Paper Craft Planet

Have you heard about the newest planet in the solar system?  Of course, you have...I have been blogging about for a few days.  

It’s called "Paper Craft Planet" and all the inhabitants are just like you…devoted lovers of all things papercraft-related. Paper Craft Planet is an online community for papercrafters that is filled with many familiar faces and a stellar amount of inspiration where we share tutorials, videos, photos, and links to all things paper crafting! Susanna Boyd, of Card-of-the-week.com fame began this awesome site, and the community is growing!  If you don't have as much time as you'd like to check blogs you will appreciate seeing a kind of "Best of/Cool Things" posted all in one spot!  I've been SO honored to have several of my projects recognized on her  "Tutorial" and "Shout Out" Lists these past several months, so I was just thrilled when Susanna asked me to join the Papercraft Planet Design Team!! YAY!!! I am really looking forward to getting to know and working all the other talented designers.  So, why not stop by for a lot of fun, weekly challenges, PRIZES, an awesome gallery, tutorials, videos, and a budding design team as we share this craft we all love. Just click on the planet above to be transported to a crafty place that's out of this world!

NOW!!! It's been since Tanner's birthday that I've given away any candy: join PaperCraft Planet today* (Tell 'em Kim sent ya! ;) and let me know here, you'll be entered for a chance to win the CTMH "D" sized stamp set Say It Style And there are MORE ways to earn more chances, each way will get you one entry:

1) link this post on your blog and let others know about the community and the candy! (and leave a comment here letting me know with your link)

2)Email me for code to add the cute little "PaperCraft Planet" member Logo to your blog!

3) Upload pics of your projects after joining to help grow the gallery! (Email me at stampfest@cox.net and let me to know check out your artwork in the gallery.)

Winner of the candy announced here Monday 11/10! Our first official sketch challenge, hosted by Susanna, will be posted this Saturday 11/8, I hope everyone will come out to play!

*already a member?  Just let me know in the comment section, and you'll be entered!

Happy Stamping!

My Creations Memory Keeper

I totally forgot to share this awesome new product CTMH has in their Autumn/Winter Idea Book.  These boxes are great for storing pictures.  In addition, they are awesome for gifts.  The possibilities are endless...baby, wedding, valentine, teacher....

The sturdy white material is stampable with hinged corners and the front strip is magnetic.  I covered mine with Perfect Day Level 2 paper pack and used the Perfect Day My Stickease with some bling and pop dots.  The flourishes on the left side are CTMH's new chocolate rub-ons from the Nature's Ambiance collection.  The other embellishments are cocoa ribbon and a creme brulee bigger brad.

In this view you can see the side of the memory keeper.  You can decorate the entire box like I did or just decorate the top.  If you want to go the extra mile, you can even decorate the inside.

Another great feature of this box is that it holds CTMH's 9 x 9 accordion-style albums.  Here is an album I made a while ago with our family photo on the front.  You can decorate these for yourself or for someone else.  The accordian album would be an added bonus.  Great gift idea for the Holidays.

I have another fun weekend planned.  I am meeting my sister in Des Moines, IA for an all day crop on Saturday.  On Sunday, I will be holding a distressing workshop at her house.  A weekend full of stamping.  I have the best CAREERS ever...wife, mother, stamper!

If you haven't checked out Paper Craft Planet, see the icon on my sidebar and click.  It will take you there.  The artwork is so inspiring!  It is from all the members who join.  You can add your artwork too.  This paper online community is in the infancy stage and I have the privilege of being one of the design team members for this great site!  We have great things in store for you, so join and visit often so you don't miss out!

Have a great weekend!

Happy Stamping!

Tutorial Time - Mummy Candy Bar

I made these last year for some teachers and they loved them, so I decided to make them again.  ENJOY!

Materials used:

White Daisy paper - 7 strips (1 - 1 1/2 x 6, 6 - 1 1/4 x 6)  

Black cardstock

Desert sand ink

punches - 3/4", 1/2", 1/4"

stamp sets - Spooky Delights (retired), Trick or Treaters (retired)

Oh!  This is my last video with music to match my theme.  I have found out I need to use royalty free music in my videos.  Bummer!

Happy Stamping!

celebrate Thanksgiving

I have a workshop in November and the hostess (Hi Tammy!) wanted to do something with a turkey.  At first we talked about a card, but I decided a one-page layout would be better.  Of course, I am a double-page layout person, so I had to make a second page for me.  I haven't put pictures on it yet, because I want to have an incentive to take pictures this year.  I am really bad about taking pics on Thanksgiving Day.  I don't know why, but now I have a layout ready.

I used the Reflections Scrapbook Program from CTMH for the layout ideas.  These page ideas are on page 17, Title Topper - Heading and page 40, Sidebar - Original.  I used six techniques on this layout.  Check out the products listing below for them.

Page one

Page two

All products used CTMH: paper - Abundance Level 2 (retiring 2008), cocoa cs, goldrush cs, autumn terracotta cs, new england ivy cs, white daisy cs; stamp sets - Homestead Alphabet, Card Commentary, Harvest Memories (retiring 2008), Thanksgiving Day; ink - cocoa, autumn terracotta, goldrush, new england ivy; embellishments - autumn terrcotta photo clips, bigger brads and large spirals; techniques - edge distressing, dry embossing, crumble/crinkle, sanding, stamp rolling, direct paper.

Hey, you need to check out this paper craft site Paper Craft Planet.  It is a new online community that is full of ideas.  It is just starting, so you need to join soon.  You will be part of the best online community.  Join now!

Happy Stamping!

Get Well Thermometer

I got to play with my new Molly Stamps last Saturday and this is the first card I made that day.  I must confess...the thermometer was my hubby's idea.  My idea was to put the window charm over the face to make it like the bottom of a thermometer.  I told him this was a great idea and he says, "Of course, I have been making cards longer than you."  He has, so he got me there.  He has made me cards since we were started dating (13 years ago) and has continued even though we got married (nine years ago next month).  You know, sometimes things like that stop.  I should show you some cards he has made me sometime.  

Back to this stamp set....Today's Forecast.  It is so fun to work with and you can find the complete set here at Molly Stamps.  There are six faces to play with and many, many words.

Here is a close-up of the thermometer.  You can see I used the words Sick and Run down on my topiary strips of paper.  The window charm was not as easy as I thought it would be.  The window charm was too big, so I had to cut it.  Yes, cut it.  How did I do that?  Well, first I kept it on the plastic it is adhered to in the package.  I placed it over the face image and traced around it with a sharpie marker.  Then I took my Tim Holtz scissors and cut the window charm.  I couldn't believe how well the scissors worked.  Once I had it cut, I sanded the edges with coarse sanding paper.  I check to make sure I measured correctly and then wiped the sharpie marker off the edges.  It fit perfectly!

I used Quirky Alphabet from Molly Stamps to stamp the sentiment inside and added the smiling face this time.  This alphebet is great, because it has a shadow.  You can leave the letters alone and have the shadow the only color or you can color the letter part, so you can have it two colors.  AWESOME!

I hope you like my first creation with Molly Stamps.  You will be seeing their great stamps on my blog an a regular basis.  Check them out!

Happy Stamping!

Tutorial Time - Crinkled/Crumbled Technique

Lately, I have been holding distresing workshops and showing how distressing adds texture to paper projects.  I wanted to show you to make your pumpkins even better by using the crinkled or crumbled technique.  ENJOY!

Have a great weekend!

Take time to create!

I'm So Excited!

Okay...are you ready?  I am!  I have been so excited the last couple of days.  I have had a personal goal to be on a design team and now I can say I reached that goal.

Earlier this month, I sent some of my artwork, blog and description of why I wanted to design for Molly Stamps.  This week Russ contacted me and offered me a spot on his design team.  YAY!  I follow blogs of the other design team members and am so honored to be part of their group.  This group has a great sense of humor and I know I will have so much fun!  

You will always be able to visit the Molly Stamp website any time you want from my blog.  I put an icon on the sidebar.  Just click it and you will be there.  Not only will you be able to shop, but there is a gallery of ideas for each stamp set.  That is so cool!

The website will be updated with the new design team members (  including me :o)  ) on Friday, October 24th.  AND there are three new stamp sets available too!  They are:

• Wings on Things - Big
• Wings on Things - Small
• Post Office

So wish me luck in this exciting and challenging endeavor!

Happy Stamping!

May Your Days Be Merry & Bright

Have you ever made a card went to bed, then you got up the next morning you really didn't like it?  Well, that is this card.  This is the other card I was playing with for the training class and I don't like it.  On the first card, I used create-a-shade on the outdoor denim cardstock, creme brulee cardstock and on the images behind the window charms.

On this card, I didn't use create-a-shade and put glitter around the outdoor denim cardstock.  The cards definitely need something, so I started completely over and that is the card you don't get to see until after November 8th.

I do love this paper though!  It is the new Aspen paper from the 2008 Autumn/Winter CTMH Idea Book.  These are only two of the four pattern papers.  In addition, I used the December Word Puzzle stamp set.

I am off to go out with a couple of my friends tonight for dinner, so this is a quick post.

I do have a question for you.  I want to buy a light box to take pictures of my cards and layouts and I am not sure which one to buy.  Jeanne, do you like the one you have?  If you have a light box, please let me know which one you have and why you like it.  THANKS!

Oh, one last note!  I have some exciting news, but you will have to wait!

Happy Stamping!

Happy Holidays

You would think I was in the Christmas mood with two Christmas cards in a row this week.  The first one, Lace Tree, I just had to play with the embossing folder once I got it.  This card is one of cards I made for my upline, Chris Shouse, to choose.  She asked me to design two Christmas cards for a training event in November.  I was asked not to post the ones that made the cut until after the training on November 8th.  So I can only show you this one and one other one we decided not to use for the training.

For this card, I used the crayon resist technique.  If you want to see how to create this technique or refresh your memory, click here to watch the video.  I wanted to use the new colors tulip and juniper for the Christmas red and green.  I love using different shades of red and green for Christmas cards and using non-traditional colors for Christmas too!  I made the background using a stamp image from the December word puzzle.  If you have not purchased any of the word puzzles, you should!  There are so many things you can do with them.  

The sentiment is from my favorite Gracious Greetings stamp set.  I stamped one side in juniper and then the other side in tulip for a two-toned look.  To finish the card, I used white daisy grosgrain ribbon and tiny, tiny square sparkles from the CTMH Idea Book.  I never use this size, so I thought I needed to for a change.  This card design is a lot like the one in my video, but if it works use it and use it and use it....LOL!

I had a request emailed to me today and I tried to reply, but my email was returned.  Here are the measurements to the Lace Tree card.  Sorry I couldn't email you personally.

Thanks for your nice comments!  I don't mind giving you the directions.  I am glad you liked the card.

 

This card is a 5 x 7 card, so that is why it is scored at 5 along the 10" side.

 

Here are the measurements:

 

Evensong Basic Collection pattern paper - 3 1/2 x 7

Cranberry cs 1 1 /2 x 7 and 3 7/8 x 5 7/8

Gold vellum 4 1/4 x 5 5/8

White Daisy cs 3 3/4 x 5 1/4

 

After I adhered the front pieces on the card base and put the ric rac on, I cut the scalloped edge along the side of my card with my fiskars cutter.  You can take whatever amount you want off the side.  It looks like I cut mine at 7/16.  I didn't measure it, I just cut some off.  I like how it matches the ric rac.

 

I hope this helps.  Let me know if you need anything else.

 

Happy Stamping! 

Lace Tree

When I saw this Cuttlebug embossing folder, Lace Tree, I knew I wanted to bling it up.  This embossed tree would look good no matter what you did with it.  Here the my recipe:

Card base - 10 x 7 scored at 5 to make a 5 x 7 card

Paper - Evensong Level 2, gold vellum, cranberry cs, white daisy cs

Ink - cranberry

Stamp set - Christmas Scripts

Embellishments - white ric rac ribbon my mom gave me, red bling, Fiskars scallop cutter, cranberry designer ribbon, new england ivy designer ribbon, dimensional elements bookplates, EK Success concave punch 

I really like how the scalloped edge of the front of the card looks against the white daisy base.  You can see this really good, because of the shadow created by the sunlight.  Love it!

Sorry I forgot to post last Thursday night.  I had a workshop and forgot to send my post after I got home.  My mom even called me on Monday to make sure she didn't miss any posts.  Thanks for checking on me, Mom!

I had a question from Nikki about the 2-5-7-10 box, so I wanted to answer her.  Here is her concern:

I love the box. Every time I have made it it seems to be off on the bottom. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong. I watch the video over and over and do it step by step with you and it does not turn out on the bottom.

Nikki, are you using the correct end for the box.  There are two different measurements and you might be using the incorrect end.  If that doesn't help, maybe someone else can has had this problem and can make some suggestions.  Also, Nikki...please email me at stampfest@cox.net and try to explain what "off on the bottom" means.  If you could send me a pic that might help too.  Thanks for the question!

 

Happy Stamping!

Other Copic Image

Here is the other image I colored in my copics class.  I don't know the name of the stamp or the company, because Marianne just had stamped images for us to color.  I added the sponged color, so the main image wouldn't be so white after I got home.  Below are the materials I used:

Paper - Sarsaparilla Level 2, black cs, desert sand cs, white daisy cs, twilight cs

Ink - sunny yellow, sunflower, honey, crystal blue, twilight, outdoor denim, bamboo, desert sand, chocolate, cocoa and black

Copics - I don't know all of them, because I was using them from the box Marianne brought for the class.  Here are the ones I can remember:  BG18 Teal Blue, BG13 Mint Green, E53 Raw Silk, E57 Light Walnut, 0 Colorless Blender.  Obviously I used some gray, but I don't remember which numbers.  There were so many more and that is what is fun about copics.  You can color, highlight and shadow all day!

Stamp set - For Every Occassion for the sentiment THANKS

Embellishments - natural hemp, crystal stickers, pop dots

Tools - small oval punch, large oval punch, houndstooth cuttlebug folder

These are the only images I finished in class.  I have to buy some copics before I can color more. Can you say online shopping?  LOL!

Happy Stamping!

Tutorial Time - Waterbrush

We used this great little tool at our last club meeting to make this two-page layout.  ENJOY!

Happy Stamping!

So Much Fun

I had a blast this last weekend.  Learning was never this fun in high school or college.  Even though I had to get up at 4:40 am on Friday the Copic Certification Class was totally worth it.  I learned so much and have started to feel comfortable with these magnificent markers.  I can't believe everything these markers will do.  I am going to practice the basics before I jump into anything intermediate or advanced.  I think it will take a while before I get there, but even the basics are wonderful.  

Here is a bear colored in class and used the "nasty rag" technique on it.  It looks like fur.  This is so cool!  I used E53 Raw Silk and E57 Light Walnut for the bear.  The bear is stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black ink.  I can't remember the color I used for the hearts.  I made them just with the tip of the sketch marker.  I can never draw a heart very well and now I don't have to.  I can just use the brush tip of the sketch marker and I have perfect hearts every time.  

These are just a few things I learned in class.  I will have to buy some copics now, so I can play more.  Oh, where do I begin?  It will be fun shopping!

All other products are CTMH:

Paper - Perfect Day Level 2, Juniper cardstock

Ink - Tulip

Embellishments - Tulip bigger brads, natural hemp, Love Letters rub-ons, Perfect Day My Stickease, Clear Inspirations heart tag (I chalked this with red chalk.)

Here is a close up of the Clear Inspirations heart tag.

The Copics Class was just one part of my great trip.  My sister met me in KC and took the class too.  She is always fun to be around.  AND guess what?  She looks amazing!  Connie has lost 50 pounds since January of this year and looks great.  For the first time ever, we had people who asked if we were sisters, because we look alike.  That has never happened before.  She is probably blushing now, but she has done a phenomenal job at sticking to her goal.  Before you ask me...she lost weight by following Weight Watchers online.  She doesn't like to go to the meetings, so she track her goals online.  Great job, Connie!

On Saturday, Connie and I were able to stop by the Creating Keepsakes Convention for just a short time.  We spent that time at the Pazzles Inspiration booth.  We both have one and haven't used it much yet.  We learned a lot from Klo and Steph just watching them.  Of course, I had time to pick up a couple of cute scrapping t-shirts.  

Then we went shopping with my niece, Danielle.  I got some jeans.  Yes, jeans!  I hate buying jeans.  Doesn't almost everyone?  I finally found some at JC Penney that don't bunch in the wrong places.  My niece likes to shop there.  I don't go to the mall much, so I am glad we did.  I tried on so many jeans and finally found the brand that fits me.  They are Fosters.  I have never heard of them, but I hope they don't stop making them.  After shopping until 4 pm, my sister and I ran back to the CK Convention and learned more at the Pazzles booth.  Then I headed home.  My boys were happy to see me and the house was clean.  Yes, clean!  Just the fact the house was clean when I got home made a great weekend!

Happy Stamping!

Boo Gift

As you can see, I have taken some time off from posting.  My parents have been visiting, so I haven't had much time to create.  My mom and I have been shopping...shoe shopping!  I got four new pairs of shoes...yay!  DSW has great sales and we have taken advantage of them.  I couldn't pass up the 70% off I got on two of them.  I got ready for our club meeting last night where we made a two-page Halloween layout.  One of my club members Sally brought me this cute little Boo Gift.  

This cute little jar is filled with Halloween M & Ms.  I have resisted them, so I could take a picture.  Now, that I have my pics I am going to have my M & Ms.  The little saying on front reads:

Just A Friendly

Little Greeting ...

To Wish You

Happy Trick or Treating

This is so stinkin' cute!  Thanks, Sally!  Love it!

Here is the top of the little jar.

I won't be posting again until next week.  Thursday night I will be getting ready for Copic Certification training on Friday.  Yes, I am going to KC with my sister to get certified on Copic markers.  I am so excited!  After training, we are going to meet our cousin Cheri for some dinner and my niece will meet us for some shopping on Saturday.  Friday night, we are planning on going to the movie An American Carol.  Has anyone seen it?  What did you think?  I heard it was funny!

Oh, I wanted to answer a couple of questions that came up from my "See Through" Card Series.

1.  I purchased my Grafix clear sheets from Archivers.  I got the 8 1/2 x 11 sheets, so I could make two cards out of one sheet.

2.  I will make a video tutorial for the "see through" cards after I hold my card class in October.  I don't want to steal the thunder of the class.  Thanks for your patience!

I get to have a girls weekend and I can't wait!

I hope you have a great weekend too!

See Through to My Favorites

I told you I would save my favorite cards from my "see through" series and here they are:

Thinking of You recipe:

All products are CTMH unless noted

Stamp sets - Whooo Loves You, Adorning Corners, Playful Flourishes, Best Wishes

Paper - Twilight cs, Cocoa cs

Ink - Cocoa, Cotton White (Staz On)

Embellishments - Black bitty brads, Twilight Designer Ribbon, Class A Peel Stickers (Stampendous), EK Success corner rounder

Hello recipe:

All products CTMH unless noted.

Stamp sets - With Love (June 2008 stamp of the month), Gracious Greetings, Playful Flourishes, Friendship Blessings

Paper - Hollyhock cs, Blush cs, Black cs

Ink - Black, Cotton White (Staz On)

Embellishments - Pink staples, Clear sparkles, Black Designer Ribbon, EK Success corner rounder

Another view of the Hello card laying down.

Hope you enjoyed this series of cards.  Have a great weekend!

Happy Stamping!

A See Through Thank You

I am still loving these see through cards.  The clear craft plastic I use is made by Grafix.  It is 0.007 clear plastic 8.5 x 11" and come four sheets to the pack.  I can get eight cards out of the pack.  These are not as cost effective as my other cards, but are fun to make and have a definite WOW factor.

Here is the recipe:

All products are CTMH unless noted.

Stamp sets - Friendship Blessings, Solo E, Solo H

Paper - Hollyhock cs, Garden Green cs, White Daisy cs

Ink - Hollyhock and Cotton White Opaque (Staz On)

Embellishments - Clear Sparkles, Hollyhock designer ribbon

I second generation stamped the color of the big flower to make it a shade lighter.

I took these pictures outside.  Isn't it cool how you can see the trees in the clear plastic?

Here is a slightly different angle where you can see the shadow of the Thank You on the inside of the card.  Love it!

I will post my last two clear cards next time.  They are my favorite of the four.

Oh, I changed the date of the acrylic card class to Sunday, October 19th.

Happy Stamping!