Monday, January 27, 2014

Bring on the Cake - Subway Art

Subway Art!
Yep - that's what this type of technique of stamping is called. 
Love the ease and poppy color of it.
I got this technique of Subway Art from the Stamping and Blogging website that I've mentioned a couple of times already.  It's a great place to find ideas - however, there is a small cost. 
I think it's a minimal price to pay when I'm able to get lots of ways to use a stamp set. 
 
The more ways you have to use a stamp set,
the better the value of that set.
 
What has given you value today?
 
The stamp set is the Bring on the Cake (#128490 - wood, and #121958 - clear).  
 
The Framed Tulips (#121809) Embossing Folder was used on this card with a Pool Party card stock (#122924). Just like on yesterday's card, you can't even tell that it is Tulips under there because you're using it as a frame. I really like this framing idea.
Inks - Pool Party (#126982), Summer Starfruit (#126991)
and Raspberry Ripple (#126859)

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Happy Stampin' and Scrappin'!



Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Chalkboard Bring on the Cake!

Chalkboard technique!
A bit of Basic Grey, some Black StazOn daubed along the edge to add personality - and you've got a fantastic birthday card for any age, anyone!
The Whisper White Craft Stampin' Ink Pad (#101730)
and Refill (#101780) make a big hit here and do that oh, so trendy chalkboard technique for a cool look.  You could always switch it out for the StazOn White if you have that instead.  And, you know, any white will do, really.
 
The other colors you see are the Smoky Slate from the Neutrals Designer Series Paper Stacks (#130132) and the Rose Red from the Regals Designer Series Paper Stacks (#130139).
I love using the Embossing Folders in different ways, and this time the Framed Tulips (#121809) was used on this card. You can't even tell that it is Tulips under there because you're using it as a frame. Such a nice touch.
And then, of course, there is the Top Note Bigz Original die (#113463) on there, as well as the Curly Label punch (#119851), which creates an soft echo for the Top Note - framing it on the top and bottom.
 
Bring on the Cake (#128490 - wood, and #121958 - clear) is such a go-to stamp set for birthdays!  So many ways to use that great set, it's unreal.  You can see another example right here.

Do you have a "go-to" stamp set?  A current favorite?  I'd love to hear what it is.  Just leave me a comment.

I CASEd this card idea from the Stamping and Blogging website. 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Happy Stampin' and Scrappin'!

Monday, January 20, 2014

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Today we, here in the U.S., celebrate a very important person in our history . . . 
Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968).  
Here's the info I copied from Wikipedia about King:  "He was an American pastor, activist, humanitarian, and leader in the Civil Rights Movement.  He is best known for his role in the advancement of civil rights using non-violent civil disobedience because he was a Christian.
"He was born Michael King, but his father changed his name in honor of German reformer Martin Luther. A Baptist minister, King became a civil rights activist early in his career. 
He led the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott and helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in 1957, serving as its first president. With the SCLC, King led an unsuccessful struggle against segregation in Georgia, in 1962, and organized nonviolent protests in Birmingham, Alabama, that attracted national attention following television news coverage of the brutal police response. 
King also helped to organize the 1963 March on Washington, where he delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech. There, he established his reputation as one of the greatest orators in American history. 
On October 14, 1964, King received the Nobel Peace Prize for combating racial inequality through nonviolence. In 1965, he and the SCLC helped to organize marches, and the following year, he took the movement north to Chicago.
Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated on April 4, in Memphis, Tennessee. 
He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal posthumously.

Martin Luther King Jr Day was established as a U.S. federal holiday in 1986. A memorial statue on the National Mall in his honor was opened to the public in 2011."
I've been seeing a lot of quotes that are accredited to Martin Luther King Jr on Facebook today.  He apparently said much that was quote worthy, and they are very thought provoking.  I would like to remember them, but I'm sure I won't (such a crappy memory these days).  
Hope you have had a great Monday!  
Thanks for stopping by ~ Happy Stampin' and Scrappin'!

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Spiral Flower Video Tutorial

It's Wednesday!  Video Tutorial time!!  Got this from the Stampin' Up! YouTube . . .
            
Great tips and a nice, clear video!
 
Let me know if you have any questions.  You know that I'm here to help!!

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Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Cheery Card - Betsy's Blossoms

Need a Cheery Card?  Then you should reach for a stamp set like Betsy's Blossoms (#126004 - wood; #126006 - clear).
So, you know what?  I decided to forget this weather for a bit and create my very own summer this evening.  

When I drove home from work, the car thermometer read -8 by the time I reached the house.  My fingers never did get warm in the car!!  With the wind chill, it's supposed to be -30.  I've not seen weather like this for a long time in this part of the country where I live.  I don't think my kids have ever seen it.

So - I really needed to have a bit of cheer.  

This card is CASEd from the Stamping and Blogging website.  They have such fantastic ideas and share PDFs as well as video tutorials of almost all the cards there.  So super duper helpful!!  Love it.
Lots of pretty layering to enjoy.  The Layered Labels stamp set got used, too (#127070 - wood; #127072 - clear).
I managed to make all four cards and matching envelopes in about 15-20 minutes.  Now that will cheer you up!!

Card stock - Very Vanilla
Ink - Daffodil Delight, Gumball Green and Primrose Petals.
Punch - Large Oval (#119855)
Ribbon - 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon in Primrose Petals.
Other great things that were used - Big Shot (#113439)
Standard Cutting Pads (#113475)
Basic Pearls (#119247)
Apothecary Accents Framelits (#127003)
Adhesives - Glue Dots (#103683), Dimensionals (#104430), Snail (#104332)

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Monday, January 6, 2014

Weekend Fun

Whoa!  This winter weather is insane.  I'm telling you - it's absolutely insane!  What's it like where you are?

We are experiencing very, very cold temps here.  The good news . . . it makes for great cross-country skiing as long as you're dressed well.  

My hubs and I went out to do just that on Saturday a.m. while the sun was out in full force, but the temps were in the 20s.  The wind was certainly blowing in a few spots, and that made it a toughie - otherwise, it was fabulous and beautiful out.
We went to a local park that's a bog.  I've walked this a lot in nice weather, so I knew the layout well and that it would be flat in most places - just what I need for my first time out this year!!
There are a lot of homes on one side, but in these pics, we're on the side without the houses.  It feels like you're far away from anyone when you're out on this side of the park.  The park crosses the continental divide here, too, so that's a cool thing.  

Unfortunately, where the divide is, is also a BIG hill, which I avoided on Saturday.  So I didn't ski over that spot.
And here I am, attempting to ski quickly away from my sweetie.  I'm not worried.  He'll catch up because he's a way better skier than I am.  It was a fantastic workout and - like I said before - such a beautiful day out.  

Best thing?  I wasn't sore the next day - but my husband was!!!  

What was the best part of your weekend?

Friday, January 3, 2014

Birthday Challenge

What a challenge I set out for myself today!!  

I had a birthday card to make for a friend whose dad is turning 85.  She has decided to give him 85 cards for his b-day, and she asked me to contribute.  Today was the last day I can get it made and to her on time, so that was part one of the challenge.

Next, what to make?

Freshly Made Sketches had a great sketch, so I played along with that . . . 
How cute is that?  Surely an inspiration if ever I've seen one.
That is, until my sewing machine decides the tension is going to be a problem!  Whoa!  What a mess!!!

That thread was just bundling up - and knotting up - and generally causing me to take deep, cleansing breaths - over and over again . . . LOL!!

After breaking out the manual - viola!  Well - I did have to redo the bobbin about four times - but other than that -- voila!  
I made enough for my friend's dad, my hubby (who has his b-day in just about a week), my boss's dog . . . no, not really.  But if he wanted it . . . I guess . . . 

Okay.  Seriously.  What a great sketch.  And I'm loving those textures.  I was just using up anything on my craft table - and that table is very overloaded right now.  I need to tidy up a bit.
The card stock was Soft Suede, Very Vanilla and Crumb Cake.  The ink was Soft Suede.  And the stamp sets were the Bring on the Cake (121958 for Clear) and Best of Birthdays (132929).

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Thursday, January 2, 2014

4 Tips ~ Expressions Thinlits

Whoo - love these Expressions Thinlits words.  In fact, I've been wanting to work with these little cuties, but haven't quite managed the time - tonight was the night!  I found the time!  WooHoo!  Oh, yeah.
And you know what?  I found that several things were important to help me work with these fine Thinlit letters.

  • First off - Wax paper!  Yep - good ole wax paper to the rescue.  I tried to do the words without any and had so much trouble getting the letters out of the "mold".  Truly an "argh" moment or two.  But when I created a Big Shot "sandwich" (1. magnetic board, 2. acrylic piece, 3. Gold Foil Card Stock, 4. wax paper, and 4. then other acrylic piece), there wasn't a problem.  The pieces came out so much easier!  Whew!
  • Secondly, running the "sandwich" through the Big Shot over and over.  Each time I created a piece, I ran it over and over through the Big Shot, just back and forth repeatedly about eight times.  I really wanted to be sure that each tiny piece was truly cut out.
  • The tool that saved the day - the Paper Piercing Tool.  Oh, my.  What a helper that little tool is.  Love that thing.  I would begin by using the Paper Piercing Tool to cause all the extra pieces that won't be needed popped out.  At times, this was all that was needed to start my word to come out of the "mold" (again, thanks to the waxed paper).
  • Finally, smacking the word on the table.  You got that right.  I would hold one end of the word and then smack the other end on the table a few times (or on my hand).  Either way, this often caused the word to begin to pop out of the "mold".
Yepper - all in all, a great experience.  I'm sure I'll use these words again, now that I've got these tips under by belt.

I also had to work with what adhesive I liked the best to adhere the words.  I began with Snail.  Didn't like it too well.  Then I used the Stick glue.  Didn't like it too well either.  I ended up using the two-in-one liquid adhesive.  Working quickly, I was able to dab it on the letters and adhere the words to the cards without a problem. 
I made a bunch because I've got lots of thank yous to send out, as well as sending a couple of packets to my "card angel" in case she's in need of some thank-you notes.  My card angel is a cancer patient that I write to once or twice a week.  I send her little "gifties", too - like a couple packets of these cards.
To have some extra fun, I'm entering the ColourQ Challenge with this simple card today.  Since I don't have any Going Gray, I used Basic Gray.  Now that I think about it, Smoky Slate would've worked very nicely, too.


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