everything's new but the stamp set...

Here's another retired stamp set that's on the block at Ebay this week.  Everything in the card is new, but the stamp set.

Stamp set:  Tags so Much (retired)
Card Stock:  Bermuda Bay, Old Olive, Smoky Slate, Melon Mambo, Tangerine Tango, Crushed Curry, and Whisper White.
Ink:  Smoky Slate Classic ink pad; Melon Mambo, Tangerine Tango, and Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers
Tools:  Deco Labels Framelets, Big Shot, Baroque embossing folder, Large tag punch (retired), Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, Petite Petals Punch (new!)

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!

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)

Stampin' Up new 2013-14 Catalog Sneak Peek

Here's a card I "scrap-lifted" from our new catalog (pg 114), with a few of my own modifications.  Featured here are our new In-Colors for 2013-15.  The card stock color is Coastal Cabana, the flowers are inked in (largest to smallest) Strawberry Slush, Baked Brown Sugar, Pistachio Pudding, and Crisp Cantaloupe.

Stamp set:  Daydream Medallions (131976w $36.95/126467c $26.95)
     }cling mount stamp set requires Clear Block F (118483) $16.95
Stamp-a-ma-jig  (101049 $11.95)
Floral Frames Collection framelets (127012 $26.95)
     }for use with the Sizzix Big Shot (113439 $99.95)
Fabulous Phrases (128577w $37.95/120501c $ 26.95)
     }cling mount Clear Block B or larger 117147 ($5.95)
Bitty Butterfly Punch (129406) $15.95
Artisan Label (new!) (130920) $15.95
Mosaic Punch (new!) (131267) $15.95
In Color 2013-15 Card Stock and Pad Kit (131204) $29.95

Label Love (new!) 130619w $24.95/130622c $17.95

All of these supplies are available from my website: www.creativeflarecards.stampinup.net .  New Items will be available May 31, 2013. Other items are currently available.

Enjoy!

New Spring Mini Catalog ideas

For this card, I cut and taped all my large ovals, then used a tabletop paper cutter to slice down the center.  A Stamp-a-ma-jig was also helpful getting the quilt-looking stamp lined up to create the band across the front.


Supplies:
 "Oh, Hello" bundle  - "Oh, Hello" stamp set and Ovals Collection Framelets - item number 131102 $44.95 wood mount bundle;  131101 $38.95 clear mount bundle

Card Stock:
Raspberry Ripple (In-Color 2012-14) - 126842 $6.95 for 24 sheets
Gumball Green (In-Color 2012-14)  - 126840 $6.95 for 24 sheets
     (also available in the In-Color 2012-14 Card Stock Collection: 126838 $6.95 for 20 sheets, 4 each of 5 colors)
Very Vanilla - 101650 $8.50 for 40 sheets
Basic Black - 121045 $6.95 for 24 sheets
Crumb Cake - 120953 $6.95 for 24 sheets
     (also available in the Neutrals Card Stock Collection 119707 $6.95 20 sheets, 2 of each neutral color)
Designer Series Paper Regals Collection (More Mustard used here) 117154 $21.95 for 40 sheets of double sided 12 x 12 paper, 4 each of 10 colors)

Ink:
Raspberry Ripple Classic Stampin' Pad:  126859 $5.95
Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad:  126975
Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad:  126980
Gumball Green Classic Stampin' Pad:  126861

Punches:
Elegant Butterfly Punch - 127526 $15.95
Blossom Punch - 125603 $16.95
Boho Blossoms Punch - 119858 $16.95

Other Tools:
Stampin' Up Big Shot by Sizzix - 113439 $99.95
Blender Pens - 102845 $9.95 for 3
Stampin' Dimensionals: - 104430 $3.95 for 300
Sponge Daubers: 102892 $10.95 for 12
Stamp-a-ma-jig: - 101049 $11.95
Tabletop Paper Cutter: - 106959 $45.95

Do it Yourself Stamps

The Sizzix Big Shot is a great tool to have on the shelf... but mine never stays there. There's no paper crafting project that a few die cuts can't improve. I've found yet another way to use the Big Shot. The initial idea came from the great altered art sorcerer, Tim Holtz. The Great Tim had used his Big Shot to cut out 6mm Craft Foam with Bigz and Originals dies, and glued them to backings he cut from the stiff plastic packaging from some of his supplies. Voila! Stamps! Very clever! I decided to take it one step further and incorporate Stampin' Up's Clear Mount Cling Foam. Using the Cling Foam enables you to mount your newly cut foam stamps on your acrylic blocks and be able to reposition them and couple them together for whatever back ground composition you wish, and you can store them in the thin plastic cases made for our regular stamps!

Supplies:

Thin craft foam, any color. I prefer white, while it shows stains after a few uses it is still easy to see where the ink is on the stamp. While I experimented with both 6mm and thin craft foam, I found that when combining the thickness of the craft foam with the Cling Mount Foam, the thin stuff was easiest to run through the Big Shot and plenty thick enough to stand up off of your block. Tim used black craft foam on his blog, must be a guy thing.

Stampin' Up! Clear Mount Cling Foam. You get (2) 8 ½ x 11 sheets – enough to fill 4 or more Clear Mount Stamp Cases if you're thrifty.

Big Shot and Bigz or Originals Dies

Clear Mount Stamp Cases

Ink, Paper, etc...

Directions:

1. Measure the size of foam 1/8 th inch larger all around the die cut area to be sure to cover it completely. There is one clingy side and one sticky side of the cling mount foam, when making your “sandwich” for the Big Shot, the “cling” side will be down on the die if you want the stamp to look exactly like the finished die cut, or up toward the cutting pad if you want the stamps to print in the reverse image. “Up” or “down” might make a difference in your measurement, begin with the goal in mind.

1. Adhere craft foam to Cling Mount Foam. Make it nice and exact as possible, you want both pieces to cover your die cut.

2. Make your Big Shot “sandwich” - cutting pad, die, foam pieces, cutting pad. If you are wanting an exact image and your craft foam side is up, be sure that your cutting pad is new and smooth. The texture of a cutting pad will mar the foam if the cutting pad is heavily worn. What I do with my cutting pads is use one exclusively as a cutting surface and keep the other smooth. Then when the both sides of my cutting surface are excessively worn down, I swap it out with my smoother one and use one new cutting pad as a smooth backer. That way I don't have to use both my new ones in a set at once, and I always have a smooth sheet of acrylic to use to cut foam, ink up to load my brayer, or it can be used with Cling Stamps to create a large composition for decorating a greater area, etc...

1. Run your “sandwich” through the Big Shot. It will be a little thick and you might need an extra hand, but it will come through just fine.

1. Pop out your die cut stamp, peel the backing off the “cling” side of the foam and adhere to your acrylic block, ink, stamp, and clean just as you would a conventional rubber stamp. Works great with Classic Ink, Craft Ink, Versamark, watercolor techniques, “Kissing” techniques - where you stamp on the foam and then stamp the foam onto your paper, not what you do with your honey on Saturday night, what are you thinking?

The Stampin' Up “Lattice” Die was my personal favorite. Not only did it create an intriguing background, but you also get all the groovy inner pieces to make patterns with. Flowers, borders, relief patterns... so much to do with those pieces! I've photographed a few ideas but there's so much more you can do with this, give it a go!

The “Top Note” Die was a great one for watercoloring and kissing – really a unique look.

Sharing your creativity does make a difference to everyone around you. 

Enjoy! 

Here's the color combo for the week:
Midnight Muse - card stock and classic ink
Wisteria Wonder - card stock and classic ink
VersaMark watermark ink for embossing
Regal Rose - card stock and Brights Designer Series Paper
Stamp Set:  Papaya Collage 126612 c $23.95; 126610 w $31.95
Embossing powder:  Whisper White
Background:  Top Note Bigz Die cut in half and flipped (113463 $21.95)
Sponge Daubers; Heat Tool; 1-3/4" Circle Punch; 2-3/8 Scallop Circle Punch

Artisan Award Design Team Submission

Hello!

Welcome to my first blog as Creative Flare Cards.   Previously I'd been using the domain name www.happystamperkris.blogspot.com,  and that was working for where I was at the time.  Now that I'm branching out more it's time to consolidate all the web entities under a similar name.  

My website is 

www.creativeflare.stampinup.net; 

facebook is 

www.facebook.com/CreativeFlareCards; 

email is 

creativeflarecards@gmail.com.

I've got a theme, and I'm sticking with it ;)

So here's one of the things been on the work table in May:   My submissions for Stampin' Up's yearly Artisan Award.  It's a competition open to all Stampin' Up demonstrators in the USA and Canada.   All the submissions had to be made exclusively with Stampin' Up products that were for sale during the first part of the year, and they were due May 31.    The requirement was 5 cards, 3 scrapbook pages and 2 decorative items.  After racking my brain for about 2 months, this is the result!  

Card 1 is a standard A2 size card made with the Thoughts and Prayers stamp set.  It features the Boho Blossoms, XL Oval, and Butterfly Punches; Lattice Bigz and Beautiful Butterflies Bigz dies; Pool Party, Island Indigo, Wisteria Wonder, Whisper White, Always Artichoke and Blushing Bride card stock; Pool Party  seam binding ribbon, and Basic Pearls.

I love 3-D cards.  It's a great impact and the same size as a regular A2 card when folded, but literally stands out when open.  Typically it's called a zig-zag or shutter card, and the card base pattern can be found at www.splitcoaststampers.com - but what you do with it is completely up to you.    Stampin' Up did a sneak peek promotion in April featuring some of the new Summer Smooches Designer Series Paper.  The card base is  5-1/4' x 12" strip of Rose Red card stock.  I also had fun with the Basic Rhinestones and the Fabulous Phrases set.

For the epicureans, this was the Studio Sketches stamp set, on More Mustard, Bravo Burgundy, Whisper White and Basic Black.  A little Bakers' Twine in Early Espresso gives it an added texture.

This was the first card I used Crystal Effects on... it gives a little shine to some of the dots on the outer circles, and I coated the little punched flowers with it and let it dry.  It gave them the effect of being an acrylic bubble embellishment.  Cajun Craze, Island Indigo and Confetti Cream were the colors used.

I enjoy shaped cards, this was made with the Framelets Labels collection, cut on one edge to make it fit into a medium (A2) envelope.  The flower was made with the Ornament Punch.  Basic Gray is a smashing background for Calypso Coral, Cherry Cobbler, and Riding Hood Red.  I used the "shaving cream" technique with Whisper White card stock to get the pattern on the flower petals.

Inside of the same, using the Summer Solstice stamp set and the En Francais background stamp.  There's a little Frost White Shimmer Paint sponged on the background, too.  The window was cut with a Hearts Framelet die.

The contest called for 3 scrapbook pages, all are 12 x 12,  and they all feature my boys.  This first one uses the Blossom Builder punch to create a flame border along a 1-1/4" piece of Riding Hood Red card stock.  It was really hard to let go of these!

The arabesque border was created using the Ornament Punch.  I will add that older blog to this one for reference.

This was a spontaneous act of patriotism on the part of my oldest son when he was in Kindergarten.  It was so touching, and the best way to keep it simple seemed to go with a Haiku poem instead of trying to write out the whole story.

I did a shadowbox collage for one 3-D item submission, it was based off products featured for Sale-a-bration this past winter.   I did one for myself, without the frame, backed on foam core to decorate my office, and my husband liked it so much he suggested I make another for Stampin' Up.  The stamps are the Fresh Vintage set and the Pursuit of Happiness set.

This is my last one, it's about 34-35 roses made from Cherry Cobbler card stock and the Blossom punch, hot glued to a 5" floral Styrofoam ball.  The leaves were made with the Ornament punch and Garden Green card stock, sponged in Garden Green ink.  It hangs from a bow of Cherry Cobbler Seam binding ribbon and some Victoria 5/8" trim.  The roses were sponged with some Champagne Shimmer Paint.  This took 8 sheets of 8-1/2" x 11" Cherry Cobbler card stock to complete, plus every scrap I could get a hold of... time to order more....


There it is!  That was my submission for this year's competition, and the results will be released toward the mid-month about who won and will be admitted to the Design Team... There's probably a 1:1,000 chance of winning, but I'll let you know what happens :)


Enjoy!!!
Kristine