Golden Congratulations for SSC76

Welcome to another great challenge at Sunday Stamps! It's a sketch this round, my fav!

I switched the sketch slightly, but all the elements are still there. The biggest change I made is the main shape. I used the positive & negative images from the Lattice Bigz Die to create a larger square focal point. I LOVE this die and I'm so sad that it's retiring this year!! I added some flowers from some leftover trim and fancied them up a bit with some pearls. To keep with the gold tones, I heat embossed the sentiment. I left the inside blank so that this card could be used for either a wedding or anniversary.

Hope you'll join us this round. Check out the other DT designs for inspiration. You have until Friday, May 30th to add your link. We always love seeing what you come up with!


RECIPE:
Paper: Naturals Cardstock, Very Vanilla, Gold Foil, Gold Specialty
Ink: VersaMark
Stamps: Bitty Banners
Tools: Big Shot, Lattice Bigz Die, Heat Tool
Accessories: Flower Trim (retired), Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon (retired), Pearls
Challenge: Sunday Stamps

70th Birthday

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, it was my dad's 70th birthday. Today I'll share the card I made for him for all to sign.

My dad is an awesome guy and on top of that, an inventor, handyman, woodworker and the best father and "Opa" to her children a gal could ask for. I wanted something classy & sparkly, but also something that resembled him too, hence the Hardwood stamp & silver button (retired).

I also used a new stamp set that you'll find in the 2014-2015 Annual Catalogue - Work of Art. I gave you just a small sneak peek of the set, but I think you're gonna love it. It's so versatile! I stamped several images in Silver and then heat embossed in silver too. The "70" was cut out with the Typeset Alphabet Bigz Die (that's retiring!) in Silver Glimmer Paper (that's also retiring!)

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

RECIPE:
Paper: Silver Specialty, Whisper White, Silver Glimmer Paper
Ink: Silver
Stamps: Hardwood, Work of Art (sneak peek), Remembering Your Birthday
Tools: Big Shot, Typeset Alphabet Bigz Die, Heat Tool, Embossing Buddy, Silver Embossing Powder
Accessories: Silver 1/8" Ribbon, Silver Button (retired)
Techniques: Heat Embossing

Sunday Stamps SSC67

I'm loving the colour combo we've got going on over at Sunday Stamps this round - Night of Navy, Strawberry Slush & Silver!

I know my punched circle looks gold, but it's truly the Silver Foil paper that I adore, but unfortunately just doesn't show well on camera. I used the now retired Lots of Love Letterpress Texture Plate on it for a subtle effect. I stamped off a few of the hearts randomly on the paper to give varying shades of Strawberry Slush. It adds a lot of depth!

I didn't want to add too much to my card, so I opted for some punched hearts from Silver Glimmer Paper and heat embossed my sentiment in silver.

We hope you'll play along with us, you have until Friday, January 25th. Make sure you check out the other DT Members for some awesome inspiration… and don't forget to leave them some love too!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

RECIPE:
Paper: Night of Navy, Whisper White
Ink: Strawberry Slush
Tools: Heart to Heart Punch (retired), Heat Tool, Big Shot, Lots of Love Letterpress (retired)
Techniques: Heat Embossing
Challenges: Sunday Stamps

Seriously?!

Are we seriously already a week into 2014?! I can't believe a week has gone by already. I hope you're reading this from somewhere warm... it's been crazy cold here lately! I think it's about -16C (3F) right now. That's much better than the -40C with windchills the other day!

On top of the frigid temps, we've had it all over the last few weeks - an ice storm, snow squalls/blizzards and a huge dumping of snow. Have you ever got to experience "frost quakes"? Freaked me out the first time I heard one (before I knew what it was). It's when water gets down into the soil and then freezes. The pressure causes somewhat of an explosion in the earth and creates a big BOOM! If it's close, it shakes the house. After knowing what the noise was, it was pretty cool hearing it...


Anyway, with the crazy weather, holidays, sicknesses, etc., I have not been able to get down and inky in my craft space. So I have a couple of older projects to show you until I can create some new stuff.

This card was pretty quick to put together. I stamped the delicate doily design several times in Pool Party and then did the same, but heat embossed with Smokey Slate. I also heat embossed the sentiment in Silver. I added some velvet decorative tape (non SU!) for some added dimension. I thought it suited the design well.

Until next time, stay crafty!

Steph

RECIPE:
Paper: Pool Party, Smokey Slate, Whisper White
Ink: Pool Party
Stamps: Happy Day, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Tools: Heat Tool
Accessories: Jewels
Techniques: Heat Embossing

Team Swap

Every month for the last few months, we've done a team swap. This past month the idea was a holiday card in non-traditional colours. I was still feeling Christmas cards, so that's what I did:

I got the inspiration from a card on Pinterest by Vicki Wu and the Eastern Elegance DSP. I love the colours and designs in it and thought "I could make that work for a Christmas card!". I pulled the colours from the DSP - Summer Starfruit and Smokey Slate and as my neutral, I used Naturals White.

I heat embossed the Beautifully Baroque stamp in Smokey Slate and used the coordinating TIEF of the same name for the background. I heat embossed the sentiment (inside & out) using Silver because I wanted it to stand out more... and what's a Christmas card (or any card for that matter) without some bling?! I randomly adhered some jewels and used some Silver Glimmer Paper. I gotta tell you, I am loving the look of scattering jewels randomly on a project. You should try it out!

Until next time, stay crafty!

Steph

RECIPE:
Paper: Naturals Ivory, Eastern Elegance DSP, Summer Starfruit
Ink: Summer Starfruit
Stamps: Beautifully Baroque, Petite Pairs
Tools: 1-3/8" Circle Punch, 1-3/4" Circle Punch, Beautifully Baroque TIEF, Big Shot
Accessories: Jewels, Summer Starfruit Satin Stitched Ribbon
Techniques: Heat Embossing

Where Are You?

Is something you may have been asking? Well, I've been swamped with prepping for shows, motherhood, house renos, etc. I had a very successful show last week. One of the best sellers were these tiny tins (intended as a hostess gift). In the tin I included 40 various gift tags and a roll of tape to give the recipient everything they needed for gift giving.

Well, people loved them so much, they were also buying them for themselves. I sold out and had orders for 20+ more!! So guess what I've been doing... making over 800 tags and trying for more because I would like to have these available at my show on the 3rd too! Anyway, thankfully a good portion of my tags came from the awesome Pop & Place Holiday Gift Tags. You can make 70+ tags and the stamp set is perfect. Leave it to me to stretch this kit to the limit!! I used every punch, every template and every piece of scrap I can use from the entire booklet, including the front & back covers. Pictures of the tags will come soon, but I also wanted to share with you that I created several cards with it too. Here's one of them:

The Crumb Cake frame is indeed from the booklet. All I did was emboss it, mount it, did a little stamping and viola! Each booklet got me 4 of these cards and I can't wait to show you what else I created with them. Think again before you discard all those pieces you think you don't need. ;)

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

RECIPE
Paper: Soft Suede, Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler
Ink: Cherry Cobbler
Stamp Set: Joyful Christmas
Tools: Big Shot, Fancy Fan TIEF, Heat Gun, Embossing Powder - Silver & Cherry Cobbler
Accessories: Jewels

Drive's Me Crazy!

For all you crafters out there, doesn't it drive you crazy when you see something that's mass-produced that costs more than what you could probably make it for? For example, greeting cards. I have to laugh almost every time someone gives me a card because they almost always apologize to me (!) that it's not one of mine, it's not as beautiful, it's not...

Paper: Bermuda Bay, Pool Party, Whisper White
Ink: VersaMark, Melon Mambo
Stamps: Ornament Keepsakes, Patterned Occasions (SAB 2013)
Tools: Big Shot, Cloudy Day TIEF, Ornament Framelits, Heat Tool,
Embossing Powder: Pool Party & Pewter
Accessories: Jewels, Baker's Twine

I'm shocked sometimes what people pay for cards! Yes, I always turn a card over to look. :) I recently received one for my birthday that was $7.99 +tax! It was nice, but it got me thinking about taking cards like that and recreating them Hofkissed style. Hence, the card I'm showing you today.

The card I received had a hot air balloon carrying a cupcake, so that's what I wanted to do too. I didn't have a hot air balloon, so I used the Ornament Keepsakes stamp set and coordinating Framelits. It was meant to be! I heat embossed with Pool Party on Pool Party card stock for a tone-on-tone look. The small cupcake from the SAB 2013 set worked perfectly and instead of drawing the ropes on for the balloon, I used Baker's Twine.

I'm really happy with how it came out. I've toyed with the idea of adding more. Thought about adding strips of silver glimmer paper or zig zags in Crushed Curry. Perhaps I will, but I'm also loving the single punch of colour!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Silver Bow

This card was inspired by one found on Pinterest. I would love to give proper credit, but the name was hard to read and the picture wasn't linked... may be Debby Hughes? Anyway, here is my card:

Paper: Smoky Slate, Whisper White, Always Artichoke, Glimmer Paper
Ink: Versamark (for heat embossing)
Stamps: Greetings of the Season
Tools: Big Shot, Stylish Stripes TIEF, Heat Tool
Techniques: Heat Embossing

Isn't this fun?! So simple too! The bow is made from two punched ovals, a banner & a button. Pretty eye-catching if you ask me. At first I just embossed my white with the Stylish Stripes TIEF, but felt it was too bland, so I added some cut strips of the red Glimmer Paper.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Gold Elegance

I'll give you a break from the Christmas cards for today. Here is an elegant gold embossed card, inspired from the SU! Convention:

Paper: Modern Medley DSP, Very Vanilla
Ink: Black StazOn, Versamark
Stamps: Happy Day
Tools: Big Shot, Fun Flowers Bigz Die, Perfect Polk Dots TIEF, Heat Tool
Accessories: Very Vanilla Button
Techniques: Heat Embossing

I randomly stamped and heat embossed directly on the DSP with gold and did the same on the Very Vanilla pieces for my flower. I embossed the middle flower to break up all the gold embossing and instead of using the two smallest pieces from the die, I used a button that is also heat embossed in gold. Did you know you could do that?!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Working on the Road...

It's a busy life when you have a toddler and a newborn, so I often bring a small package of stuff to work on if I'm out and about at lessons and such. It helps me get some time to work, and it also generates interest...

As I was prepping cards for the upcoming holiday season, and building up my general inventory for sale, I created one "master" and then prepped several of the same card. I was dumping all the pieces to these cards in a bin so that I could assemble them later.

This weekend we headed up north and I brought my bin with me in the car to get working...

I pre-stamped, punched and embossed all the necessary pieces. I brought my snips, glue, Washi Tape and everything else I needed to get to work in the car ride. Here is the first of many cards I worked on:

Paper: Whisper White, Old Olive, Crumb Cake
Ink: Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler
Stamps: Mosaic Madness, Delightful Dozen
Tools: Heat Tool, Mosaic Punch, Punch Pack
Techniques: Heat Embossing

This card was inspired by one I saw on Pinterest... I just had to use my new Washi Tape (sneak peek from the Holiday Catalogue!) and the Mosaic Madness stamp set that I just received. Yet another Christmas card that doesn't use a Christmas stamp set for the main images. Have I used one yet?!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Christmas in July Series - Post 3

If you missed the previous posts, you might want to check them out starting a couple of posts back. I'm doing a week-long series on Christmas cards, but not using Christmas stamps. Here's today's:

Paper: Midnight Muse, Very Vanilla, Silver Glimmer
Ink: Basic Gray
Stamps: Lovely as a Tree
Tools: Big Shot, Heat Tool, Typeset Alphabet Bigz Die, Snowflurry Bigz Die
Accessories: Doily

Ok, so this isn't my favourite. It looked so much better in my head! ha. I hardly ever plan my designs out... I just create as I go. This one seemed to take hours!

The Typeset Alpha Bigz Die is so versatile! I've been using it a lot. On this card, "N O E L" fit just perfectly. After stamping and embossing the trees and cutting my letters, I thought it needed something else. After playing around with several ideas, I thought about using a doily. It didn't look quite right when I just laid the doily down, so I got the idea to cut a snowflake into it. It works, but I've got some other ideas floating around in my head with those doilies, so stay tuned...

Anyway, it is what it is. Maybe you love it. Creators are their worst critics after all. :)

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

A New Series! Christmas in July...

For about the next week, I'll be showcasing cards for a new series called Christmas in July. Not only will I be talking about Christmas, but I will be using (mostly) non Christmas stamps to show you that you can work with what you've got!

Today I'm featuring a card using the oh-so-popular Lovely as a Tree stamp set. Check it out:

Paper: Whisper White, Pool Party, Silver Glimmer
Ink: Pool Party, Midnight Muse
Stamps: Lovely as a Tree, Merry Messages
Tools: Heat Tool, Big Shot, Apothecary Accents Framelits
Accessories: Jewels
Technique: Heat Embossing

So, the sentiment is from the long ago retired set Merry Messages, but the main focal image is from a stamp set that is not specifically Christmas. This is one of two images that can potentially be used from this set, so the possibilities are endless!

After making this, I thought the evergreen would look pretty sweet if I had used Pool Party embossing powder, but I'm happy with the result. Perhaps I'll give that combo a try next.

Don't forget to come back tomorrow for the second post in this series...

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Black, White & Yellow... Over at Sunday Stamps

Happy Sunday! Sunday is quickly becoming my favourite day of the week because it's always a new challenge over at Sunday Stamps and not only do I get to create, but I'm inspired every week by all the entries too!

Paper: Whisper White, Vellum
Ink: Basic Black, Daffodil Delight
Stamps: Everything Eleanor, Sincere Salutations (retired)
Tools: Heat Tool, 1-1/4" Scallop Circle
Accessories: Basic Black 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Baker's Twine
Note Cards & Envelopes
Technique: Heat Embossing

I did something a bit different this week - I created a set of note cards instead of just a single card. Pretty easy to do when SU! sells Whisper White note cards with envelopes! I wanted to keep things pretty simple, so I just stamped a collage of stamps from the set Everything Eleanor.

I originally wanted to emboss the sentiment in white, but I discovered that what I thought was my white embossing powder was actually clear and I didn't have anymore white! Bummer! But I think the silver works well also.

The envelope is simply a piece of vellum that's scored and held together with some ribbon. Easy peasy!

What do you think?

Hope this inspires you to play along with us this week. I just love Kathya's colour choices this week!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

I'm Back!

I took a small hiatus from Blogging this week, but I'm back now! I wanted to share a project with you today using the new Swallowtail stamp that's in the Spring Catalogue. I created a set of note cards with coordinating envies. Check it out:

I started with some of our note cards and stamped the image using VersaMark and then heat embossed with clear embossing powder. Next, I brayered each card using the following colour combos: Summer Starfruit/Old Olive, Sahara Sand/Raspberry Ripple, Pool Party/Elegant Eggplant. Once all was dry, I used the Oval Framelits to shape my note cards and I just think the shape is so much fun. Since I wanted to use these as a gift set and for sale, I packaged them simply, but in a way that anyone would be happy to receive these! I just love this new bold image... don't you?!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Merry Christmas

Wishing you & yours a very Merry Christmas and a healthy and happy holiday season!

Paper: Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Festival of Prints DSP Pack
Stamps: Snowflake Soiree
Tools: Big Shot, Window Framelits, Lacy Brocade TIEF, Heat Tool
Accessories: Gold Embossing Powder, 1-1/4" Cherry Cobbler Ribbon (retired)
Techniques: Heat Embossing

Of course, I also have to show you my last Christmas card of the season. :) This card was made using scraps on my desk from previous projects, but I like the way it turned out and I hope you do too. I added a banner out of ribbon and some heat embossing. I also popped up the ornament to give the card some depth.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Watercolor Easel

Today is another sketch over at Sunday Stamps... my sketch in fact! Hope you'll play along with us this week! Actually, you have TWO WEEKS to play along! The challenge closes Saturday, December 29th.

Paper: Whisper White, Brushed Gold Specialty, Neutrals DSP Pack
Ink: Soft Suede, Gold, Versamark
Stamps: Watercolor Winter, Come to Bethlehem
Tools: Lace Border Punch (retired), Heat Tool
Techniques: Heat Embossing
Accessories: Pearls

I'm just about at the end of making Christmas cards. I know you've probably heard me say that several times already, but I really am nearing the end. :) I still had a few more cards to make for clients, so why not show them off to you too.

I followed the sketch pretty closely and ended up making an easel-type card. I added lots of shimmer with the Brushed Gold Specialty Paper, gold ink and heat embossing. I did a lot of fussy cutting with this card, but I think it was worth it.

I hope you like what I've created and are inspired by the design team this week so that you can play along with us over the holidays!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Snowflake Ballerina

Welcome to another week at Sunday Stamps! This week is a colour challenge, so you're free to do what you want with the colour scheme. As much as I wanted to steer away from Christmas (because I'm tired of making Christmas cards already), I just couldn't resist with Holly's colour theme this week.

My card was 100% inspired by some snowflake ballerina garland I saw on Pinterest:

Paper: Real Red, Basic Black, Brushed Silver Specialty, Printer Paper
Ink: Versamark
Stamps: The Sounding Joy (retired)
Tools: Heat Tool, Black Embossing Powder
Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds

Here is the link to the template I used to cut out the ballerina. As soon as I saw these ballerinas in Pinterest, I thought about The Nutcracker and just had to make one to fit on a card. I used the template found on the website, brought it into MDS and resized it. The tutu was cut by hand from a 3x3 piece of paper. I used ordinary printer paper for both because of the numerous folds in the tutu.

To add some sparkle and bling, I covered the tutu in Dazzling Diamonds and heat embossed the sentiment.

I hope you're inspired to play along with us this week!

Until next time, stay crafty!

Steph

Peace on Earth

Wouldn't that be nice?! Today's card is a CASE of Connie Stewart's card I found on Pinterest. I just absolutely fell in love with it.

Paper: Whisper White, Midnight Muse
Ink: Gumball Green
Stamps: Merry Minis, Greetings of the Season
Tools: Scallop Punch, Merry Minis Punch Pack, Heat Tool, Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots TIEF
Techniques: Heat Embossing

I changed out the sentiment she used because I just found this card so peaceful and thought the sentiment I used from Greetings of the Season fit perfectly. I heat embossed it in silver for some added texture and elegance. I just love this card!

What do you think?

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Every Girl Loves...

...A great pair of shoes! And what Bride wouldn't love a great pair of shoes with some bling?! Today I created a card featuring a great shoe from the Fabulous You set.

Paper: Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Real Red
Ink: Pretty in Pink, VersaMark
Stamps: Fabulous You, Itty Bitty Banners
Tools: Big Shot, Elegant Lines TIEF, heat tool
Accessories: Pewter EP, Jewels, Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon

This shoe is just so girly and I think, gives a bridal feel, depending on what you do with it. I decided to heat emboss it with Pewter and then added some bling to the heal and a few more on the toe. I dry embossed the lower half of the card and then accented my banner with some handmade rosettes that my sideline Sandy taught the team to make. Aren't they precious?! So simple too!

To make some rosettes of your own, just punch the size circle of your choice and start cutting around in a spiral toward the center. Leave a small tab and then start rolling the spiral around into a tight (or loose) rosette. Secure the rolled rosette to the tab in the center with some glue or a glue dot and you're done. Simple, eh?!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Swapping

As promised, here are the swaps I created for the Hamilton Regionals on the weekend:

Paper: Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Basic Gray, Bashful Blue
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirouette, Basic Gray
Stamps: Love & Laughter
Tools: Big Shot, Polka Dots TIEF, Heat Tool, Clear Blocks, 1" Square Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch
Accessories: Basic Gray Stitched Ribbon, Jewels, Pewter EP
Techniques: Clear Block Stamping, Heat Embossing

Paper: Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla, Comfort Cafe DSP
Ink: Pool Party, Summer Starfruit, Midnight Muse, Soft Suede
Stamps: French Foliage, Occasions Alphabet
Tools: Big Shot, Large Scallop Edgelit, Clear Blocks, Scalllop Circle Punch, Decorative Label Punch
Accessories: Very Vanilla Ribbon, Pearls
Techniques: Clear Block Stamping

For each of my Swaps, I used the Clear Block Stamping Technique. This is where you take your Clear Blocks (I used SU! Blocks C & D), ink 'em up as you would a stamp and then stamp them on your paper. It adds so much interest to a project and you get a "wow" factor without having to use extra tools or anything. The best part is that you get a different look every time you stamp again with them so no two projects will be exactly the same. The only trick is to make sure you don't move the block once it touches the paper or else you smear - same as stamps, but the blocks are more slippery. Hope I've inspired you to give it a try too!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph