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

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

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

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