Sheltering Tree Stamp Set for FMS182

In my last post, I mentioned that we would be using the Sheltering Tree Stamp Set from the Stampin’ Up! 2015 Occasions Catalog and the Scallop Tag Topper Punch for this month’s club card. Well, it has been a busy month for me and by Friday night I still hadn’t gotten my act together for club on Saturday. I needed some inspiration! Once I saw the sketch challenge from Freshly Made Sketches – “EUREKA!” I knew that was it. Try as I might, I was unable to incorporate the Scallop Tag Topper Punch into the sketch. (Never fear, it will return because you know I love cards with tags!!) Now, back to business.

Rita, a member of the design team at Freshly Made Sketches, has come up with a beautiful “clean-lined” design. Here it is…

Now here’s my card...

The Sheltered Tree stamp set I am using is a photopolymer set which allowed for some “reverse image” stamping. What is “reverse image” stamping you say? Well, just that – reverse the image! Adhere the detailed image side of the stamp to the clear block and ink the flat side, or the reverse side of the stamp, which created this wonderfully full-blooming tree effect (affectionately nicknamed the blob effect at club). I used 2013-15 In Color Pistachio Pudding (really going to hate to see this color retire in June!) for the full bloom effect. Clean the stamp and adhere the flat side of the image to a clear block and ink the intended leaf image in Old Olive. Line it up with the “blob” and stamp. Turned out nicely. The color for the tree trunk is 2013-15 In Color Baked Brown Sugar (pause for sadness to fade again). The tree swing and bicycle is stamped in Early Espresso. The bicycle frame is stamped in Night of Navy.

I decided to use the stamp set’s signature sentiment, “Friendship is a sheltering tree.” I love the sentiment, and really love the font! To keep to the design of the sketch challenge, I masked the sentiment and inked in Baked Brown Sugar the word “friendship.” Although it is hard to see, the word is cut out using the smallest banner die cut, some quick sponging of Baked Brown Sugar around the edges, and affixed to the right side of the card just below the swing. The bow is created with 3 loops using the Crisp Cantaloupe Thick Baker’s Twine. In this picture it hides the “flag” portion of the banner. Reversing the banner so that the flag pointed left instead of right would be a better choice.

To finish the card, I layered on slightly larger Pistachio Pudding card stock, layered again on Whisper White card stock (trimmed with a row of circles from the Painted Petals stamp set — my favorite Stampin’ Up! stamp set), and adhered to a Pistachio Pudding card stock base of 51/2 x 4 1/4.

If you would like specific dimensions and instructions to create your own card, please e-mail me and I will be happy to share them with you. And if you don’t already have a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator, it would be my honor if you selected me to help you in your future creations!

Stamp on!

Sandy

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You Plus Me Stamp Set for Valentine’s Day Reboot 2.0

It’s Saturday morning. So far so good with my second promise to blog more regularly; and my promise last weekend to share a second card for Valentine’s day using Stampin’ Up! You Plus Me stamp set.

This one is really simple to make. (Although last week’s card was simple, it may have been a little more complicated than it looked because the string of teeny tiny hearts can be rascals to glue back to back!) Besides purchasing the You Plus Me stamp set, you will need: Whisper White card stock (CS) base (5 ½ by 8 ½, scored at 4 ¼), Whisper White CS for the sentiment (approx. 2x3 and die cut from Chalk Talk Framelit), Real Red Classic Ink, a 2” strip of the XO paper from the Stacked with Love Designer Series Paper Stack, 5” Real Red ¼” Cotton Ribbon, and Red Glimmer Paper punched using the new Sweetheart Punch.

Quick Tip #1 – It’s all in the details! When cutting the 2” strip of the XO paper, don’t worry about it being exactly 2”, but it must be at least 11 rows of XO or the “white” of this card will take over.  I love my Stampin’ Trimmer because it makes cutting paper precisely so easy. If you don’t have a Stampin’ Trimmer, KNOW your paper cutter. Instead of 11 rows, I wanted the cut to run through the center of the XO row. Just remember whichever way you decide to cut, this strip of paper needs to be at least 2” or else the white on white will take over the card.

Quick Tip #2 – I find it is easier to ink and stamp the You’re Sweet sentiment first and run through the Big Shot second, but if you prefer to line up the sentiment after it is cut that’s okay. The next part is really the trickiest part, cutting the slit on both ends to string the ribbon (ribbon runs behind the sentiment). The sentiment barely fits this shape but this is the shape I wanted, and the look I wanted.  If you want to eliminate the slits from the sentiment layer, I would add Real Red candy dots to both ends of the sentiment, and adhere the sentiment on top of the ribbon with Stampin’ Dimensionals. This will help with the “white” taking over the card.

I hope this inspires you to get out your supplies and start stamping your Valentine a card this weekend!  Remember Valentine’s Day is next weekend!

Stamp on!  Sandy

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You Plus Me Stamp Set for Valentine’s Day

Here it is the first day of February and this is my first post of 2015. Already second guessing that new year’s resolution to be more committed to keeping everyone updated with my blog! Leave me a comment and let me know your paper crafting interests.

January club was held on Saturday the 17th. It was so good to see everyone and hear about their holidays.  We have a new club member, a recent transplant to the area who found us through Stampin’ Up. She is tried and true Stampin’ Up! She is a great addition to our group.

In addition to birthday cards, our focus was on Valentine’s day cards since February club falls on the Saturday after Valentine’s day. Here’s a picture of one of the two Valentine’s day cards we made.

The card is really simple to make. You will notice that we cut off the right side of the front of the card to showcase the white hearts on black designer paper from Stacked with Love Designer Series Paper Stack. The three (3) hearts strategically aligned along this “shortened” front are created from a truly handmade DSP using the Stripes Mask and punched with the Sweetheart Punch. In creating the DSP, I used the aqua painter and Crisp Cantaloupe Reinker on Whisper White cardstock, carefully turning the Stripes Mask to create the gingham look. (Everyone should write Stampin’ Up! to tell them to never retire the Stripes Mask. I LOVE IT! And you will too.)

The “Be Mine” sentiment is from the You Plus Me Stamp Set, I broke up the sentiment on two hearts punched from the smallest heart die in the Hearts Collection, and the tail of hearts are from the “scraps” of the handmade gingham DSP punched with the small heart in the Itty Bitty Punch Pak linked using Linen Thread, with small pieces of Linen Thread tied in a simple knot between each. I don’t think you can tell from the photo, but the Linen Thread is run between two hearts back-to-back using simply Snail Adhesive (I didn’t want to deal with excess glue on the small hearts).

Just a couple of strips of coordinating Stacked with Love Designer Washi Tape for the finishing touch.

I will share another Valentine’s day card soon so that you have a couple of options.

Stamp on!  Sandy

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