youngest son is fine and after a lot of testing and doctor visits we found out we are dealing with something not as serious as we first thought.  Phew!  And, while my husband's back is not better and he is still not back at work, there is hope!  He's participating in an intense back to work program where they are helping him learn how to manage his pain without the help of narcotics and strengthen his muscles so that he will be able to go back to work....although it will be much different that it was before he was injured.  The down side is that he is away from us for the summer, but there is a silver lining!  He's in the beautiful rocky mountains and we get to go visit him often! And, so we begin adjusting to our new normal yet again.

Another wonderful thing that happened was that I was able to attend Stampin' Up!'s annual convention.  I saw my friends from all over North America, learned some new techniques, played with new products and had my bucket filled by my buddies.  I came home feeling inspired and ready to hit the ground running!  One of the things I did while at Convention was participate in an organized swap!  I had to make 80 cards for this swap and I'm thrilled with the 80 cards I got in return...so many beautiful cards and so much inspiration from a group of uber talented ladies!  So, this is the journey of a swap card with a video on the technique at the end!

So what does it take to make 80 swap cards?  80 sheets of cardstock (Blushing Bride, Basic Black & Whisper White), a roll of Everyday Chic washi tape, a package of Old Olive Baker's Twine, 240 gold sequins, 160 inches of Blushing Bride ribbon, and a roll and a half of the new Tear & Tape adhesive!

All the parts and pieces ready to assemble!

Adding Washi Tape!  I had just enough of the design I chose from the Everyday Chic washi tape!

That's a lot of Tear & Tape backing!  After making 80 cards, I can say I LOVE this new adhesive!

Phew....80 cards done and ready to swap!

I was surprised that after 80+ cards I wasn't sick of this card.  I love the way it turned out and I love that each one was a little different because of the technique I did.

As promised, I have a video for you showing how to do the technique.

Here's another close up of the technique as well as another card I did with my stamp clubs using the same technique.

Well, that's all for today!  Thanks for hanging in there with me for this looooong post. I hope that I've inspired you to do this fun technique on a card of your own.  If you do try it, I would love it if you linked to your card in the comments so I can see your creation.

As always, if you are in Canada and need a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, I would be happy to help you out!  Contact me for more info or just head on over to my online store to order the supplies you need to recreate the cards I've shown today!

Have an inspired day!

Mother's Love Mini Pizza Box

Hi Stampers!  This month my clubs did a super fun mini pizza box.

I designed it to hold some 3x3 cards and there's even room for some chocolates or some other special little gift, like jewelry!

The box is pretty simple and is made from a piece of cardstock measuring 6x11. With the 6" side along the top of your Simply Scored, score at 1-1/4" and 4-3/4". Then turn your cardstock so the 11" side is along the top of your Simply Scored and score at 1-1/4", 4-7/8", 6-1/8" and 9-3/4".  Check out the diagram below to see where you need to make the cut lines. Crease all the score lines really well and then fold it up and glue the tabs to make a box. Your box should open like a pizza box.

Wanna see what my club peeps made for inside the box?  Yeah, I thought so!

Three sweet little 3x3 cards featuring the Mother's Love stamp set which you can find in the Occasions Catalog. I used the retiring 2013-2015 In Colors, Pistachio Pudding, Crisp Cantaloupe and Baked Brown Sugar.

I love these little pizza boxes. They are just so darn cute! Here's a couple more that I have done.

This one is Strawberry Slush with the Crazy About You set and Stacked With Love DSP stack. I made the black rhinestone is just a regular old Rhinestone that I colored with a black Sharpie.

This one also uses Strawberry Slush and the Stacked With Love DSP with the Painted Petals set.

That last one has an embossed vellum strip.  Here's a little trick for sticking vellum down....make it longer than you need it and fold the ends behind and stick them to the back of the cardstock layer.  Here's a close up of the edge so you can have a better look.

That's all for today!  Everything you need to make any of the three boxes shown today can be found in my online store.  You can contact me to order or order through the online store.  Don't forget to enter the hostess code MPXDNXGV when you order online!

Have an inspired day!

Simple Card Sunday-Painted Petals SIP Card

Hi Stampers!  Today for Simple Card Sunday I have a super simple SIP card for you.  What's a SIP card you ask?  It's a Stamps, Ink, Paper card...so you don't need any embellishments or special tools other than a cutter and adhesive to go with your stamps, ink and paper.

I used one of my favorite go to products for the card today....Note Cards with Envelopes!  Seriously, these are the best little invention for making loads of quick cards.  They come in packs of 20 pre-cut, pre-scored cards and you get the perfect sized envelopes too!  They are offered in Whisper White and Crumb Cake.  Stock up because you can do so much with these blank canvases!

Step By Step

• Fold one of the notecards in half and trim an eighth of an inch off of one of the long sides and one of the short sides.
• With the Painted Petals set, stamp the long stems with Wild Wasabi ink, the double roses with Marina Mist ink on the right side of the card.  Stamp the dotted line across the bottom of the card with Crumb Cake ink
• Using a sentiment from the A Dozen Thoughts set and Soft Suede ink, stamp a sentiment above the dotted line.
• Mat the card on a piece of coordinating cardstock (Marina Mist was used in the sample).

It's so easy, there's only 4 steps this week!!!!



I did up a quick video so you can stamp along with me.

I needed a bunch of cards so, using this same idea, I made up a couple more designs.

This one features the Flower Patch stamp set.  I love how the images in this set layer....and that there's a coordinating framelit set (which I didn't use this time!).

Flowers from largest to smallest are Blushing Bride, Calypso Coral and Cajun Craze

And, then there's this one that features the Crazy About You set.  I am loving all the possibilities for this stamp set.  It definitely wasn't my first choice from the Occasions Catalog, but it has become one of my go to sets lately!

Leaves are Pear Pizzazz and word is Blackberry Bliss

I am loving the possibilities for simple SIP cards!  What do you think?  Give it a try and be sure to leave a link to your creations in the comments so I can go check them out!

You can find everything you need to make these cards in my online store, or by contacting me to place your order.

As always, if you are Canadian and need a Stampin' Up! demonstrator I would love to help you out!  Contact me to get a copy of our current catalogs and my upcoming events list!

Have an inspired day!

Simple Card Sunday 13 - Pacific Point Painted Petals

Hi Stampers!  It's Simple Card Sunday and I have a great card for you this week featuring the new Painted Petals stamp set and Painted Blooms DSP from the 2015 Occasions Catalog.

It's been a while since we had a Simple Card Sunday, so let me refresh your memory about what kind of card a Simple Card Sunday card is!

• It must be able to be completed in 10-15 minutes max
• It must use minimal supplies
• It must be able to be made in 5 easy steps

Are you ready?  Let's get started with the step-by-step!

• Start by folding a 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 piece of Pacific Point cardstock in half.
• Stick a 1-1/4 x 4-1/4 strip of Painted Blooms DSP along the right side of the card base.  Stick a 1 x 4-1/4 strip of embossed Wild Wasabi cardstock right beside it followed by a 1/4 x 4-1/4 strip of Crushed Curry stuck beside the Wild Wasabi.
• On a 1-3/4 x 2-3/4 piece of Whisper White cardstock, stamp the floral image from the Painted Petals stamp set with Soft Sky ink.  Stamp the leaves and stems with Wild Wasabi ink and then stamp a sentiment over the flowers with Pacific Point ink.
• With ribbon scraps (Wild Wasabi Seam Binding, Soft Sky 1/8" Taffeta & a Burlap Ribbon string), make some ribbon loops and layer them together.  Staple them to the Whisper White piece with the Handheld Stapler.  Apply Stampin' Dimensionals to the back and stick it to a 2 x 3 piece of Soft Sky cardstock
• With SNAIL, stick the Soft Sky cardstock to the center of the card.

Here's the video so you can follow along in real time.

I have another card done with the same layout to share with you today.  This one features the new BYOP stamp set, also in the Occasions 2015 Catalog.

I love the ombre look of the letters!  I did that with my Bermuda Bay Blendabilities.  So fun!  Here's the inside of the card....

I added a strip of Bermuda Bay cardstock to the bottom on the inside of the card, but only stuck it down on three sides creating a little pocket perfect to hold a gift card!

Everything you need to make the two cards featured today can be found in my online store and because it's Sale-A-Bration, you can earn free product with every $60 you order (before shipping and tax).  You can also contact me to place your order!

If you like what you see and are Canadian, I would love to be your Stampin' Up! demonstrator.  Contact me today to start your creative journey!

Have an inspired day!

Simple Card Sunday 12-Christmas Bliss

Hi Stampers!  Welcome to Simple Card Sunday.  This week I have a fun star themed Christmas card to share with you.

I used some of the Trim the Tree DSP from the Holiday Catalog as the starting point when I was designing this card.  Let's get started!

Step-by Step (cardstock measurements are noted in the video):

• Fold some Crumb Cake cardstock in half.  With Crumb Cake ink, stamp the star from the Christmas Bliss set all over the card and sponge the edges.  I stamped the star off on scrap paper once before stamping it on the card.
• Make a star frame using the two smallest Star Framelits and Crumb Cake cardstock.  Sponge the edges with Crumb Cake ink and wrap some Linen Thread around part of the star.
• Stick the Early Espresso, Crumb Cake & Trim the Tree layers together and then onto the card.
• Stamp the sentiment (from the Christmas Bliss set) with Early Espresso ink just off center below the Trim the Tree layer.  Stick the star on with Stampin' Dimensionals.
• Punch two little stars (Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack) from a scrap of Champagne Glimmer Paper and stick them by the larger star.

Here's the video so you can follow along with me.  All the measurements for the cardstock are noted in the video.

 And, as always, I have some more cards with this same layout to show you.  I must find this layout easy to work with because I have 4 extras for you!

I pulled out my Blendabilities for the flower for this one!

You can find the Very Merry stamp in the December Wonder stamp set in the Holiday Supplement.

If you look close you will notice I stamped some snowflakes on the All Is Calm DSP!

Can you believe it?  No stamping on this one!

So, which card is your favorite out of the 5 shown today?

All the supplies you need to create any of the cards featured today can be found in my online store.  Head on over there to do some shopping, or you can contact me directly to place your order.

If you like what you see and you are Canadian, I would love to be your Stampin' Up! demonstrator.  Send me a message and we can get your creative journey started today!

Have an inspired day!

Hello December No Cut Gift Box

Hi Stampers!  I have the perfect little gift box to share with you today and I'm super excited to share it because it's easy, uses one sheet of cardstock and has no cutting!  Every time a new catalog comes out I get together with my downline and we do a swap (it's so fun to stamp for a day with them and go home with loads of new ideas!).  At our last swap in August one of my downline made a super cute Frankenstein box and it inspired these boxes.  I just changed up the measurements to make my version bigger.  You can see the Frankie box that inspired me in my video!

This is what my stamp clubs made this month.  It features the Hello December Project Life card collection and the December Wonder Project Life stamp set.  Both of these products are available in my online store and in the Holiday Supplement.  The Hello December card collection is different from our other PL card sets because it has a bunch of cards that are the same, just different colors.  It's designed this way so that you have a "title card" for each day of the month and then have a bunch of different cards to accent your pictures.  It really is a fun set!  I did up two different versions of this box so my club peeps could choose a design based on which color card they wanted to use.

So are you ready to learn how to make it?  I have loads of pictures, a template and a couple videos for you today!

Start with a sheet of 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock and score it as shown on the template.

There are some diagonal score lines involved in this project.  I didn't actually measure them, but when I was done I realized they were all about 2" from the middle score lines.  In the video you will see how I made those score lines...I promise it's easy and just involves a little pinching and creasing!

Once you're done scoring, it's time to glue and fold.  You should end up with something that looks like this (check out the video for more detail!)....

Let's have a look at that video I keep talking about now!  There's more detail about the folding and gluing steps.

So, do you want to see what's inside the boxes?  Each one has a cute little 3x3 card, some hot chocolate and a mini candy cane.

Fun, eh?

Did you notice the sparkly icicles on the snowflake box?  Here, let me give you a closer look.

Last year I did a video on how to make those.  All you need is some Crystal Effects and Dazzling Diamonds glitter!  Check it out.

For this project I made the icicles right on the box rather than making them on a piece of waxed paper like in the video.  Either way, they are a fun and frosty accent for your winter projects!

And there you have it!  What do you think?  Do you love this project as much as I do?!?!?!?!  The beauty of this project is that you can make it for any occasion.  Like I mentioned in the video, you could have loads of the basic boxes made up and stored flat.  Then you just need to take them out and embellish when you need one!

Everything you need to make the boxes and icicles shown today can be found in my online store...except for the hot chocolate and candy canes!  Head on over there to place your order, or if you are not comfortable with online ordering you can always contact me to place your order.  Remember the Holiday Supplement product is only available while supplies last so make sure to order ASAP to avoid disappointment.

If you like what you see and are Canadian, I would love to be your Stampin' Up! demonstrator!  Send me an email and we can start your creative journey today!

Have an inspired day!

Simple Card Sunday 11-Amazing Birthday Circles

Hi Stampers!  Wow!  Has it really been a week since my last post?  It's been a super crazy week for sure which is one reason why I like to do simple cards!  It's easy to find 10-15 minutes to whip up a simple and thoughtful handmade card for someone and this week's card is perfect for that!

I like to do things in threes when I do projects and this card has a lot of 3's!  Three sizes of circles, three colors (not including white), three images across the card, baker's twine wrapped around it three times...you get the idea!!!

Let's get started with the Step-by Step!

• Fold the Crisp Cantaloupe cardstock (4 1/4 x 11) in half.  On a scrap of Whisper White cardstock, stamp three birthday cake images (Amazing Birthday set) with Blushing Bride ink.
• With the 1 3/4" Circle Punch, punch out three circles from some Calypso Coral cardstock.  With the 1 3/8" Circle Punch, punch out three circles from some Crisp Cantaloupe cardstock.  With the 1 1/4" Circle Punch, punch out the three birthday cakes you stamped.
• Layer the stamped images on the Crisp Cantaloupe circles and put some Stampin' Dimensionals on the back (see the video for a tip on how to place them!).
• Place the three Calypso Coral circles across the Whisper White cardstock (4 x 5 1/4).  Wrap some Blushing Bride Baker's Twine around the white piece and the circles three times.  Secure with a knot at the right edge of the card.  Stick the layered stamped birthday cakes over the Baker's Twine.
• Stamp a Happy Birthday (Remembering Your Birthday set) with Calypso Coral ink.  Tie the Baker's Twine into a bow (optional) and add some Dazzling Details to the dots on the middle cake.

Here's the video so you can follow along in real time with me!

And, I have another card with the same layout to share.  This one features the Flower Shop set and coordinating Pansy Punch!

I started by stamping the flowers with Memento ink on Whisper White cardstock and coloring them with my Blendabilities.  I used the Wisteria Wonder set for the flowers and the Daffodil Delight set for the middle of the flowers.  The leaves are cut with the Flower Fair Framelit set from Mossy Meadow cardstock (the Flower Fair framelits are available in a bundle with the Flower Patch stamp set).  And, to finish off the flowers, I put some Dazzling Details in the centers.  I love the color combination of purples and Sahara Sand, don't you?

All the products you need to create both of the cards shown today can be found in my online store.  Head on over there and place your order today, or if you are more comfortable with it, you can contact me directly to place your order.

If you like what you see and your are Canadian, I would love to be your Stampin' Up! demonstrator!  Contact me today and we can get you started on your creative journey!

Have an inspired day!

Rock 'n Roll

Hi Stampers!  It's the first Tuesday of the month which means it's discount day at the grocery store AND it's Technique Tuesday!  Could it get any more exciting?!?!?!?!

This month I'm going back to basics again and doing the Rock 'n Roll technique.  This is a fairly simple technique to stamp a solid image in more than one color.

•  Start by choosing a solid image stamp
• Choose 2-3 colors.  Choose colors that are dynamic duos (two shades of the same color for a monochromatic look) or colors that compliment each other.
• Open your ink pads and arrange them lightest to darkest.  This is important so you don't wreck your ink pads.
• Ink up your stamp with the lightest color.  Rock and roll it in the next color and repeat with a third color if you chose 3!

On the card pictured below, I used the medium star from the Bright & Beautiful set for the technique.  I inked my stamp in Crushed Curry, then rocked and rolled it in Rose Red and finally Blackberry Bliss.

I did up a video so you can see me doing the technique and follow along in real time!

I do have some helpful tips for you to be successful with this technique.

• always choose a solid image stamp for this technique
• choose 2 or 3 ink colors.  More than 3 gets a little hard to see all the colors on your image
• try and choose an image that fits on the ink pad to make it easier
• you get a very different look with the new foam pads than you get if you are using the old felt pads

Here's another card done with this technique.  This time I used the solid flower from the Mixed Bunch set with Wisteria Wonder and Elegant Eggplant.

ooooh eeeee...check out all those Rhinestones in the middle of the flower!

All the products I used on both cards today are available in my online store.  Head on over there to place your order today.  Or, if you would rather not order online you can always contact me to place an order.  If you like what you see and are Canadian, I would love to be your Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.  Please contact me and we can get your creative journey started!

Have an inspired day!