Using Scraps

If you saw my series on scraps, then you know that I save every little piece of paper. :) The other day I showcased a card and today's post uses scraps from that card. You can check out the post here.

Paper: Silver Specialty, Whisper White, Real Red, Silver Glimmer Paper
Stamps: Greetings of the Season
Tools: Big Shot, Petals-a-Plenty TIEF, Lattice Bigz Die, Artisan Label Punch, XL Oval Punch

Usually I don't save the tiny scraps from the Lattice Bigz Die, but because I cut it out using Glimmer Paper, I thought about saving them and using them in another cutout. I chose Whisper White and went with the Silver Specialty paper for my card base.

I wanted this card to be shimmery and simple, so I stuck with similar tones, and added a pop of red (also a scrap, by the way!). I heat embossed the sentiment and at the last minute decided to emboss my red banner. Glad I did it.

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

Using the Old

I don't know about you, but there are some items in my craft space that have been sitting there, unused, for years! I think this has happened more to me after becoming a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator (since I try to use mostly SU! products), but I thought it was high time I used some of the paper flowers that have been staring at me for so long.

These cards were quite simple to make considering I went crazy on the flowers and nothing else, and I really like how they turned out. The flowers give a lot of dimension to the card so I didn't need to add much else, I thought.

I'm so happy that I finally used these flowers to make these pretty cards (made some other versions too)... and am especially happy that they are one less thing that I have to pack when we move in 5 weeks!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Why I Love Pinterest

Today's card is CASEd from Brian King (found on Pinterest). I just loved the look and altered it slightly to give it a Christmas feel.

Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Silver Glimmer
Tools: Big Shot, Lattice Bigz Die, Window Framelits

There is actually no stamping on this card! No sentiments either... I thought about making this a "blank" Christmas card so that people could write their own message and sentiment. It could therefore be used as a thank you card during the holidays or given to someone who doesn't celebrate the Christmas season.

Why do I love Pinterest? Because I often find out things like the Lattice Bigz Die and the Window Framelits fit perfectly together to create a beautiful card! Love it...

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Pierced Ornaments

Today I have another Christmas card I created. The only stamp I used on this card is for the sentiment. The rest is paper pierced. Check it out:

Paper: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla
Ink: Gumball Green, Raspberry Ripple, Early Espresso
Stamps: More Merry Messages
Tools: Big Shot, Stripes TIEF, Paper Piercing
Accessories: Jewels, Stitched Satin Ribbon

I used the ornament Paper Piercing Template to pierce my ornaments of choice. Once that was done, I used my Stampin' Write Markers to "connect the dots"... this gives the look of stitching. I fooled around a bit with my Blender Pen and moved some the ink around to give the ornaments some colour.

I added some ribbon to the top of each ornament and A LOT of bling with some jewels.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

We're Getting Sketchy @ Sunday Stamps!

Welcome to another Sunday at Sunday Stamps! It's been a while since I've been able to create for the Blog, but I'm so happy to return this week. This sketch deemed to be a perfect fit for a custom card I was commissioned to design for a client. Check it out:

Paper: Basic Gray, Concord Crush, Whisper White
Ink: Sahara Sand, Basic Gray
Stamps: Memorable Moments
Tools: Big Shot, Typeset Alphabet Bigz Die, HB Embossing Folder (non SU!)
Accessories: Basic Gray Washi Tape

This is such a great sketch - so versatile. I cut some numbers from Glimmer Paper using the Big Shot which added a special little something, I think. Before embossing my first layer, I stamped the number '70' randomly all over the page.

For some added texture, I ruffled the Washi Tape in the top right corner. The beauty of Washi is that it's repositional and self adhesive!

Stop on by Sunday Stamps to see what the other DT Members have created to inspire you. We always look forward to seeing what you create! Don't forget that we're now a 2-week challenge, so you have until July 26th to play along.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Christmas in July Series - Post 5

This has got to be one of my favourite cards from this series so far. I just love how it turned out and I'm quite proud of myself for really pushing my brain for this one!

Paper: Whisper White, Coastal Cabana, Baked Brown Sugar
Ink: Pistachio Pudding, Early Espresso
Stamps: Papillon Potpourri, Delightful Dozen
Tools: Punch Pack Punches
Accessories: Summer Starfruit Satin Stitched Ribbon, Jewels

If you read my supplies above, it wasn't a mistake that I wrote Papillon Potpourri as one of the stamp sets used! Can you believe it?! When I first started this series, I pulled out all the stamps I thought I could work with. At our team meeting on Tuesday, my sideline (thanks Mirela!) was talking about how she's addicted to using this stamp set on all her cards... so that made me want to try using it for Christmas!

I used some grade school skills for this card... I cut a template from a piece of scrap paper and then randomly stamped one of the butterfly images, making sure to get into my pointed corners. The delicate design really worked for this:

I used the middle butterfly on the right.

Now I really set the bar high for myself on using non Christmas stamps for this series! But I gotta tell you, this has really helped me to be more creative and think about my stamps in a completely different way. I might have to try doing this series for another occasion later on, but for now, I can't stop making non-Christmas Christmas cards!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Christmas in July Series - Post 4

Good morning and welcome to the fourth post in this series. If you're just tuning in for the first time, I'm showcasing cards that use non Christmas stamps to make Christmas cards! Here's today's:

Paper: Pool Party, Whisper White, Silver Glimmer
Ink: Pool Party, Island Indigo
Stamps: Everything Eleanor, Occasions Alphabet, More Merry Messages
Tools: Punches - Scallop Oval, Artisan Label
Accessories: Jewels
Technique: Heat Embossing

Aside from sentiments, the goal of this series is to us show you that you don't need to own a ton of Christmas stamps (or maybe any at all) because you can use what you've got in your stash! This is one of my favs. I love the colours and the tone-on-tone stamping and heat embossing - both in Pool Party! All the stamping, minus the sentiments, are from the same stamp set, Everything Eleanor. What a great set this is! I have used it a lot... there are so many fantastic images that are great for layering.

Hope this series is inspiring you to use your non Christmas stamps to think outside the box!

Check back tomorrow... you won't believe what stamp set I used to make a Christmas card. :)

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph