Just a quick note to let you know that while I am still an active Independent Demonstrator with Stampin' Up, I have let my website www.creativeflare.stampinup.net lapse for the time being.  Due to some minor flood damage to my home I've had to pack up my tools, etc. and wait for repairs, which has taken longer than expected.  I am still taking orders, just not blogging or teaching classes right now.

All the best,
Kristine
creativeflarecards@gmail.com

This is so practical!  I'm excited to get mine for Christmas Card season.

Thought for the day... sympathy and insight

Ever had one of those days?  This is the card for that day...

Supplies available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Stamp set:  Trust God (w#132094, c#126702)

Ink:  Basic Black

Card Stock:  Raspberry Ripple, Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Modern Medley Designer Series Paper (birds and backing label)

Tools:  Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (113439), Labels Collection Framelits (125598), Hearts Collection Framelits (125599), Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder (129984), Petals a Plenty Embossing Folders (116824),  2-1/2" Circle Punch (120906),  Decorative Label (120907).

Peace!

This card is not totally a Stampin' Up card, my inspiration piece for this card was the elephant/butterfly washi tape that I got from a local craft store...

Supplies available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Stamps:  Positively Chevron Background (w#130496, c#130499)

Ink:  Versamark

Card Stock:  Crumb Cake, Always Artichoke, Island Indigo, Melon Mambo, Elegant Eggplant, Tangerine Tango

Tools:  Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (113439), Window Frames Framelits (129021), Label Bracket Punch (132153), Elegant Butterfly (127526), Bitty Butterfly (129406), Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (118309)

Enjoy!

Epic Thanks

The zig-zags on the Gumball Green background were made with the 1" square punch...

Supplies available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Stamp Set:  Six Sided Sampler (w#130953, c#130956), Gorgeous Grunge (w#130514, c#130517)

     (*Buy as a bundle with the Hexagon punch and save 15% - w# 132725, c#132724)

Ink:  Gumball Green, Crumb Cake

Card stock:  Crumb Cake, Gumball Green, Calypso Coral, Very Vanilla, Daffodil Delight, Pool Party;  Epic Day Designer Series Paper

Tools:  Hexagon Punch (130919), 1" Square Punch (124094)

A chill in the air would be Tre`s Che`re

August in Kansas has me wishing I was back in the Pacific Northwest... whew, it's hot here!  Here's a little blue and silver sparkle to help me chill out...  Looks like Island Indigo and Pool Party are the colors this winter.

Supplies for this card can be purchased from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Stamp Set:  Che`re Amie (the French version of My Friend (w# 128670, c#122587)

Card Stock:  Island Indigo, Silver Shimmer, Silver Glimmer Paper, Whisper White, Winter Frost Designer Series Paper Pack.

Ink:  Island Indigo and Smoky Slate

Tools and cool stuff:  Apothecary Accents Framelits (127003), Honeycomb Embossing Folder (129378), Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (113439);  Large Rhinestone Jewels (129324)

Enjoy!

Happy Day Hello

The colors of this card were inspired by the mock-Turkish rug on my living room floor...

Supplies for this card are available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Stamp set:  Happy Day (w#130294, c#130297)

Card Stock:  Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Island Indigo and Always Artichoke.

Ink:  Island Indigo, Versamark

Tools:  Artisan Label Punch (130920), Scallop Edge Border punch (119882), Floral Frames Collection Framelits (127012), Adorning Accents Edgelits (125595), Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (113439)

Enjoy!

Crescent Craze

Last week's feathers and crescents keep popping up.  Like a kid with a new toy, I can't stop playing with these!  

Supplies:  available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Stamp Set:  Lots of Thanks (w129687, c129690)

Card Stock: Midnight Muse (126843), Calypso Coral (122925), Crisp Cantaloupe (131298), Soft Suede (115318), Coastal Cabana (131927), Whisper White (100730)

In Color 2013-15 Designer Series Paper (130136)

Ink: Midnight Muse (126860), Early Espresso (126974)

Tools:  Chevron Embossing folder (127749), 2-1/2" Circle Punch (120906), 1-3/4" Circle Punch (119850), Itty Bitty Punches (118309), Big Shot (113439).

Ex Libris - cards for the literature lover

I love the Ex Libris background stamp - probably because I love books.  For this card, I stamped Ex Libris in Soft Suede on a Raspberry Ripple background, and then trimmed it down with the Stampin' trimmer.  It's mounted on a base of Baked Brown Sugar.

Supplies: available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Stamp Set:  Ex Libris (w131992, c129496),  Chalk Talk (w 130631, c130634)

Card Stock:  Baked Brown Sugar (131296), Raspberry Ripple (126842) Soft Suede(115318) Crumb Cake (120953)

In Color 2013-15 Designer Series Paper (130136)

Ink:  Soft Suede(126978)

Tools: Label Bracket Punch (132153), Bitty Butterfly Punch (129406), Elegant Butterfly Punch (127526), Chalk Talk Framelets (129983), Big Shot (113439)

Moon Shadow Feather Flower Card

Last week I was playing with "feathers" and crescent moon shapes made from 2-1/2" punched circles, so I call these "Moon Shadow Feathers" because it's the shadow area left over from cutting a crescent moon.

Supplies: available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Stamp Set:  Chalk Talk (w130631, c130634)

Card stock:  Crisp Canteloupe (131298) Coastal Cabana (131297), Whisper White(100730), Baked Brown Sugar (131296), Pistachio Pudding (131294)

Venetian Romance Designer Series Paper (130144)

Ink:  Calypso Coral Stampin' Write Marker (Subtles Collection 131263), Coastal Cabana Classic Ink Pad (131175)

Tools:  Honeycomb Embossing Folder (129378);  Big Shot (113439)

Almost Masculine card...

In my house, I'm the official card maker for the family.  So when I showed this card to my husband and asked "Do you think this is a masculine card?"  I got a scrunched up nose with this reply:  "For a dude to send to a dude, or are you sending this to a dude?"  So my husband (who is not from California, despite the lingo) has stated, he wouldn't send it to another man, but if I were to send it to a man that would be artistically acceptable.  So, I'll call it an almost masculine card....

Supplies available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Stamp sets:  Truly Grateful (w131730, c131733)

      Chalk Talk (w130631, c130634)

Card stock:  Baked Brown Sugar (131296), Midnight Muse (126843), Cherry Cobbler (119685)

Ink: Soft Suede (126978), Versamark (102283)

Tools:  Label Bracket Punch (132153), 1-3/8" Circle Punch (119860),  Itty Bitty Punch Pack(118309), Heat Tool (129053)

Accessories: Cherry Cobbler Embossing Powder (122949) Midnight Muse Satin Stitched Ribbon (126847)

Eastern Elegance Card

I love the colors Smoky Slate and Crushed Curry together!  The Eastern Elegance Designer Series Paper artfully blends these colors together.  I used a couple different sheets - both sides to decorate this gate-fold card.

Supplies:

Card stock: Smoky Slate (131202), Basic Gray (21044) and Crushed Curry (131199)

Ink: Crushed Curry (131173)

Stamp Set:  Hello, Lovely (w130240, c130243)

Eastern Elegance Designer Series Paper (130131)

Label Bracket Punch (132153)

Enjoy!!

Paper Pumpkin can be at your door...

This is one of the coolest crafty things and I just had to let you know about it... The Paper Pumpkin is a card kit that you receive via UPS monthly, it comes with everything you need to make a stash of fabulous all occasion cards.  Stamps, ink, pre-cut card stock, embellishments and instructions.  Paper Pumpkin is a stamp class in a box - at your convenience.  It's different every month - endless variety!  Right now its 50% off, so it's a great time to give it a try.

If you'd like to try before you buy, Stampin' Up has a "Try It" kit (132600) that you can order from  my website www.creativeflare.stampinup.net that is a little journal making kit, comes with 2 passport sized journals and embellishments, cling mount stamps and a stamp block for 16.95 plus shipping and tax.  They're so cute and a great back to school gift.

Enjoy!

The Moon

Some days simple is best.  As I was chomping bits out of 2-1/2" circles to make feathers the other day, I had a variety of crescent shapes left over... perfect for a moon card.  I crumpled the crescent and backed it with a 2-1/2" crumpled circle of Basic Grey card stock - easy texture!  The sentiment and heart come from the Chalk Talk stamp set, embossed with white embossing powder on Smoky Slate card stock. 

Supplies:  available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Chalk Talk stamp set (w130631/c130634); 2-1/2" Circle Punch (120906), 1-3/8" Circle punch (119860); Chevron embossing folder (127749), Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine (113439);  white embossing powder (109132), Versamark Watermark Ink (102283); Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Perfect Blend - Fast and Fun Card

This was very simple.  It's a 5-1/4" x 4" Pistachio Pudding card front with 3 coffee cups stamped using the masking technique.  The forward most cup was stamped on Whisper White card stock in Early Espresso ink (of course) and colored with a Pistachio Pudding Stampin' Write Marker.  The cup sleeve was made by stamping a cup on Crumb Cake card stock, stamping the sentiment in Garden Green, and then trimming out the sleeve and adding it to the card using a Stampin' Dimensional.

These days everything looks better with banners, so I rummaged through my scrap keepers and found some Crumb Cake, Crisp Cantaloupe, and Strawberry Slush to add some pizzazz.  The finishing touch was a little bow of Early Espresso Baker's twine and a small heart punched from Strawberry Slush card stock.

Supplies:  available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Stamp Set:  Perfect Blend (w130745, c131392)

Ink: Early Espresso (126974)

Pistachio Pudding Stampin' Write Marker (part of In Color 2013-15 collection 131260)

Card Stock:  Pistachio Pudding, Strawberry Slush, Crisp Cantaloupe (In Color 2013-15 collection 131200)
Whisper White and Crumb Cake (Neutrals Collection 131191)

Tools:  Small Heart Punch: (117193)  3/16" Corner Rounder (119871) Paper Snips (103579) Stampin' Trimmer (126889)

Morning Coffee.... Perfect Blend with Gorgeous Grunge

"Given enough coffee, I could rule the world...temporarily."  Yeah, I feel like that most days.  This card is  done in what you can call "The Starbucks color scheme"  - Baked Brown Sugar, Early Espresso, Garden Green and Very Vanilla.  The coffee cup is stamped with Early Espresso on Whisper White and colored in with a Blender Pen loaded with Baked Brown Sugar ink.  The sentiment stamped in Garden Green ink, and the cup was cut out and attached to the Very Vanilla background with Stampin" Dimensionals.  The coffee splatters are Baked Brown Sugar - stamped off for the big splat, straight to paper for the darker spot, and Early Espresso for the spray.  The washi tape is the Witches' Brew from the Holiday Mini Catalog.  

Supplies - available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Stamp Sets:  Perfect Blend (w 130745, c 131392), Gorgeous Grunge (w 130514, c 130517)

Card Stock:

Baked Brown Sugar (131296), Garden Green (102584), Very Vanilla (101650), Whisper White (100730)

Ink:  Baked Brown Sugar (131174), Garden Green (126973), Early Espresso (126974)

Tools:

Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Blender Pens (102845), Witches' Brew Washi tape (132156)

Enjoy your coffee!

Convention 2013 Make & Takes - Tag a Bag Gift Box

Gift bags were last week, this week we're starting off with a fantastic yet simple gift box.  The box and food-safe acetate sleeve are part of the Tag a Bag gift boxes kit.  I love these fresh summer colors, but can you imagine it in Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, and Pool Party with Sweater Weather Designer Series Paper for a hostess gift at Thanksgiving?  Or Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, and Whisper White with Season of Style Designer Series Paper for Christmas time with ?  I can!  Yum!

To dress it up we made a lid by scoring a 4-3/8" x 6-7/8" piece of Bermuda Bay card stock 1" in from the edge on both long sides.  You can round the corners with the 3/16" corner rounder punch, or use paper snips to round and taper the edges for a professional finished look.  The lid was stamped with the Hello, Lovely and Gorgeous Grunge stamp sets in Bermuda Bay ink for a subtle  tone-on-tone look. Versamark ink would also work well, especially if you wanted to emboss with Iridescent Ice embossing powder for a little extra shine and sparkle.

The "feathers" were created using circle punches:  2-1/2" for the Calypso Coral and Crisp Cantaloupe DSP  feathers, and 1-3/4" for the Coastal Cabana feather.  

1) Punch your circle out of each color of card stock, 

2) Place the punched card stock circle back in the punch to chomp a football-shaped piece from one side.

3) Fold the resulting football shape in half  - long ways - and snip with scissors to create "feather-y" edge.  

Pierce the top of each feather, along with a little tag from the "You're the Best" stamp  - stamped in Crisp Cantaloupe ink - attach to the Summer Starfruit (2') ribbon using some linen thread and tie it all together with a bow...  With a box this cute it doesn't matter what the treats inside look like.  

Supplies - available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Tag a Bag gift boxes: (item #130927 $6.95)  8 boxes with sleeves.  6-7/8" x 2-1/8" x 2-1/2".

Summer Starfruit 3/8" stitched satin ribbon (item # 126846 $8.95 for 10 yards)  24" length was perfect for this project.

Ink:  $5.95 each

Bermuda Bay (item# 131171)

Crisp Canteloupe (item #131176)

Card stock:

Bermuda Bay (item #133197 $6.95 for 24 sheets 80# weight)

Coastal Cabana (item #131024 $6.95)

Calypso Coral (item #122925 $6.95)

In Color Designer Series Paper  (item # 130136 $21.95 for 40 assorted sheets)

Convention Make and Takes - Using "The Crime Scene" stamp set

Donna Griffith, from Demonstrator Training at Stampin' Up, presented the "Gorgeous Grunge" stamp set at convention.  She said that her initial reaction to the stamp set was that it looked like a crime scene - tire tracks, splatters, police tape... This make and take used the "Gorgeous Grunge: (aka: "The Crime Scene") set and the "Hello, Lovely" set.  

The "tire tracks" are in Crisp Canteloupe, the splatters are in Summer Starfruit and Coastal Cabana (stamped off)  and Old Olive.  I made my own "Washi Tape" and decorated my arrow  using the "police tape" stamp.  The original make and take recommended the Epic Day washi tape.

The colored twine was a neat trick, we took plain white baker's twine, pressed it between a stampin' sponge and a Bermuda Bay ink pad, and pulled it through.

Supplies - available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Gorgeous Grunge set (wood mounted item #130514 $24.95/clear mount item #130517 $17.95 set of 5)

Hello, Lovely set (wood mounted item #130240 $32.95/clear mount item #130243 $24.95 set of 10)

Card stock: 

Whisper White (item #100730 $8.50 for 40 sheets)

Coastal Cabana Core'dinations Textured card stock (item #131195 $9.95 for 12 sheets, assorted color collection)

Crisp Canteloupe (item #131294 $6.95 24 sheets)

Whisper White Envelopes (item #107301 $6.50 for 40 A2 size - fits 5-1/2" x 4-1/4" card)

Stampin' pads - $5.95 each

Coastal Cabana (item #131175)

Crisp Canteloupe (item #131176)

Summer Starfruit (item #126991)

Old Olive ((item #126953)

Calypso Coral Stampin' Write Marker - part of  Subtles Collection (item #131263 $28.95 for set of 10 colors)

Epic Day Washi Tape (item #131269 $4.95 set of 3 rolls)

Silver Glimmer Paper (item #124005 $4.95 (2) 12" x 12" sheets)

Very Vintage Designer Buttons (item #129327 $5.95 for 24 buttons)

Island Indigo Baker's Twine (item #125575 $2.95 for 25 yards)

Convention Make & Take - Tag a Bag

The new little Tag a Bag gift bags and Accessory kit are going to be great materials to have on hand this holiday season.  They're fast and fun and perfectly sized for giving a little "something something" to family and friends.  The bags are flat, but at convention they showed us how to turn a cute little flat bag into a cuter little gusseted bag within about 60 seconds.  Check it out:

Here's the bag that started out a flat 5" x 8-1/4", and became a 3" x 2" x 7" gusseted bag.  The stamp is from this year's Ronald McDonald House stamp set "Tag It" (wood mounted item #130300 $22.95/cling mount item #130303 $16.95)  $3 from the sale of each stamp set goes to the Ronald McDonald House Charities.  

It's recommended to use the Simply Scored tool to make the score lines, but the Stampin' Trimmer also has a scoring blade, the Simply Scored just makes a softer, deeper score.

After scoring, trim just a hair off the bottom to open the bottom of the bag.

Pre-fold along the score lines ....

Fold in the short sides first, then close up with the long sides.  I used SNAIL adhesive to secure mine, the Tag a Bag accessory kit also comes with Smoky Slate tape to secure the bags decoratively.  You can add a cut piece of chipboard from the kit to the inside bottom to stabilize the bag, just a little smaller than 2" x 3".

Supplies:

Tag a Bag Gift Bags: (item #131370 $3.95 for 10)

Tag a Bag Accessory Kit (item #130153 $7.95 for 10 large tags, 10 medium tags, 10 mini clothespins, 3 colors of baker's twine -20' ea-, 40 Stampin' Dimensionals, 5" of Smoky Slate self-adhesive strips)

Related items - Tag a Bag Gift Boxes: (item #130927 $6.95 for 8 Kraft food safe boxes with acetate sleeves, 6-7/8" x 2-1/8" x 2-1/2")

Gate Fold Flower Card

This was a fast and fab make and take.  The card is a standard A2 size, only scored at 2-1/8" from either long side.  Using a Simply Scored Board (item #122334) was the key to exact placement of the score lines.  I pre-cut the flowers using the Floral Frames framelets collection in Melon Mambo and Island Indigo.  These flowers were embossed using an embossing folder, but some of the attendees textured them with the crumple-flatten-ink method and it looked great.  The center is a 1-3/8" circle punch.  The card base is Crumb Cake card stock stamped with the Woodgrain background stamp in Chocolate Chip ink.  The border along the bottom is 1-1/4" x 2-1/8" of Orchard Harvest Designer Series Paper (Holiday 2012 catalog) and Old Olive card stock trimmed with the Scallop Border punch along one side.  

UNDEFINED

Ladies and gentlemen!  I'd like to introduce to you....

UNDEFINED!

This is Stampin' Up's latest innovation, stamp carving!  While it's not a new concept (just check out Albrecht Durer's work back in 1500) it hasn't been widely accessible outside the art classroom ... until NOW!

Here's what is inside the kit (item # 133402) - you get a thick linoleum block (that grey thing at the bottom left) mounting foam, 4 wood blocks, an Island Indigo Stampin' Write marker, and a "V" carving tool and a "U" carving tool, plus directions and cards to stamp.  You can also get a refill kit that includes just the blocks, mounting foam and linoleum. (item #134808)

First, sketch out your stamp design on plain paper with a pencil, keep trying until you get it just the way you like.  Using pencil is key here, because the next step...

...is where you transfer the graphite from the drawing to your linoleum by placing your drawing face down and rubbing firmly with the back of one of your tools, a bone folder, wood block... something firm but not scratchy.

Here is the transfer of my design on the linoleum block.  I used Stampin' Up's old Craft and Rubber scissors to cut out near the edge of my design, and try to preserve as much of my block as possible for future stamps.

For the carving, start with the "V" tool and carefully outline ALL the inside and outside edges of your design.  Be sure to keep your free hand BEHIND the cutting edge, these tools are EXTREMELY SHARP.  Always cut away from yourself and away from your design.  It is better to turn your block as you cut, rather than try to turn your hand to go around shapes.

Outlined.  Ta-da!

.   

 Using the "U" tool will carve out large areas that you don't want as part of the stamp - the "negative space".  Always carve from the edge of the design outward.  If you accidentally scratch into your design, there's no fixing that.

After carving everything the way you want, test your stamp on some scratch paper to make sure there's no errant ridges that will be transferring ink to your final printing.  Once you've made all your tweaks, stamp  the image on your wood block.  Finally cut your mounting foam to fit your linoleum, and attach it to the block.

This was my first UNDEFINED stamp - I actually made this one at convention.  They gave us each a block and a little linoleum to get started with, and had a station where we could carve our stamps.  This design was inspired by a drawing of sliced through rocks that was the decor in a clothing store.   Turning the stamp 90 degrees each time gave it just enough variation in the background.

Finished project! A 100% Creative Flare Card!  Gives me a warm glow inside :).  I finished off the card with a little Washi Tape from the Witches' Brew collection in the Holiday Mini Catalog.  Washi tape is a great substitute for ribbon stripes on a card, is re-positionable and easy to use.  It also works great to adhere a note inside a card - adds a colorful touch.

I would like to thank Ms. Joan Andre and Ms. Nell Landry for having taught block carving as part of their Junior High and High School Art curriculum.  It's been fun!

Welcome to Reverse Spotlighting

This card is an adaptation of one that I received in a Convention Swap from Cathy Fluellen of Surprise, AZ. I needed a quick "Welcome" card that would be suitable for a man or woman, and this one with a geometric pattern and "Reverse Spotlighting" was perfect.  Fast and fabulous.  Thanks, Cathy!

I cut a 5-1/4" x 4" card front in Very Vanilla to go over a Night Of Navy card base.  It was easiest to place my hexagons first and mark where the final hex should be punched.  Then the large oval was easy to punch using the edge of the card stock as a guide. (Hold the punched "upside down" so that you can see through the window on the underside of the punch and get exact placement) I used the oval template from the Occasions Paper Piercing pack to space the piercing - FYI:  The Large Oval Punch corresponds to the Oval Framelets dies - it's one size smaller that the smallest framelet.  The Very Vanilla card stock was attached to the base using Stampin' Dimensionals to give it some depth.

Supplies:

Fabulous Phrases Set; Hexagon and Large Oval Punch; Occasions Piercing Pack, Piercing tool and mat; Very Vanilla, Night of Navy, and Real Red card stock;  Night of Navy ink pad; Night of Navy Designer Series Paper (now restyled for 2013);  Stampin' Dimensionals; Woodgrain embossing folder and Big Shot; Merry Minis punch pack -little star (discontinued)

Enjoy!

Convention Swaps, part 5

This card was my favorite.  Once upon a time, in my wild and almost unruly youth I was a Naval Officer, and while the ships I worked and lived on didn't have sails, the romantic in me loves the ones that do.  Fortuitously, the "frames" was left over from a previous project where I needed a stack of Crumb Cake card stock Top Note Dies.  

All supplies are available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Supplies:
Stamp set:  The Open Sea (wood mounted item #128454 $26.95/ cling mount item #123032 $18.95, Clear Block D or larger recommended); Simply Serif Mini Alphabet (item #126360 $20.95)

Card stock:  Crumb Cake, Island Indigo, Natural Ivory

Ink:  Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler

Tools:  Top Note Die, Woodgrain embossing folder, Big Shot, Sponge Daubers, Modern Label Punch

Other:  Linen Thread (item #104199 $4.50 for 15 yards)

Convention Swaps, part 4

This card got quite a few complements at convention, and because Stampin' Up Demonstrators are a very discerning crowd, it must be a good card.  It fits my friend (and fellow Demonstrator) Jan's description of a perfect "WOW" card - as in "Wow, that's really pretty" not "Wow, I would never spend a whole afternoon making that".  This is definitely a fast and fun card, and one I would even demonstrate at a party, it's that easy.  It also looks suspiciously like the mother's day card I posted last May...

1) Stamp "Swallowtail" in Staz-On Jet Black on the Whisper White card stock.  

2) Using sponge daubers, smudge in color on the Swallowtail, starting with the darker color (Cajun Craze) at the center, then smudge the whole swallowtail with the lighter color (Crushed Curry).  Sponge the edge of the white card stock with Elegant Eggplant.

3) Stamp the letters "f" "l" & "y" onto scraps of So Saffron card stock, punch out with Little Labels punches.  Punch a couple long little labels for hinges from Cajun Craze card stock.  

4) Using a piercing tool and mat, poke holes for "eyes" and attach silver mini-brads in place. 

5) After SNAILing all your pieces in place, draw little hinge parts using a the pointy end of a Cajun Craze marker. (Optional.  It's easy, looks cool.  You can even sponge the little hinges around the edges for added effect)

Supplies, available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Stamp sets: 

Swallowtail (wood mounted item #129736 $17.95; cling mount item #123608 $13.95 - clear block F required)

Simply Serif Mini Alphabet (item #126360 $20.95) 

       - this set is my secret weapon - any short phrase I want to think of can be put on any card,  loads of flexibility... This set is a must-have.  LOVE IT!

Card stock:  

Elegant Eggplant 4-1/4" x 11, folded in half long ways 

Whisper White card stock, 4" x 5-1/4 " 

Cajun Craze - scrap 

So Saffron - scrap 

Punches:  

Little Labels Punch Pack 

Ink:  Crushed Curry, Cajun Craze, Elegant Eggplant Staz-On Jet Black  

           Staz-On is my preferred ink for stamping in black, and is solvent based - it won't smudge when you go over it with a dauber.

Regals Collection Stampin' Write Markers: (item #131262 set of 10 dual-tipped artist quality markers)

Other:  Silver colored Mini-Brads (item # 122941 $5.50 for 200)
SNAIL double sided adhesive

Convention Swaps, part 3

Back to my convention swaps!  I made about 130 card fronts in 6 different designs to trade with other demonstrators at the Stampin' Up convention a couple weeks ago.  This is design #3 - Fiesta!  

The technique trick for this card is the selective cutting technique.  It works great for matchbook style cards as well as backgrounds!

Here's how:  

1.  Cut strips of Old Olive card stock to be 5-1/2" long and 2-5/8" wide - the exact width of the corners of framelet.  

2.  Weave one end of the strip under the cutting edge of the die and placed my cutting pad just over the area to be cut, leaving the tail end on top of the die.  

3.  Crank it into the Big Shot and back out again without going over the whole piece of card stock so that there are no marks or wrinkles on the rest of the strip.  

4.  Flip the strip and do the same to the other edge.  

Afterwards, I sponged the edges in Old Olive ink, and ran it through the Big Shot with the Honeycomb TIEF.

Supplies available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Stamp Sets:

Mixed Bunch:  wood mounted set item #128442 $27.95; cling mount set item #125537 $21.95 (block D is recommended)

Fabulous Phrases: wood mount set item #128557 $37.95; cling mount set item #120501 $26.95  (block B, C, or G is recommended)

Card stock:

Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight - available together in the Brights Collection multi-pack; item #113190 $6.95 for 20 sheets, includes all the colors listed above.

Ink:

Pacific Point:  item #126951 $5.95

Old Olive:  item #126953 $5.95

Punches: 

1-1/4" Scallop Circle: item #127811 $15.95

7/8" Scallop Circle:  item #129404 $12.95

Big Shot Die Cutting Machine: #113439 $99.95

Honeycomb Textured Impressions Embossing Folder:  #129378 $7.95

Window Frame Framelets Dies: #129021 $26.95

Sponge Daubers:  item #102892 $10.95 for a dozen daubers.

It was so awesome to get to swap cards with other demonstrators.  It amazed me how all of us could take the exact same supplies and make such a variety of cards!  You're all fabulous!

Enjoy!

Hello, Lovely Make & Take, part V - the final chapter

Making cards is such great therapy.  Ironically, what's caused minor household stress around here is the bit of basement flooding that happened Monday... since the basement is where the office/craft room is, I'm cut off from my stamps and card stock.  So, today I'm sending cards as therapy, rather than making them. The restoration guys are giving it about another 3 days to be completely dried out... Then I can clean up the craziness and get back to crafting!  Fortunately, we did not have any significant damage to our belongings, but the crate where I had all my Stampin' Success magazines got wet.  While the property manager and maintenance guy were working on the house, I was sitting in the corner with my heat tool, drying out my magazines.  Made me feel as if I was doing something useful, and the Stampin' Success collection will survive :)

On with the show!  The cap of this make & take was the attractive little gift bag.  The idea of the project was to bling the cards, decorate the envelopes, wrap them in the gift bag and have a quick and useful gift.  This cutie little bag makes it a total success.   

My bag differs only slightly from the model below, I had used some of the ribbon from my kit for my cards. Instead of wrapping the bag with the new Bermuda Bay 1/8" Taffeta ribbon, I made a bow and stuck it behind the Old Olive card stock banner.  The Silver Glimmer paper was cut with the 1-3/4" circle punch. Glimmer paper is great - all the bling with none of the fuss of regular glitter.  and those are the little rhinestone basic jewels on the banner that have been part of the theme of this project.  A little fold of Calypso Coral Chevron ribbon adds a little extra color and texture.

"Hello, Lovely" is a great stamp set to have.  There's an eclectic variety of 10 stamps including sentiments and decorative elements.  I especially like the "Thank You - You're the Best" sentiment, because you can use it together as shown, or you can cut it in two and have a "Thank You" banner and a "You're the best" arrow to use separately.   A little retro, a little vintage, a little modern... works well with other sets or all on its own.

Everything for these projects can be purchased from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Previously unlisted supplies:

Tag a Bag gift bags: 131370 $3.95 for 10 bags.

Bermuda Bay 1/8" Taffeta ribbon:  131206 $5.95 for 10 yards

Calypso Coral Chevron ribbon:  130018 $8.95 for 10 yards

Silver Glimmer Paper: 124005 $4.95 for (2) 12" x 12" sheets

Other possible color combinations for this project are: 

These palettes coordinate with the Eastern Elegance, Epic Day, and Birthday Basics designer series papers.  Imagine what you can do with that!

This project is so flexible, there's an amazing amount of tweaks you can do - adding designer series paper or even going with a monochromatic theme.  Great for planning a stamp camp or class, or getting a jump on your holiday gift giving.  Fast, fun, gorgeous, done!

Enjoy!

Hello, Lovely Make & Take, part IV

Here's card #4 from the make & take - the original, if you look at the instruction guide on yesterday's blog, just had the sentiment "You make me happy" stamped in the lower right hand corner, and the ornate square pattern on the envelope.  I decided to incorporate all of it on the card front.  

"You make me happy" is stamped in Coastal Cabana on Whisper White card stock, trimmed and attached with Stampin' Dimensionals.  The ornate square is stamped on the card front using the Stamp-a-ma-jig.  I added a 1/2" strip of double-sided Crisp Canteloupe designer series paper - it's all from the same 1/2" x 12" strip cut for the first card, just flipped over to the pattern on the reverse side for this card.  Rhinestones, a Bermuda Bay card stock hexagon, and a Old Olive chevron keep the color theme going.  

All supplies available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net.

Enjoy

Hello, Lovely Make & Take - part 3

This blog is my take on the "&" card in the bottom right corner of the idea sheet.  Ampersands are hot right now, probably because of their curvy, free-form appeal.  The original was simply the "&" stamped in Bermuda Bay classic ink, and then just stamped off 3 or 4 more times, creating a little visual echo on the corner of the card.  I kept with this original idea, and added a little bling.

I stamped an extra "&" onto a separate piece of Whisper White card stock, cut it out and used some Stampin' Dimensionals to give it some pop.  The "you" and "ME" stamps come from the "You make me happy" stamp in the set, stamped in Old Olive and Crisp Cantaloupe and trimmed to fit the card.  Also from the set is the arrow fletching stamped in Coastal Cabana on the top left.  The chevron banner is more of the same strip I cut to make my first card of this series.  The kit came with ribbon and glimmer paper for the gift tag, there was enough to make the silver heart and add just a sniglet of ribbon to this card.  

Enjoy!

Stampin' Up Convention 2013 - Hello, Lovely Make & Take part 2

Here's the second of the make & takes from the kit (see previous blog entry).  The original pattern had the arrows in Crisp Cantaloupe, Coastal Cabana, and Old Olive.  The chevrons were made using the Hexagon Punch and Bermuda Bay and Old Olive card stock.  A little paper piercing added some dimension to the corners.

Supplies - available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Hello, Lovely stamp set - set of 10 (wood mount item #130240 $32.95; cling mount item #130243 $24.95)

Note Cards (item #131527 for 20 cards and envelopes)

Bermuda Bay card stock (item #131197 $6.95)

Old Olive card stock (item #100702 $6.95)

Coastal Cabana classic ink (item #131175 $5.95)

Crisp Cantaloupe classic ink (item #131176 $5.95)

Old Olive classic ink (item #126953 $5.95)

Hexagon punch (item# 130919 $15.95)

Piercing tool (item #126189 $3.95)

Essentials Paper Piercing Pack (item #126187 $7.95)

Stampin' Pierce Mat (item #126199 $4.95)

Stampin' Up Convention 2013 - Make and Takes!

Hello, Lovely make & take part 1

This July, I went to my very first Stampin' Up Convention!  Talk about an amazing Girlz Weekend Out.  I went by myself and made 5 new best friends.

One of the many fun things about convention, is that we get to test new product through Make & Takes, Mini Classes, and Product Playgrounds.   They give us the stamp sets and consumable materials for all the sessions on the first night (in a very swanky convention bag - this year's model was a custom Stampin' Up back-pack complete with padded laptop carrying pocket - ooh!  Loved it!).  On "Expo Day" tables are set up with tools and volunteer demonstrators guide participants through making the projects.  Participants get to choose when they want to complete those projects... or if they want to be like our crew and go to the mall instead...  we skipped doing the projects at convention.  Hey, there was an amazing mall just across the street from the convention center - we just couldn't resist the allure of retail therapy!

Now that I'm back, here's the first card that I made using the same ink, stamps, and products that were in the make and take package, with a few added twists of my own.

This is a scan of the instruction and idea sheet that came with the make & take.  Included was 4 of the new 5" x 3-1/4" Note Cards and envelopes.  It is interesting to note that even though the cards have the same great finish of the Whisper White card stock sold individually, the card stock of note cards is heavier weight.

Supplies:  (available from www.creativeflare.stampinup.net)
Hello, Lovely stamp set, set of 10  (Wood mounted blocks: item #130240, $32.95.  Cling mount stamps: item #130243, $24.95) Acrylic Blocks C and H recommended.
Note Cards  (item #131527 - $5.95 for 20 cards and envelopes.)
Crisp Cantaloupe Classic Ink Pad  (item #131176 - $5.95)
Old Olive Classic Ink Pad  (item #126953)
Bermuda Bay Classic Ink Pad  (item #131171)
Coastal Cabana Classic Ink Pad  (item #131175)
Old Olive card stock  (item #100702- $6.95 for 24 sheets)
Whisper White card stock  (item #101730 - $8.50 for 40 sheets)
In Color 2013-15 Designer Series Paper Pack  (item #130136 $21.95 for 40 sheets)
Rhinestone jewels  (item #119246 $4.95 for a sheet of 150 self-adhesive jewels)
Stamp-a-ma-jig (item #101049 - $11.95)

Here was my retouch of the card on the lower left hand corner of the instruction sheet.  The original sheet had just the 4 stamp pattern on the plain card front.  I stamped them separately on a 1-3/4" square of Whisper White card stock, mounted it on a 2 x 2" square of Old Olive card stock, and cut a little banner of Crisp Cantaloupe Designer Series Paper that was 1/2" x 3".  The Rhinestone jewels were part of the make and take package, just hard to see in the first picture.

Hints:  Using the Stamp-a-ma-jig was essential to getting these stamps positioned.  Also, because my new ink pads were super juicy, it worked well if I stamped off the ink lightly on a scratch sheet of paper before stamping on my card stock.  When using clear blocks and cling mount stamps with the Stamp-a-ma-jig, I find it helpful to mark the corner of block that fits into the jig, that way I know that I'm holding my stamp the same way each time. I use a "Sharpie" marker to mark the block, and it cleans off easily with the "Staz-On" ink cleaner when I'm done.

Enjoy!

Card Swap I

In giddy anticipation of attending Stampin' Up's annual convention this month, I have been making card fronts  for swaps.  It's traditional to make cards to swap with other demonstrators, looking for fresh perspectives and new friends.  The dunes were traced from a french curve drawing tool onto Sahara Sand card stock and  sponged with ink.  The shell was a folded piece of Crisp Cantaloupe punched 3/4 of the way into the punch.

Supplies for this card are all available from my website: www.creativeflare.stampinup.net

Stamp Sets:  sentiment- World Treasures(132100w $$23.95/126767c $17.95)
seaweed - Papaya Collage (132055w $31.95/126612c $23.95).  Block E is recommended for both sets

Ink:   (131171) Bermuda Bay
(126959) Wild Wasabi
(126983) Calypso Coral
 (126976) Sahara Sand
(131179) Smoky Slate

Card Stock:
Background: (131297) Coastal Cabana
Seashell: (131298) Crisp Cantaloupe
Sand:  (121043) Sahara Sand
Oyster: (131202) Smoky Slate
Sentiment:  (131203) Soft Sky

Punches:  7/8" Scallop Circle (129404 $12.95)
Itty Bitty Shapes punch pack (118309 $16.95 set of 3 shapes)

Sizzix Big Shot die cutting machine (113439 $99.95) with the Apothecary Accents Framelets (127003 $24.95)

Also used were Sponge Daubers (102892 $10.95 for 12), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430, $3.95 for 300) and last but not least, Pearl BasicJewels (119247 $4.95 for 150)