Happy hamster birthday

Last weekend I had a fabulous, crafty three days with my friend Lisa. I mostly focused on making Christmas cards, and ended up with 35 completed (five cards of each of seven designs). I'd hoped to make more than that, but I got stuck on a couple of the designs. So I have a slew of Christmas cards to share with you in future posts, but today I want to show you a fun birthday card I made last week.

Supplies (all Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):
Stamps: Hug a Hamster (Raisin Boat)
Paper: Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Whisper White card stock
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Early Espresso, Soft Suede
Accessories: Corner rounder, Cappuccino Assortment baker's twine (Hemptique), Mono Multi liquid glue, Dimensionals

Look at those chubby hamster cheeks! I love this quirky stamp set and thought it would be perfect for my cousin's seventh birthday.

This card is 5" x 7", and I'll admit I struggled to figure out how to create a focal image that didn't seem too small for the card. After some trial and error, I ended up with the hamster sitting on a pile of sunflower seeds that trailed off to the right edge of the card stock.

To add some dimension to the focal layer, I stamped the hamster twice on Soft Suede card stock. I cut out the whole first image and just the paws from the second. Then I used small pieces of Dimensionals to adhere the paws onto the main image.

I added more dimension with the sunflower seeds. I stamped some of the seeds directly on the focal layer, and I stamped others on scratch card stock, cut them out and adhered them to the card with Dimensionals.

I really liked the way the front of the card turned out, so I wanted the inside to be cute, too. I stamped the sentiment "Have a ball!" and then added a hamster running in an exercise ball. I positioned the hamster in the lower right corner and then hand-drew a loopy dashed line to create the impression that he's rolling away. Perfect!



Thanks for stopping by!

Too much pie?

Last month I made a Halloween card to enter in the monthly challenge at the Raisin Boat blog. Well, guess what? I won the challenge and got a free stamp set from Raisin Boat! OK, so it was a random drawing, but a free set is a free set. And it's a great motivation to make a card for the next challenge, which is exactly what I did.

Supplies (all Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):
Stamps: Grandma's Kitchen (Raisin Boat), Sweet As Pie
Paper: Baked Brown Sugar, Blackberry Bliss, Whisper White card stock
Ink: Jet Black StazOn, Baked Brown Sugar, Blackberry Bliss, Soft Suede, Smoky Slate, Basic Gray
Accessories: Ovals Collection and Apothecary Accents Framelits dies, pearls, corner rounder, Dimensionals

This month the challenge theme is "thankful." Although your card (or other project) doesn't need to focus on Thanksgiving, that's what came to my mind. Thanksgiving always makes me think of pie, and to be honest, I'm pretty darn thankful for pie.

I knew right away I wanted to use the sentiment "There's no such thing as too much pie" from Stampin' Up!'s October Paper Pumpkin kit. It worked perfectly with the pie image from the Raisin Boat stamp set Grandma's Kitchen. I stamped rows of pies to fill the background panel and added one more pie below the sentiment on the focal image. I wanted to add a little color behind the focal layer so I cut out one of the Apothecary Accents label shapes, cut the label in half and adhered the pieces behind the oval so just the ends were visible. Two small pearls add the perfect finishing touch.

Hmm ... now I want to eat some pie. Thanks for stopping by!

Superhero birthday card

A couple of months ago I made a birthday card using the Calling All Heroes stamp set from Stampin' Up! This week I needed another birthday card for a boy, so I pulled out this fun set again and got to work.

Supplies (all Stampin' Up!):
Stamps: Calling All Heroes
Paper: Basic Gray, Whisper White, Island Indigo, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Crushed Curry card stock
Ink: Basic Gray, Island Indigo, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Crushed Curry
Accessories: Itty Bitty Accents punch pack, 3/4" circle punch, Dimensionals

I needed a large card (this is approximately 5" x 7"), so I decided to use multiple focal points to fill the space. For each focal point I started by stamping the image of graduated dots twice to create a mini background. That was probably the hardest part of the whole card.

Even though this stamp set is photopolymer (and thus completely clear, so you can see through the stamps), I had a hard time lining up the dotted image. So after a lot of crooked rows of dots, I figured out a trick. I stamped the first group of dots as usual. Then I re-inked the stamp and carefully wiped the ink off one of the outer rows of dots. (You also could just avoid inking that row when you reapply the ink). When I stamped the image again, I lined up that row of dots directly over a row of dots in the already stamped image. Then the rest of the dots were lined up correctly.

With the dots done, I stamped the remaining images, cut them out and attached them to the dot backgrounds with Dimensionals. I stamped the background of the Basic Gray card base with stars and adhered the panels to the card. To fill in some of the "white" space and bring in a little more color, I added three punched circles with punched stars in the middle.

Thanks for stopping by!

Gift box, bag with tag, and card

What a crazy week! Monday was my birthday (happy birthday to me!), and I spent the day shopping at the mall with my sister and then having a family dinner. Most of the day Tuesday was dedicated to assembling my latest Lego scene: a woodsy lake with cabins, canoers and even a lake monster. On Wednesday my aunt and I took a mini road trip to visit an awesome craft store in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. (There's a little cafe inside the store, and we took a break halfway through to eat some lunch. Seriously. It's like a warehouse.) On Thursday I got together with a friend for a birthday dessert (turtle cheesecake for me, mmm). Then Friday was more craftiness when my aunt and I went to a scrapbook expo at the state fairgrounds. Whew!

I've been so busy I almost forgot to do my second blog post for the week. Since I didn't have a chance to create anything this week, I'm going to share a little gift packaging ensemble I made for my sister's birthday a couple of weeks ago.

Supplies (all Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):
Stamps: Label Love
Paper: Fiesta Forever card stock stack (Die Cuts with a View), Pool Party Core'dinations card stock, Whisper White card stock
Ink: Concord Crush marker
Accessories: Chalk Talk Framelits dies, Lacy Brocade embossing folder, Fun Flower punch, Pansy punch, 7/8" scallop circle punch, 3/4" circle punch, corner rounder, Coastal Cabana ruffle stretch trim, Lucky Limeade ruffle ribbon, Gift Bag Punch Board (We R Memory Keepers), Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack, paper-piercing tool, sanding block (unknown), Dimensionals, Scor-Tape (Scor-Pal)

I had fun making this ensemble, and I was glad that I even had some tissue paper to match. Below are several pictures of the individual items as well as a few details. I haven't written up a tutorial for making the gift box, but if you would like one, leave a comment below and I'll post one as soon as I can.

I used two pieces of 12" x 12" patterned card stock for the gift bag and box cover, with enough pieces left over for the card layer and embellishments. (I think I still have a few scraps that I decided to save since they coordinate with other patterns in the Fiesta Forever stack.) 

To make the gift bag I cut one of the pieces of patterned card stock to 9" x 11" and used the Gift Bag Punch Board. I used two pieces of Lucky Limeade ruffled ribbon to create handles for the bag and added a die-cut tag.

For the tag I used one of the Chalk Talk Framelits dies and cut two of the same shape: one from the patterned card stock and one from Pool Party Core'dinations card stock. I embossed the Pool Party tag, lightly sanded it and adhered the patterned tag to the back. I embellished the front of the tag, added a sentiment and tied the tag to one of the bag handles with a piece of Coastal Cabana ruffle stretch trim.

The gift box measures 3" x 3" x 6". For the cover of the box I cut the patterned card stock to 9" x 12". For the Pool Party base, I started with a piece that was just slightly smaller (I think about 8-7/8" x 11-7/8") so the cover and base fit together more easily. The box was the perfect size to hold a Republic of Tea cylinder tin.

To keep the box closed, I tied a piece of Coastal Cabana ruffle stretch trim around the box and added a layered flower as an embellishment. I embossed the largest Pool Party flower and used a folded piece of Lucky Limeade ribbon as leaves. For the flower center I repeated the circle and scalloped circle from the tag.

The 3" x 3" gift card is very simple. I cut a 3" x 6" piece of Pool Party card stock from what was left from the box and then added a layer of the patterned card stock. I adhered a strip of Lucky Limeade ruffled ribbon along the left side of the card and pierced a border along the other sides.

I felt like I should add something else to the card, but nothing I tried seemed quite right. But then I realized that the card didn't need to take center stage since it was just meant to accompany the gift, so I left it as is.

I was really happy with how this turned out. Now if I were just a bit more prepared with my gift-giving I could make more of my own gift packages.

Thanks for stopping by!

Nature's Peace simplicity

When I saw the Nature's Peace stamp set in the Stampin' Up! holiday catalog, I loved it immediately. I'm a sucker for just about any Christmas stamps with a peace/nature/animal theme, and this one also has a great vintage feel. But since I already have so many Christmas stamps, I wasn't going to buy this one. Until, that is, I realized it's the perfect size for a note card.

Supplies (all Stampin' Up!):
Stamps: Nature's Peace
Paper: Crumb Cake note cards and envelopes, Cherry Cobbler card stock
Ink: VersaMark
Accessories: Winter White embossing powder, Boho Blossoms punch, pearls

I have been a little obsessed with note cards lately. I really like the slightly smaller size (3-1/2" x 5") and the more rectangular shape compared to an A2 card. (OK, I know something can't be "more" rectangular; either it is a rectangle or it isn't. But the proportions of the two card sizes are different.) And they're great for one-layer cards like this one.

I stamped the image on the Crumb Cake note card using VersaMark ink and then embossed it with Winter White embossing powder. It's old embossing powder, so it didn't cover as smoothly and evenly as I would have liked, but it really didn't matter with the style of this stamp.

For a touch of color, I added a punched, layered Cherry Cobbler flower with a pearl center (sort of a poinsettia) near the middle of the image. I repeated the color by cutting off a narrow strip (about 1/8") from the long edge of the card front and then adhering a piece of Cherry Cobbler card stock to the back side of the card front. For one last touch I stamped and embossed a few snowflakes on the envelope.

Thanks for stopping by!

Halloween critters and creatures

I mentioned in my Halloween cats post a few days ago that I'd made a whole collection of Halloween cards using Stampin' Up!'s Whisper White note cards and envelopes. I found that I enjoyed making these simple Halloween greetings much more than elaborate cards, and I was happier with how they turned out. (Note to self: Remember this next year.) Here is the whole assortment of Halloween critters and creatures:

Supplies (all Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):
Stamps: Critters in Costume (Lawn Fawn)
Paper: Whisper White card stock, Whisper White note cards and envelopes
Ink: Jet Black StazOn; markers: Pumpkin Pie, Smoky Slate, Soft Suede
Accessories: Critters in Costume dies (Lawn Fawn), Large Polka Dot embossing folder, Dimensionals

This was by far the fastest card to make. I had stamped and cut out the bunny and greeting last year but never used them. So I just embossed the card base and added the images with Dimensionals. Hard to get easier than that.

Supplies (all Stampin' Up!):
Stamps: Halloween Hedgehogs
Paper: Whisper White card stock, Whisper White note cards and envelopes
Ink: Jet Black StazOn; markers: Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Island Indigo, Smoky Slate, Baked Brown Sugar, Chocolate Chip, Blushing Bride, Basic Black
Accessories: Arrows embossing folder, corner rounder, Dimensionals

I love, love the Halloween Hedgehogs stamp set, and this is my favorite image from the set. I colored the image, doodled a border and adhered the panel over a note card embossed with the Arrows embossing folder.

Supplies (all Stampin' Up!):
Stamps: Tape It, Halloween Hedgehogs
Paper: Whisper White card stock, Whisper White note cards and envelopes
Ink: Jet Black StazOn, Pumpkin Pie, Soft Suede, Smoky Slate ink pads; markers: Pumpkin Pie, Tangelo Twist, Daffodil Delight, Crisp Cantaloupe, Smoky Slate, Basic Gray, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: 2-1/2" circle punch, Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack, paper-piercing tool, Dimensionals

To make the background I used three images from the Tape It stamp set. I stamped each stamp on scratch paper before stamping them on the card to lighten the images. I pierced a border around the focal image and in each corner of the card base.

Supplies (all Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):
Stamps: Halloween Hedgehogs
Paper: Whisper White card stock, Whisper White note cards and envelopes
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Old Olive Assortment and Skin Tones Assortment Blendabilities; Basic Gray, Crumb Cake, Marina Mist markers; Cool Gray - C1 marker (Copic)
Accessories: Large Polka Dot embossing folder, 2-1/2" circle punch, Lucky Limeade baker's twine, Dimensionals, Glue Dots

I used a combination of water-based and alcohol markers to color this image. I punched out the image and adhered it to the note card embossed with the Large Polka Dot embossing folder (that one has definitely become a favorite!). For a simple embellishment I added a bow of Lucky Limeade baker's twine.

Supplies (all Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):
Stamps: Too Cute to Spook (Unity Stamp Company)
Paper: Whisper White card stock, Whisper White note cards and envelopes
Ink: Mememto Tuxedo Black; Basic Black marker; Old Olive Assortment, Daffodil Delight Assortment and Skin Tones Assortment Blendabilities
Accessories: Chalk Talk Framelits dies, Dimensionals

I do not have great skill with alcohol-based markers, so this little guy's head is a little blotchy. But I figure he's a monster, so he probably doesn't mind too much. After coloring the image, I cut it out by hand and adhered it to the note card base with Dimensionals. I added the speech bubble with the stamped sentiment and drew a border around the card base and around the speech bubble shape.

Supplies (all Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):
Stamps: Too Cute to Spook (Unity Stamp Company), Gorgeous Grunge
Paper: Whisper White card stock, Whisper White note cards and envelopes
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Old Olive, Basic Black marker
Accessories: Basic Black baker's twine, Black Diamond Stickles glitter glue (Ranger), corner rounder, Dimensionals

I wanted to give this spider a web, but since I don't have a spider web stamp or embossing folder, I had to make my own. I drew a basic web shape with a black marker and then went over it with black glitter glue to give it more "oomph." I stamped the spider, cut it out and also applied some black glitter glue.

When both pieces were dry, I pierced a small hole through the card stock in the web and pulled a piece of Basic Black baker's twine through the hole. I taped one end of the twine to the back of the piece of card stock and the other end to the back of the spider. Then I used a Dimensional to adhere the spider below the web.

Thanks for stopping by!

Halloween candy for a challenge

I think challenges are a great way to get your creative juices flowing and make something you wouldn't have otherwise. It's been awhile since I've entered any challenges, so to get back into the swing of things, I created a card for Raisin Boat's Halloween challenge.

Supplies (all Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):
Stamps: Central Park (Raisin Boat), Trick or Treat (Lawn Fawn)
Paper: Crumb Cake, Tangelo Twist, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Elegant Eggplant card stock
Ink: Tangelo Twist, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Elegant Eggplant
Accessories: 1-1/4" circle punch, small oval punch (retired), 1-3/4" scallop circle punch, 7/8" scallop circle punch, Ice White pearl pen (Viva Decor)

Even though it wasn't required, I wanted to use Raisin Boat stamps for the challenge. The challenge (pun intended) for me was that I don't own any of Raisin Boat's cute Halloween sets. So I had to improvise.

Using the Central Park stamp set, I stamped one of the oval images and one of the circle images in four different colors. I punched out the stamped images as well as some scalloped circles. I cut apart sections of the scalloped circles and glued them behind the punched-out circles and ovals to create the look of pieces of wrapped candy.

To make the card, I first trimmed down the card base so it is 5" wide instead of 5-1/2". Then I layered several pieces of "candy" along the bottom of the card, some of them going past the edges of the card base. I used a pearl pen to make a border along the top of the card and stamped an appropriate "trick or treat" sentiment.

Do you have any challenge recommendations?Leave a comment below. Thanks for stopping by!

500 blog posts and a Christmas star

This is my 500th blog post! Woohoo! I debated what to share for this post: Something that represents my typical clean-and-simple style? Or something elaborate and fancier than I usually make? This bold Christmas card seemed like a good choice; it has a simple layout and a little sparkle.

Supplies (all Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):
Stamps: Bright and Beautiful
Paper: Textured and smooth Rich Razzleberry card stock, old sheet music (unknown)
Ink: Rich Razzleberry
Accessories: Stars Framelits dies, gold sequin trim, gold baker's twine, Dimensionals, Glue Dots

This card started with the sheet music. A few months ago at a rubber stamp show I saw several cute cards that had images stamped directly on newsprint-looking paper or authentic vintage sheet music. One vendor was even selling pieces of old sheet music cut down for making cards. At about the same time the church where my yoga class meets was clearing out old items, including piles and piles of old choir music. Score! I took a good-sized stack for myself and a few friends, and this card idea has been percolating in my head ever since.

I cut a piece of the sheet music to 5-1/4" x 4" and tore along the right edge. I stamped the largest star image in the middle and "joy" in the lower right corner and adhered the paper to a textured Rich Razzleberry card base. I stamped the smallest star on smooth Rich Razzleberry card stock, cut it out and adhered it to the middle of the large star with a Dimensional. A few gold sequins and some gold baker's twine add the perfect finishing touches.

Whether you've read a hundred of my blog posts or just one, thank you for being a part of this little adventure. And thanks for stopping by!

Halloween cats

Happy World Card-Making Day! I spent a good part of this afternoon making cards, and I finally used some of my new stamps from the Holiday Catalog to make Christmas cards. I promise I'll share those another day, but today I want to show you a couple of Halloween cards featuring not-too-spooky cats.

Supplies (all Stampin' Up!):
Stamps: Frightening Feline
Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White card stock; Designer Series Paper (DSP) Patterns Stack - Brights (retired)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Basic Black marker
Accessories: Corner rounder, Candy Dots - Brights, rhinestones, Basic Black 1/8" taffeta ribbon, Dimensionals

I love the combination of round and straight on this card: circles and stripes, curved corners and straight edges. The pieces of DSP are 3/4" x 4" (Pumpkin Pie) and 3-1/2" x 4" (Old Olive) with approximately a 1/8" gap between the pieces. The Basic Black ribbon echoes that gap (same width and color) and "holds together" all three pieces of DSP. I embellished the cat image with green Candy Dot eyes and a rhinestone collar, and I doodled a border around the focal panel.

Supplies (all Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):
Stamps: Critters in Costume (Lawn Fawn)
Paper: Whisper White card stock, Polka Dot Parade DSP, Whisper White note cards and envelopes
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; markers: Basic Gray, Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Blushing Bride
Accessories: Critters in Costume dies (Lawn Fawn), white baker's twine, rhinestones, Dimensionals

This card is the smaller note card size (3-1/2" x 5" compared to A2 size, which is 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"), and it was the first of a whole string of Halloween note cards I made last week. (Those are more cards that I'll share in another post.) On this card I again combined two different DSP patterns, but this time both have circles or dots. I used a small strip of the Rich Razzleberry piece to anchor the focal image on the Old Olive background. A baker's twine bow and a few rhinestones provide simple embellishment for this little Halloween kitty.

Thanks for stopping by!