Still more no layer challenge cards

These cards use retired sets of Best blossoms and Polka Dot Posies, and then the current set Eat Cake. Fast, fast, fast cards to make and very pretty. With these I filled up the white space more.

breast cancer cards

Here a few cancer specific cards I made for raising funds for Race for the Cure--this month's charity challenge.

April newsletter card challenge #2 sample and directions

Here are the directions for a cute interactive card (well it is interactive in the unfolding). Here is what you need:

Paper cutter with scoring blad, stamps, ink, ribbon, adhesive. cardstock for the base cut 3 1/2 x 10 1/2
patterned paper 3 1/4 square
cardstock for main image 2x2
cardstock for main image layers 2 1/4 and 2 1/2 square
optional cardstock for inside:3 1/4 square of solid color and 3" square of white or neutral.

Directions:
score your base cards stock (3 1/2 by 10 1/2) at 3 1/2 and 7 inches. Now you have 3 equal scored squares on your cardstock. Add a diagonal score to each outside square. The diagonal scores should go in the same direction.
Prefold your scored lines. First fold the left square in, then the triangle down. Next fold the right square in, then the triangle up.
Take your patterend paper square and cut it in half diagonally. Adhere it to the top right and bottom left triangle on the outer scored squares of your main card.
If wanted, add an extra layer in the middle of the card.
Fold your card up and tie it shut with ribbon.
Stamp your main image and add additional cardstock layers if needed.
Add adhesive diagonally only on half of the back of your main image. If you add adhesive to the entire piece, your trifold will be taped shut. Adhere your center image to your trifold card.

You can try different sizes like a 4 x 12" cardbase scored at 4 and 8".

Try this. Once you play with it, it is soo easy and they are fun. Use them for pictures to announce a new baby. Make them into an invitation. Keep watching the blog for more demos on this and more samples.

target birthday card

This is a birthday card I made for a party my sons are going to tomorrow. The birthday boy loves to shop at Target, so we got him a gift card and this is how I "packaged" it up. I thought it was fun. Got the general idea for using the flower centers from Polka Dot Posies off of Splitcoaststampers. Love those ladies on there. Enjoy. This card was pretty fun and easy to make.

Specs: wheel thing, eat cake, and polka dot posies stamps
red and black inks
white, red, and black papers, 3 /4 circle punch for the punched out spot that is framed with black. This little accent actually holds the card closed by adhering it with a stampin' dimensional on the right side of the dot.

More April Card Challenge #1 samples

more single layer cards.

April newsletter card challenge #1 samples

In my April newsletter to my customers, I gave them two card sketch challenges. This is the first one, using no cut layers for your card. Your challenge is to make a card out of one piece of cardstock and no layers. You use stamps, inks, chalks, markers, glitter, greetings, ribbons, or some small punch outs to decorate your card front. For a lot of us, this is a challenge. Your card can be made from white cardstock, or some other neutral color, or really even any color and stamp with black, brown, or white. You all have fun with this challenge and see what you come up with and how quickly you can knock out a bunch of cards in a short amount of time.

I am working with some ladies to make cards to sell for Race for the Cure and I decided this would be a good card sketch to use to make some quickly and in volume.

Punchy bunny bag

Okay, this is totally not my best effort, but it getting late, and I just wanted to post this idea. I have so much going on right now, I am lucky to get this done and on here at all. This bunny uses all punches: 1 3/8, 1/2 , 1/4, and double circle punches, large and small ovals, and 1 /4 square punch. Use liquid adhesive or 2 way glue for this one, girls.

Thanks for looking. Any questions, email me.

Easter punch fun

I found this card on a wonderfully talented demonstrator's blog page. Her name is Cambria Turnbow, and I love her stuff. She loves punches, and it's no wonder she made this card. It uses a lot of punches, but it also showcases the wonderful products in the March special bundle from Stampin' Up!. I hope you like it.
By the way, all the ladies who ordered the March special will get this with their goodies that come on Thursday. It's not too late to order yours.


Specs:
Card base: regal rose and 4 1/4 x 4 1/4
Folded layer: cool caribbean 4x 7 1/2 scored at 4 (wheel with petals wheel in white craft in on the 4" side)
Other layers: so saffron 2 1/4 x 2 1/4, white 2 x 2, petals and paisley designer paper 5/8 x 4.
Punches: round tab for basket, large and small oval for the handle (punch small first and then center large on top, small oval for eggs, round tab for rim of basket, slit punch for tab to hold card closed, 1/2 circle for tab, and so saffron brad.
Stamps: Polka dots and paisley, petals wheel, everyday flexible phrases

baby shower invites

Here are two baby shower invites I am working on for a shower I am helping to give for a friend of mine. Well I made 50 of these this weekend for the shower. I made them all like the first one you see with the printed paper. I am an insane person, but knocking them out assembly line style was really very helpful. I did one step at a time, and got them done. As I was stamping and watercoloring with my boys, I got to hear Nathan make up all kinds of wonderfully imaginative stories to go with his drawings of Neverland and Peter Pan. As you can tell, he is totally addicted to that movie right now. He puts on his Peter Pan costume every day and doesn't take it off until bedtime and declares "I am going to wear that in the morning, Mom.". Sure enough, that is the first thing he does after visiting the bathroom when he wakes up. So cute. Well worth the money spent in my view.


Specs:
stamps: swell news, riveting
inks: black, bashful blue
paper: so saffron, sarah paper, white, kraft
accessories: watercolor crayons, punches, ribbons

peter pan legos

Nathan has done it again. He and I made this Peter Pan out of Legos this morning. I only started the thing by putting together some brown for the pants and some green for a shirt, and Nathan took it apart and put in all the details, and gave him arms, neck, head, hat, feather, etc. He is so creative and just figures out how to make things look right. I couldn't do it.

Shelli Gardner and Me

When I went to the Atlanta Regionals, Shelli Gardner, the founder and CEO of Stampin ' UP! was there to help with the training. She is soo awesome and sweet. She loves to stamp and is very uplifting to hear and appreciative of all us demonstrators. She even gets up on stage and stamps something for us. She is so down to earth and fun. Anyway, I got my picture taken with her and wanted to share it with you.

Atlanta Regionals samples

I went to the Stampin' Up! Atlanta regionals training seminar on March 10th and had a totally fabulous time. These events always get you excited about stamping and remind you why you got into the craft, and joined the Stampin' Up! family in the first place. I really love this company and the awesome support and wonderful training they give us. It's like one big happy family. The coolest thing is that even if you go to the events alone, like I did, more than likely you get treated by family by a total stranger who is there too. I met a lady on the MARTA who was going to the regional too and she invited me to sit with her and her sister in-law and it was such a wonderful time. They were very sweet. So here are the projects we did using a brand new set that will be in the 2007-2008 Idea book and catalog that will be released July 1st. I am already getting so excited about this. THe set is called Double Line Doodles and is very cute. These samples really don't do it justice.
We also made another card and 12x12 scrapbook page that I didn't finish, but will post when I do.

Eggy thank you

I made this for a dear couple at our church who have a farm with pasture raised chickens and bring eggs to those of us who want them. They are huge eggs, and my boys got a kick out of seeing so many of them with double yolks. And of course they are brown eggs, so that was new to them too. We used 6 of them for a casual Sunday "dinner".

Specs: marigold morning, basic black and white papers
Best of cluck stamp set, and circle punches.

Spring and Summer Pampered Chef cards

Some more Pampered Chef cards for some of my friends. These showcase PC's new Spring and Summer colors. I thought they were pretty.

a sweet card from my mom

My mom is so creative with cards using elements I don't usually play with. She loves patterned papers and wonderful 3-d embellishments. This is a card she made for Scott and I for an early anniversary gift. I think it is beautiful and wanted to share it.

Wow! Punch mania... you have to check this out

I know I would never have time to compile my own display of all the amazing and awesome things you can do with Stampin' UP!'s amazing circle, round tab, word window, and oval punches, so I want to share someone else's samples of these cool things. You have to check this out. Copy this link and put it in your browser window and be ready to be amazed. You'll want all of these if you don't already have them. It is sooo cool.
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=69969

Just thought I would share.

Going green for St. Patrick's day

Here is my token green card for St. Patrick's day. Actually I usually try to make one as my brother in law's birthday is on St. Patrick's day. I bet he really gets tired of green cards, but I saw this one on Splitcoast and loved it. It is by Michelle Fischer and she is sooo talented. All the elements on her cards are so great. So here it is.

Some gift bags out of Petals and Paisleys

I made these gift bags tonight after being inspired by a fellow demonstrator at the Atlanta Regionals. The little square tote was her workshop wow! she presented. I think it is sweet. It is a 4x 8 1/2 piece of designer series paper scored at 3 1/2 and 5. You punch the handle with the word window punch and put a medium cello bag inside with treats. Very easy and sweet.

Specs: petals and paisley paper, prima flowers, silver brads, word window punch, grosgrain ribbons, and polka dot and paisley stamp set for the Happy.

The circle tote is an idea I got from Michelle Fisher on Splitcoast. She is soooo creative and talented. While the idea is hers, the design on this is mine. Again use a pot lid or other circle object and cut out two circles with the bottoms cut off out of the designer series paper or cardstock which you can wheel or cover with DS paper. You use a small lunch sack inside for the bag part to put a gift in. I wheeled the tissue paper with the Petals wheel.

Specs: petals and paisley paper, old olive strip stamped with polka dot and paisley background, petals wheel, saffron and taken with teal inks, round tab punch, "sweet" sticker from Little Reminders accents and elements tin, flower punch, large oval punch, and round tag punch (I can't remember the name for this punch right off hand), brads.

cowboy birthday invite

I made this invitation for a friend of mine whose son is into cowboys lately. This is the sample I made to see what she thinks. I think if she likes it, I will put less star eyelets, as I think this is too many.

Cowboy kid stamp set was from last Summer's mini catalog and is no longer available. I had to borrow this from another demonstrator and have to send it back.

polka dot and paisley gets holiday styles

I couldn't sleep last night, a problem I have been having a lot lately since I have been trying to come up with ideas on my own for stamping, and thought of this card. See this set even works for the holidays and goes great with the Big Deal alphabet. The other card is a spring variation that would work for Easter.

Specs:
old olive paper, and then petals paper on spring card
inks: craft inks, red marker
special accessories: embossing powder for letters, and paisley's to color them in.

Polka dot and paisley pouch box

Here is an old template that I had that I thought would look great with these wonderful bright and cheery new Petals paper. Great container for Easter goodies, or a small gift, or just a fun interactive card. I can mail you directions if you want them. Just email me.

Specs:
Paper: petals, white
Inks: old olive, tempt. turquoise, regal rose, so saffron
Accessories: spiral punch, tag corner punch, ribbons
Stamps: polka dots and paisley

More polka dot and paisley samples

I can't take credit for these cards. They were designs shared by Melissa Ellis and the Inky Angels at a demo meeting last night. I took pictures of them and then recreated them at home. I am getting frustrated with my cards this late in the evening as some elements are not lining up right (moss, brown and saffron card). Sorry for the crooked pieces. It's getting too late and I am rushing to get these samples done for you to see. I'll post directions tomorrow. Thanks.

Polka Dot and Paisley samples

Here are a few samples I created tonight. These are my own designs (it's a miracle), but I did get inspiration from a few places.
Here's the info.
Cool Caribbean card:
Paper: Cool Caribbean (3x6), Petals and Paisley DS for flower and leaves
Inks: old olive, cool caribbean
Accessories: white gel pen, pewter hodgepodge hardware, flower punch, twill tape

So Saffron Card:
Paper: so saffron, tempting turquoise, old olive, white, petals and paisley ds paper
Inks: old olive and so saffron
Accessories: ticket corner punch, petals wheel

Polka Dot and Paisley monochromatic card

Here is a card I saw demonstrated at a local demo meeting. I keep forgetting to keep things simple and how pretty simple can be. This card is one of our long note cards. They are a unique size and kind of fun.
Paper: cool caribbean long note card (cut 2" off one end and use this for the paisley images)
Ink: tempting turquoise
Accessories: spongeing on edges, white gel pen, 2 way glue and dazzling diamonds glitter.
Note: for the sponging on the paisley pieces, simple tap the sponge on the ink pad and then flick it across the edges of the piece. It gives a very subtle shading. On the Happy part, mask with copy paper to stamp the "happy" and then sponge. For the leaves on the flower, you will use the brush tip of the turquoise marker and just dab the leaves on (works great for rain drops, dew, and tears).
Also I learned that really we shouldn't be sending beautiful cards without making the envelopes beautiful as well, (no naked envelopes), so I quickly dressed this up with a torn piece of copy paper that I laid over the body of the envelope, sponged on the right side of the envelope and stamped the paisley.

Notations Office Note Holder

Whew!!! I finally got this project done. I have been sitting on this idea for over a week now and just did get it done. I had so many ideas going through my head for this one, that it took me that long to just sit down and finally tackle it and do something. Ugh! I hate it when that happens. I was also thinking about entering Stampin' Up!'s annual Artisan Awards contest and thought this might be a good thing to send in as one of the entries. I was stressing myself out with the pressure of competing with so many talented demonstrators who post their work on Splitcoast and who win the monthly art contests the SU! does. So I decided I didn't need the pressure of creating 5 cards, 3 scrapbook pages, and 2 3-d items in just a month's time since they have to be sent in by March 30th. I think I will just start working on things for next year's contest. Space out the pressure and work on my personal creativity instead of always copying things I see.
After saying all this, I think this turned out pretty cute. I covered a wooden frame that my boys made in November at the Home Depot kids workshop. They were perfect for this project.
Okay here are the details:
1. trimmed a thick cork board piece to go on the inside (you can get a pack of 4 at Wal-Mart).
2. painted the edges on the inside of the frame and around the outside with acrylic paint
3. trimmed thin cork board for the sides and adhered with wood glue. Very important to use wood glue, as modge podge won't stick the cord down. Too thin.
4. then I used various elements from the Notations paper and the Little Reminders Accents and Elements tin.
5. Finally I shadow stamped the words on the Memo piece with the Polka Dots and Paisley set. This was totally an accident as I first planned on just stamping with white ink and it didn't show up very dark at all. Then I overstamped in Cool caribbean. I wouldn't be able to line that up right again if I tried.
6. I adhered the bulldog clips on the bottom using large flat thumbtacks. I adhered a piece of twill tape on the back of the frame for hanging with the same thumbtacks.
Now I have a little message center to hang on the wall to post notes, card sketch ideas, things to do, and cards. Cool!!
I have another one I am working on that I covered in paper, with just cork in the middle. Oh, and you can use the brads as push pins in the middle too!!
What do you all think? You can leave a comment. Oh and you can see it better by clicking on the picture. Happy stamping.