Festival of Trees and Endless Wishes Stamp Sets Make this Festive Holiday Card

I hope your holiday has been great so far. The new year is just another day away. Better brush up on your new year’s resolutions!

My new year’s resolution this year is to be more active in blogging about my love for stamping. I am starting today! As you know, I am a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator. I have grown my base group of fellow stampers from one monthly workshop to a second group that meets every other month. They are a great group of people and have a special place in my heart.

Today, I want to share with my virtual followers the holiday card I created this year using Stampin’ Up! Festival of Trees Stamp Set from the Holiday Catalog (HC p. 24; note the bundle includes the Tree Punch). I decided to use a non-traditional green for the holiday trees on my card. The design needed to be simple in order to make multiple cards and, although it was fairly simple to put together, they turned out beautiful.

The color scheme is Pear Pizzazz from the Subtles Collection and Lost Lagoon from the 2014-16 In Color Collection. Feel free to save this color scheme for future inspiration.

These colors coordinate perfectly with the All is Calm Specialty Designer Series Paper from the 2014 Holiday Catalog (HC p. 22).

Stampin’ Up! identifies the colors that coordinate with the DSP in both the catalog and on the packaging. This is a great idea for planning purposes – and for your future projects – taking the guesswork out of color coordination. 

I prefer to use Whisper White for the base of my cards when I have a “heavy” card front so that I don’t have to add another layer to the inside of the card for the sentiment. Another layer might have tipped the scale on the postage meter which is not a good thing when the mailing list is long.

If you are not able to tell from the photo, the center tree is stamped and snipped separately from the others. I used the Tree Punch from the Holiday Catalog (HC p. 24) to speed up the process due to the number of cards I was making, but you can stamp and snip one just as well. The individual tree is lifted up from the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals. No punch necessary for the tree stand - a couple of straight snips will do if the images are stamped side by side alternating right-side up and right-side down on a 1/2” strip of Whisper White card stock. The photopolymer stamps make lining images up so easy.

Front of Card Sentiment:  I tried to change up the sentiments for variety. Sometimes I stamped the sentiment directly on the main image (see the square “very merry” card), or sometimes I stamped on the strip of DSP (see the circle “celebrate the season” card). Small changes that personalized each card! So simple.

Finishing touches:  I alternated between a Lost Lagoon 3/8” Silky Taffeta Ribbon (HC p. 22) bow or the Frosted Sequins (HC p. 22) with a 4 mm rhinestone from the Rhinestone Basic Jewels (AC p. 209) adhered to the 1/2" strip of Lost Lagoon behind the main image. The star that tops the lead tree is punched from Silver Glimmer Paper (AC p. 193) using the Star Punch from the Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack (AC p. 222).

If you need the dimensions for the cuts, I would be happy to furnish detailed instructions. Just send me your request via email.

Please remember that there is only a short time left for ordering from the Holiday Catalog, or the Clearance Rack with up to 80% discounts on retired or about to retire product – January 5 is the last day! I noticed this morning that there are only a couple of items on the backorder report so put your order in today. Do not delay another minute. As always, I would be honored if you selected me as your demonstrator on your online order. You can find the online store through my Stampin’ Up! website (URL below).

Happy Holidays!  And see you next year.

Stamp on!  Sandy

PS: Check back on January 6th for news and updates regarding Sale-A-Bration and the release of the Occasions Catalog (formerly known as the Spring Catalog).

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Time to Start Thinking About Those Holiday Cards

The holidays are right around the corner, but I am not nearly ready to get started. I will tell you who is ready – my friend and neighbor – and our guest stamper today. I won’t reveal her name, but she will know that this post is all about her!

This Saturday was our regular stamp club, and we made birthday cards, thank you cards, and cards welcoming fall, but my friend wanted to dive right into holiday card making. She has been regularly searching and posting her finds on Pinterest and this Saturday was her opportunity to get down to business--some card making business.

Her first card is this adorable snowman card crafted from three circle punches on the right edge and topped with a whimsical hat. Check out that scarf too!

Now, her second card is a real work of art! The card uses designer series paper with holiday designs on both sides and the inside of the card opens with a reverse-fold insert and a window to the stamped holiday sentiment. Isn’t this cool!

I hope these cards helped put you on track to designing your holiday cards.  Thanks for visiting.

Stamp on!  Sandy

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Let Your Hair Down Stamp Set - Clean and Simple Birthday Card

I recently needed a birthday card that was ready to go in a jiffy.  I went straight for the Let Your Hair Down Hostess Stamp Set.  And, have you noticed that I am incorporating a lot of tags for the card fronts?  They really simplify the card-making process.  The new tag toppers – Scalloped Tag Topper Punch and Angled Tag Topper Punch – make it even easier, however, for this card, I created my own topper with an angle cut to both top edges of the rectangle piece of Bermuda Bay Card Stock to eliminate the ribbon slot.

I inked the namesake sentiment using Bermuda Bay Classic Ink, and cleared off the ink from the words “birthday” and “hair” with the corner of a baby wipe, re-inking those words using my Strawberry Slush Stampin’ Write Marker.  It is stamped on the Whisper White card stock, purposely lined up close to the right edge in order to punch the left side with the Spiral Border Edge Punch to give the appearance that the sentiment was ripped from a spiral notebook.

The Chevron ribbon piece is simply stapled to the top of the tag and the staple is hidden with a stack of butterflies, solid Bermuda Bay card stock punched with the Elegant Butterfly Punch, and the image from the Papillon Potpourri Stamp Set and punched with the Bitty Butterfly Punch.  A single Rhinestone in the center of the butterfly body was the finishing touch, but I took the picture before that happened.  Oopsy!.

The background is a 5” x 3 3/4” piece from the Confetti Celebration DSP – I love this fun DSP – and layered on a 5 1/4” x 4” piece of Bermuda Bay card stock.

If you are in need of exact measurements, please sign up to follow my blog and I’ll send the card recipe to you for free.  Or send your request to my email address.

Stamp On!  Sandy

Email:  sandee904@yahoo.com

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Polka Dot Pieces Stamp Set and Bird Builder Punch

After last month's club, I felt like we should get back to some old-fashion stamping.  I think you will like this one, especially the color scheme of 2014-16 Lost Lagoon, Calypso Coral, and Crumb Cake.

Polka Dot Pieces Stamp Set (AC p. 139) is a great combo stamp set that includes images that coordinates with Stampin' Up! punches, like several scallop circle punches, 1 3/4" and 1 1/4" (flowers, easy), the Elegant Butterfly Punch (makes butterflies, easy peasy), and the Bird Builder Punch (makes the bird, real cute too).

And the sentiment makes an awesome stem! (Sorry, Mrs. Hinni - my favorite English teacher - i. I had to start this sentence with an "and" because it needed it.)

The flower is built on a layer of Very Vanilla card stock, then a layer of Lost Lagoon card stock trimmed with the scalloped edge punch, a layer of Crumb Cake card stock trimmed with the scalloped edge punch, and adhered to a card base of Very Vanilla card stock, again, trimmed with the scalloped edge punch.  It is not very clear in this photograph, but with the front of the card trimmed with the scalloped edge punch, the inside of the card shows through and is trimmed with a piece of coordinating Flowerpot Designer Series Paper.

Finishing touch in the bottom right corner is the coordinating ribbon --- 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon in Lost Lagoon.

Let me know how you like this card.  If you need any of the supplies to make this card, I would appreciate it if you would select me as your Stampin' Up! demonstrator.  Visit my online store at sandee904.stampinup.net.

Sandy

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St. Louis Cards and Stamping Definitely Go Together

Wow, I can't believe it has been more than 2 months since the last time I posted!! Sorry for the delay.  It has been really busy, but 2 months?  Anyway...

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This month’s club card is a tribute to my favorite baseball team – St. Louis Cardinals.  Go Cards!!

Converted this regular, but really cute bird from Stampin’ Up! bird builder punch, into my favorite red bird.  I think you will see that I snipped a piece from a second punch of the wing in Real Red Card Stock for the tuft of feathers on his head, and a couple of separate punches of the tail feathers for fluffier tail.

The fence is made from strips of Whisper White Card Stock.  I ran it through the Big Shot using the wood grain embossing folder to give it that real wood, whitewash look.

The birdhouse on top of the fence post is made from a small, rectangle piece of Whisper White Card Stock, with scraps leftover from the fence for the roof and the door is the new itty bitty heart punch.


Looks good.

Stamp On!  Sandy

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Happy Mother's Day - My Mother Stamp Set

April Stamp Club was reserved for making Mother’s Day cards. I had already posted the card my sister Cindy designed back in February using the My Mother Stamp Set for the Spring Catalog. I think you will remember it – she used the masking tape technique for adding the splashes of color. I put together packets for making her card. Beautiful.

I created a separate Mother’s Day card using the same stamp set. It is a top-fold card with a diagonal cut on the front to showcase the insert – a sheet from the Fresh Prints Designer Series Paper Stack (also available in the Spring Catalog); trimmed using the Scallops Framelit. Trim the DSP piece 1/4+” (which means, mathematically, a “smidge” more) to just fit within the 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" frame of the base card and adhere the scrap piece you have just created for the left edge of the card, trimming the excess for a perfect fit. Also, I punched 2 scallop circles in Pool Party and Real Red to separate the totally awesome flower made with the new Spiral Flower Originals Die (seriously, you need to buy this – AND the Fringe Scissors!). And, there are a couple of sprigs from the Bird Builder Punch. I hope you like this card; it was fun to make.

Oh, and the paperclip was created using another another piece of the scrap, wrapped around the top end of the clip and (hard to see) snipped with a flag trim on the end.

Couple of points I wanted to make once you see the picture.  1) The color is totally off in this picture.  It looks like the base card could be a gray, or even white, but it was Pool Party to coordinate with the DSP.  2) I added a "tail" to the back of the card in order for it to "stand" on its own.

We also made some birthday cards with the Happy Watercolor Stamp Set, Springtime Hello Stamp Set and Vivid Vases Stamp. There was something for everyone!

Stamp On!  Sandy

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Petal Parade Stamp Set and Sweet Sorbet DSP

This month’s club card was a rocket-fast card made with a wide slip of Designer Series Paper (DSP) from the Sweet Sorbet DSP (offered in the Sale-A-Bration catalog), a couple of die cuts and punches, a flower image from the Petal Parade stamp set (also found in the Sale-A-Bration catalog), and sentiment from Itty Bitty Banners.

At first I was not in love with the Petal Parade Stamp Set offered by Stampin’ Up! as one of several free product with every $50 purchase. I think you will agree that this is going to make a swell addition to your collection of stamp sets like everything else by Stampin’ Up! The best part, of course, is the coordination of stamp sets to DSP or die cuts, and this stamp set coordinates with another free product in the Sale-A-Bration catalog, Sweet Sorbet DSP. Delicate colors that will complement your spring projects using the 2013-15 In Colors (Crisp Cantaloupe and Pistachio Pudding), 2012-14 In Colors (Summer Starfruit), and everyone’s staple, Pool Party from the Subtles Collection.

Behind the stamped flower image you will recognize the Blossom Punch. The flower image is cut out using the Circles Collection Framelit (#4, I believe), and centered on a complete punch of Crisp Cantaloupe with the Blossom Punch. The second Blossom Punch of Summer Starfruit cut into 6 pieces and centered between each petal of the first flower. Finished with Pistachio Pudding leaves on stems using the Bird Builder Punch.

If you need dimensions or detailed instructions, let me know, and I’d be happy to send them out to you. Send an email or message me below.

It is unfortunate that Sale-A-Bration ends tomorrow, March 31, but all good things must come to an end, right! Still time to place an order. Please visit my online store – the quickest way to get there is to go to my Stampin’ Up! webpage and click the link to SHOP NOW. This way you can be sure that I am selected as your demonstrator. I certainly appreciate your order. And I appreciate your comments, too! Please leave me your comments. Let me know what you would be interested in seeing more of, less of, anything.

Also still time to join my Stampin’ Up! team for $99 during Sale-A-Bration (thru March 31, 2104). YOU will select $150 worth of product for your starter kit, and can start earning your product, learning some great craft ideas, and meeting some great people that turn into great friends!

Stamp On!  Sandy

Email: sandee904@yahoo.com
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Luck of the Irish to Ya

Just a short note to wish everyone a happy St. Patrick’s Day! Since it is less than a week away, I was thinking that we should include a quick and easy card to celebrate the day.

I LUV the new Decorative Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  It makes a great background on this card.

The tag from Chalk Talk Framelits die cuts makes it easy to draw your focus to the shamrock made from 4 small hearts (small heart punch) out of 2012-14 In Color Gumball Green.

If you are celebrating the Feast of Saint Patrick next Monday, enjoy and be safe.

Stamp on!  Sandy O'

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Sketched Birthday - FMS125

This weekend was busy, busy, busy.  Went to my dear friend Audrey’s bridal shower on Sunday.  It was fabulous.  I hope yours was excellent.  Now down to business.

Today I am posting to enter this card into the Freshly Made Sketches Card Challenge, here’s my entry.

And here's the sketch...

At first glance, this sketch looks like it will be simple to pull off.  However, to get the large background layer (whether simple CS or DSP), to coordinate with the embellishment in the left corner was not easy. 

This week is my brother-in-law Glenn’s birthday so he should NOT be reading my blog today or he will have an early glimpse of his birthday card. After I was done, I thought maybe I should not have used Smoky Slate card stock and DSP since he lives in Pennsylvania.  I hope this brings a smile.

Stamp on!  Sandy

My Mother Stamp Set

Just a quick update today. Now don't freak out because Mother's Day is not until May, but I wanted to share this adorable, clean and simple card my sister, Cindy, made using the masking tape technique to add splashes of color. Just beautiful, Sis.

If you live in the Kansas City, Missouri area, you should look her up and join her stamp club. They meet once a month on Fridays (sorry, I don't know her exact schedule).

My stamp club meets the 3d Saturday of the month.  See you on March 15th.  

Stamp on!  Sandy


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Friendship? Yes, please. From My Heart Stamp Set

Charles Dickens.  Stampin' Up! has collected several beautiful sayings in a stamp set called From My Heart (Annual Catalog, p. 99). This month, instead of the normal Valentine's colors of pink and red, we will step outside of the box and use orange and blue (Tangerine Tango and Tempting Turquoise). The card will be featuring Mr. Dickens' quote complemented by the Gorgeous Grunge stamp set (p. 109). The splatters of blue give the card an eclectic feel, or shabby chic as they say.

I bought the White Tea Lace Paper Doilies (item #129399) several months ago, but hadn't quite found the right card for it. I think the paper doilies can really make a shabby chic card! I wasn't happy with plain white so I sponged with Tempting Turquoise ink and I think it truly makes the card pop now.

If you need dimensions or detailed instructions, please send me an email and I'll email a pdf to you.

Don't forget that Sale-A-Bration runs through March 31. This is a great time to hold a party or make an individual purchase since for every $50 you spend, you can select a FREE item from the brochure that is not yet available in current catalogs or online. If your party sales reach $300 or more, in addition to the $50 in hostess dollars, you will receive an additional $30 in hostess dollars. That is $80 in FREE product! Click the link to the right to view the brochure.

If you join my Stampin' Up! team for $99 during Sale-A-Bration (thru March 31, 2014), YOU will select $150 worth of product for your starter kit, and can start earning your product, learning some great craft ideas, and meeting some great people that turn into great FRIENDS!

Stamp on!

Sandy

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Stampin' Up! Sale-A-Bration is Underway...

Once again it is time for Stampin' Up!'s BIGGEST sale of the year. For every $50 you spend, you will receive a free Sale-A-Bration gift.  You can find a link to the brochure when you shop at my online store at sandee904.stampinup.net, or you can click the image to the right.

Now I don't want to sound like there is any rush, but please hurry and book your party right away so I can make sure that everyone has the opportunity to get in on the BIGGEST sale of the year. Plus, if your party sales reach $300 or more, in addition to the $50 in hostess dollars, you will receive an additional $30 in hostess dollars. That is $80 in free product.

I know some of you regularly spend an average of $75 an order. If you join my Stampin' Up! team for $99 during Sale-A-Bration (thru March 31, 2014), YOU will select $150 worth of product for your starter kit, and you can start earning your product, learning some great craft ideas, and meeting some great people that turn into great friends!

Please contact me to learn more details.

Stamp On!

Sandy

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Happy New Year and Welcome Back...Hearts A Flutter Stamp Set and Coordinating Framelits Die Cut Collection

Hello, Stampers!  Finally getting things back to “normal” since the holidays. I can’t believe how busy things got there – complicated by the short time between Thanksgiving and the holidays. I just noticed that I never got around to posting a photo of my holiday cards and tags.

 This weekend was the first stamp club of the new year. Great to see everyone! Since there won’t be time to hold another workshop before Valentine’s day, that’s where we got started! Of course, there were loads of hearts stamped, punched, die cut and snipped, but I found fun in making the “love” die cut from Stampin’ Up’s Expressions thinlits die cut collection the focus of the card.

The large heart (from Hearts a Flutter Stamp Set and Framelits Die Cut collection) is cut from Pirouette Pink and stamped with In Color Strawberry Slush. I “found” the arrow just lying there in the “scrap” pile from punching multiple flags (extended flag right behind the large heart) one after another on a strip of Basic Gray. I LUV when that happens! From the right of the flag, it looks like hearts are shooting out in rapid succession, right? Second sample uses Marina Mist and Basic Gray for those non-traditional valentine’s day greetings.

As you know my sister, Cindy, is also a Stampin’ Up demonstrator. Since we don’t live close to each other, this year we are swapping our club cards for fun. I can’t wait to send her the January workshop card, and can’t wait to receive hers from this upcoming weekend.

I am thinking about participating in this week’s clean and simple challenge from The Paper Players (PPA179). It is a one-layer valentine card. If I have time yet today, I will finish it and get it posted right away.

I added a link to the recently released 2014 Occasions Catalog.  Take a moment to look through it.  Chock full of awesome new product, projects, and ideas.

Finally, I wanted to point out that Sale-A-Bration begins next week, January 28. This year Stampin’ Up! created six bundles of product (discounted and total right at or above $50); perfect to earn a Sale-A-Bration freebie. Please contact me ASAP to set your workshop date to get in on the great products available during this awesome sale. I need your help to meet my goal of reaching out to 100 new Stampin’ Up! “lovers”. Thank you all for your support and being my cheerleaders.

Stamp On!

Sandy