Week 2 of Online Card Classes

Week 2 of Online Card Classes: Clean & Simple began with a video on a window card and a folded flower - it was gorgeous and I wanted to copy it exactly!!  But I needed to put my own spin on it and decided to try it with cupcakes??!!

I am going to give myself 3 points for creativity - but then deduct 2 for execution!!  I have a few issues with the card, but I like the concept enough that I am going to post it anyway.

First, even though I used a cupcake sentiment and cupcake embossing folder - I still don't think it is obvious that my embellishment are cupcakes.  I have tried adding candles and/or cherries (too busy) and after that I ran out of ideas to make it more cupcake-like.

Second, the sample card from Online Card Classes usew a patterned paper with distinctly different colors on both sides - it added so much interest when the folded part was a splash of color and I miss that on my card.

I do thank Kristina for all of her tips and hints...templates, how to line it up, etc...and now I am going to go exactly CASE her beautiful card.

• Stamps: Stampin' Up Create a Cupcake
• Paper: Stampin' Up Crumb Cake CS and dsp, Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose dsp
• Ink: Stampin' Up Early Espresso
• Accessories: Cuttlebug embossing folder, misc baker's twine and gem, Nestabilities Circle, Stampin' Up Cupcake Punch

Another Idea from Online Card Classes

I am up to Day 3 of using the techniques and ideas from Online Card Classes.  So far, there have been five days of samples and videos and two bonus days(!) so I am just a little behind.  And now a new week is going to start...whew!

On Day 3, Jennifer talked about monochromatic cards and Tami shared a gatecard sample.  I put the two together to get this...

I used pop dots on my popped flower, but Jennifer had a marvelous technique in which she cut the die cut in the card stock and then six more of the same die cut in white.  She layered those all together to "pop" the diecut and in the end she had a wonderful white effect on the sides.  Gorgeous!  But I simply don't have the patience to cut and then adhere all of those layers.

My banner and sentiment treatment came right from the sample gatefold card (thanks Tami!)

• Stamps: Hero Arts Sending You Love clear set
• Paper: Stampin' Up Calypso Coral CS and dsp
• Ink: black
• Accessories: Papertrey Ink flower die cuts, Stampin' Up embossing folders and button embosslit

With Sympathy...with help from Online Card Classes

I am thoroughly enjoying this session of Online Card Classes - it's all about my favorites - Clean and Simple cards!!

I am a number of days behind on trying new techniques.  This card is for Day 2, at which time we learned about visual triangles and using masking to create illusions of layers.

These particular stamps come with dies to cut each one out.  I used plain paper to cut out a center with a Nestability.   Then I used the die cuts for the flower and the butterfly to cut a mask.  I taped each piece together and lined it up on my cardstock before I stamped the script.

As a final step - I used the Nestability as a stencil and drew around it with a white pen.

• Stamps: Hero Arts Antique Flowers and Butterflies, Papertrey Round and Round (sentiment)
• Paper: Stampin' Up So Saffron
• Ink: Stampin' Up Basic Gray, So Saffron pen, Colorbox Frost White
• Accessories: dies from the Hero Arts stamp set, Nestability, white pen

Baby Set for a Special Teacher

Yesterday, Online Card Classes began their two-week Clean & Simple class.  I had taken their Holiday Boot Camp class in November and was so very impressed with the quality of their presentation, their unique ideas and all of the little tips and hints that I picked up - that I was absolutely thrilled when their current class is my favorite style - clean & simple!

The first class included three CAS layouts.  The video gave tips such as including dimension for interest and a great idea for masking the middle of the card. I always learn something from their videos - even though I have been crafting for a decade.

My task this morning was to create a card and a gift for my children's beloved 6th grade teacher who is having a baby!  (This is very special news since a little over a year ago, we had to send a sympathy card for the loss of their first baby.)

The sentiment treatment was taken from this BabiesRUs gift card. I used Stampin' Up's My Digital Studio to create the sentiment.  It would be very easy to create with stamps - probably stamping off first to get just a light color that will blend - I simply don't have basic alphabet stamps.

I also used the same colors but a different layout to create a set of six Thank You cards for her use.

The dimension that they talked about in the card class is found in the butterflies.  These are the two layouts that I used from Online Card classes.

Now I need to get the family up and off - but then I am going to settle in with the Day 2 cards and video and see what else I can play with today!!

• Stamps: Savvy Stamps thank you
• Paper: Stampin' Up Shimmer White, Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue, Papertrey Ink New Leaf
• Ink: Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip
• Accessories: Stampin' Up Border Punch, Pearls, Vanilla Taffeta, Beautiful Wings Embosslit (first card), Martha Stewart butterfly punch (thank you card)

Off-Kilter Thanks

I spent way too much time playing with this simple card this morning, particularly since I started with the Splitcoast Sketch Challenge and the Picture Perfect Creations Colors.  So I already a layout and colors - there wasn't much left for me to do!! 

I went through four stamp sets, I knew I had hit on something when I ended up with this flower.  But the final breakthrough was when I wasn't trying to center it - a flower plopped in the center of a panel isn't always the most interesting look.  I stamped the flower and sentiment then I found a rectangle nestabilities that cut off part of the flower.

I will be doing a lot of posting the next two days because, as usual, I have waited until the last minute to get ready for our monthly church cardmaking gathering on Thursday night and Friday afternoon - so be sure to check back!

• Stamps: Papertrey Ink Flower Fusion #1, Verve Thanks set
• Ink: Stampin' Up Melon Mambo, Wild Wasabi
• Paper: Stampin' Up Wild Wasabi and Melon Mambo CS, Pink Pirouette and Melon Mambo dsp, Very Vanilla
• Accessories: Nestabilities rectangle and scalloped rectangle, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Stampin' Up Wild Wasabi ribbon, Recollections (by Michaels) Glitter Adhesive Dots

Sweet n Sassy Birthday Hop

This month's customer hop at Sweet n Sassy stamps is to make a birthday card.  I had just purchased this digi Circus set so had to make a kid's card.  (FYI: the stamps are in clear also.)

The sentiment is on the Word Window punch from Stampin' Up - but it is bigger than the standard punch.  Here's the punch:

Cut a strip of paper just a tiny bit smaller than 3/8" - definitely no bigger than 3/8" or it doesn't fit.  Slide it into the punch from the backside.  Then do the other side.  A handy way to get a sentiment strip!

The colors on this card come from Picture Perfect Creations:

The layout is the Fall To layout from the clean&simple blog:

• Stamps: Sweet n Sassy digi Circus Fun
• Ink: Stampin' Up Not Quite Navy, copics
• Paper: Stampin' Up Not Quite Navy and Riding Hood Red dsp, So Saffron CS
• Accessories: Spellbinders Grommet Tags, Fiskars Border Punch, Creative Impressions star brads

This blog hop is one of the fun ones that allow me to show you everybody else who is participating!  Here they are (they will update as others join in):

FOM: February

During my 2010 attempt to make sure all of my Stampin' Up sets saw ink, I came across an older uninked stamp set called "Flower of the Month".  I decided that for our church cardmaking racks, I would do a set of these cards each month in 2011.  The January Flower of the Month is in this post or just click on "Flower of the Month" in Card Categories to see the entire year (which right now only consists of January and February!)

Here is February's card:

I worked this card around this rich paper from a K&Co stack called Alleghany - the entire stack of paper is rich and vibrant.  There are lots of fall colors, but also many blues and purples.  I added some sparkle with the ribbon, then wanted more gold so I edged some of the panels with a Krylon 18KT Gold Leafing Pen.  The gem is from Martha Stewart - which includes the birthstones from each month - I will be using that set throughout the year while I am creating Flower of the Month cards.

• Stamps: Stampin' Up Happy Birthday Frame, Flower of the Month
• Ink: Memento Black, copics
• Paper: Stampin' Up Mellow Moss, Black
• Accessories: Nestabilities Scalloped Square, ribbon from Michaels (Xmas Collection), Misc gold "pearls", Martha Stewart Birthstone Gem Stickers, Krylon 18kt Gold Leafing Pen
• Challenges: CardPatterns Sketch Challenge

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I have recently stumbled on a site that I am so excited to share: Christian Paper Crafts Creative Blog.  They include a daily card challenge and it is always associated with a Bible verse or Christian concept.  For instance, I loved a recent challenge to use piercing on your card because they included the lyrics to a Christian song that begins..."He was pierced for our transgressions"...

The gallery is amazing.  Particularly if you have come to my blog because of my series on Church Card Ministries, you need to spend some time browsing!

They do have memberships available.  I did join at the lowest level, but I JUST joined so really can't tell you all of the benefits.

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Woo hoo!  Picture Perfect Creations picked this card as a Grand Creations Winner!! (Card details are on this post.)

I am hoping to get some crafting in today.  I only have one appointment at 10 this morning.  Oh...Who am I kidding?...I am meeting up with a friend who has a Stampin' Up order for me!!  I HAD to do a Stampin' Up order...I just HAD to.  I heard a story from a friend who had a friend who hosted a SU big party - she made brunch and everything - and she is highly pregnant - and nobody ordered anything!!  So what an excuse for me to put an order in on her party!  Not that I need an excuse...but I definitely felt better actually having an excuse!

Have a Happy Friday!

Embedded Embossing

This morning's SplitCoast Sketch Challenge was very simple so I decided to try to "fancy it up" with fun new techniques and it gave me headaches!  I can always tell that the card isn't going well when my desk looks like this:

I just keep pulling stuff out hoping that something will come together!

But I am happy with the final result!

I did add some shimmer and bling that is better seen in this close-up:



It is cardmaking week at our church and very soon, I will be in full panic mode putting together kits for very clean and simple cards - nothing fancy, no new techniques.  But I like bringing some new ideas to our group, as we have some very advanced crafters who are thrilled by the new stuff.  So, before I hit panic mode, I tried a new technique on this card - embedded embossing, also called inlaid embossing.

It's quite simple - you just place some punches on your cardstock and then emboss the whole thing together with a detailed embossing folder.  The punched shapes "embed" into the paper and appear to be part of it.

I first saw the idea here on Andrea's blog.  Then I saw it again today, here on Gretchen's blog. 

Another quick tip - I must tell you that I HATE cutting things out.  And I really hate fussy cutting.  And I truly despise craft knives.  So many people do amazing things by cutting - mine always looks totally messy and ragged.  So when I had to cut out the inside of the teacup handle, I refused and did it this way -

Here's my first ragged attempt.  Don't do this! 
Just leave the inside uncut.

Stamp the teacup on white paper and cut
around the outside of the inside of the handle??!!
It's still cutting, but at least it's not "fussy-cutting"!

Apply adhesive to your small white piece and adhere
if over the uncut patterned paper.  It looks like
you "fussy-cut" it!!

• Stamps: Flourishes
• Ink: Stampin' Up Markers: Razzleberry, Blushing Bride, Old Olive, Pear Pizzazz
• Paper: Stampin' Up Old Olive, Blushing Bride, Razzleberry, Chocolate, Blushing Bride dsp
• Accessories: Martha Stewart hydrangea punch, EK Success leaf punch, Stampin' Up lattice embossing folder, Smooch Illuminate, Stampin' Up gems 
• Challenges: SplitCoast Sketch Challenge and Picture Perfect Creations Color Challenge

SIX Valentines, NINE SU sets!

I am on a roll!  I have put together 10 Valentines using 12 Stampin' Up sets so that I can meet my goal of making sure that all of my sets see ink during 2010.  Some are pretty good.  Some probably wouldn't be published on my blog if I weren't trying so hard to meet my goal.  You decide...

Set 295 - Loving Hearts

• Stamps: Stampin' Up Loving Hearts
• Ink: Black and Only Orange markers
• Paper: Stampin' Up Melon Mambo, Only Orange, black
• Accessories: EK Success border punch, heart punch, Quickutz Goosebumpz embossing on the heart, ribbon from Michaels. Cuttlebug Embossing Plus folder

Set 296, 297 - A Little Love, Itty Bitty Bits

• Stamps: Stampin' Up A Little Love, Itty Bitty Bits
• Inks: Stampin' Up Night Of Navy, Pear Pizzazz, Rose Red
• Paper: Stampin' Up Night of Navy
• Accessories: Sizzlit tag, silver brad, small circle punch
• Challenge: One Layer Wednesday: Home Decor and  Picture Perfect Creations Color Challenge

Set 298 - A Little Bit of Happiness

• Stamps: Stampin' Up A Little Bit of Happiness
• Inks: Stampin' Up Rose Red, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirouette, Staz-On Black
• Paper: Stampin' Up Rose Red, Bo Bunny Press dsp
• Accessories: Fiskars border punch, Stampin' Up Vanilla Taffeta, aquabrush
• Challenge: Lord Have Mercy Sketch Challenge

Sets 299, 300 - Smorgasborders, Lots of Thoughts

• Stamps: Stampin' Up Smorgasborders, Lots of Thoughts
• Inks: Stampin' Up Crumb Cake, Poppy Parade
• Paper: Stampin' Up Crumb Cake CS, Poppy Parade dsp
• Accessories: Cuttlebug Embossing Folder



Set 301, 302 - Doodle That, A Light Heart

• Stamps: Stampin' Up Doodle That, A Light Heart (sentiment)
• Inks: Memento Black, copic
• Paper: Stampin' Up black, Blushing Bride dsp
• Accessories: 1 3/8" and 1 1/2" circle punches, EK Success border punch, Mark Richards black nailheads
• Challenges: clean&simple Fall-To-Layout

Set 303 - Cheep Talk

• Stamps: Stampin' Up Cheep Talk
• Inks: Stampin' Up Cool Caribbean, Kiwi Kiss, Rose Red
• Paper: Stampin' Up Rose Red, Kiwi Kiss, MME Alphabet Soup dsp
• Accessories: Stampin' Up Bitty Buttons, EK Success border punch, circle nesties, dew drops
• Challenges: Lord Have Mercy Sketch Challenge  (this is the last Tuesday sketch challenge ever - major bummer)

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Whew!  This is it for the Valentines that I am making using Stampin' Up stuff.  I'll have more Valentines next week using other stamps.  It does seem early to be doing Valentines, but that is our focus at January's church card gathering.  Be sure to stop back for more!