Just for You by Jenn--Handcrafted Cards

These Should Bring Some Smiles

2009-11-16T17:05:00.005-05:00

When I saw a turkey made with scalloped circles, I knew it would be a great craft to do with the families at the Ronald McDonald House as our November activity. These are actually bodiless at this point; I decided to do some of the tedious small detail work this afternoon so that the crafting would go more smoothly. Don't they just crack you up? You can check out this post if you want to see the finished bird.

If anyone is interested in joining me in this volunteer opportunity, feel free to contact me. I go monthly, and it's usually mid-week and mid-month.

Easy Elegance Comes with Persistence

2009-11-11T09:23:00.006-05:00

This is a post about how it pays to not be satisfied with a first attempt, even if you're under a deadline. I saw this card on Karen Graff-Povis' blog last month and put it in my starred file of cards that I use to inspire me.

As I considered her card this morning (because I have my first stamper coming for this month's Stamp-A-Stack this evening), I began to pout because I wasn't sure how I could replicate the embossed look on the large background piece of Karen's card. Then it hit me. I said I'd feature a card using Bride Specialty Paper (BSP)! Perfect!

I pulled out the BSP and chose Night of Navy (NN) to achieve the contrast I wanted. I used the same stamp set Karen did--Baroque Motifs--and approximated the measurements of the different layers. When I finished, I decided to use the striped pattern in the BSP as the card base, but when I attached the NN layer, it was mostly hidden. It looked okay, but not quite the display of elegance I was going for. I thought there was too much space between the image, the ribbon, and the sentiment. So I began again.

This time, I made the NN layer smaller, 3.75" x 5", and made the Bride DSP layer 3.5" x 4.75". The focal panel, which I wish was glossy white but I don't have it, is 2" x 3.5". The NN layer behind it is .25" bigger. This creates plenty of exposure for both Specialty Papers.

A little touch of white satin ribbon and the card is complete. I think this would be a great wedding or anniversary card, either of which is always good to have in the stash.

Gobble, Gobble...

2009-11-05T18:07:00.006-05:00

That's turkey-speak for, "thankful for you"! This is the card I came up with after finding this ADORABLE turkey made with scallop circles on Michelle's blog, http://istampedthat.com/2009/09/20/turkey-time/. I knew as soon as I saw it that I wanted to use it two times this month--for next week's Stamp-A-Stack, and with the families at the Ronald McDonald House!

This is the card I designed for my SAS. The base is Dusty Durango, and it is a gate fold (5.5" x 8.5" scored at 2 1/8" on each end of the 8.5" side). The turkey is made with 4 scallops, 3 that are cut in half and mounted on a whole scallop base. The card stock I used to create this Tom were: Crushed Curry, Ruby Red, Soft Suede, and Dusty Durango.

The "head" of the turkey is 1 scallop circle cut so that there's a single scallop at the top and 3 at the bottom. The eyes are made using Whisper White card stock and a 1/4" circle punch. I created pupils with my Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write marker. The "bill" is made with the slot punch, and the wattle (yes, I had to look up that term!) is made with the smallest heart in the 3 Heart Punch. The "feet" are made using the 5 petal flower from the Boho Blossoms Punch (retired). A shout out of thanks to my fellow demonstrator friend Patti for allowing me to borrow this to give my bird something to stand on!

The sentiment for this card was created using a brand new product from SU! called My Digital Studio (MDS). MDS is a digital papercrafting solution that allows you to create cards, photo cards, photo albums, scrapbooks, fliers, multimedia projects, DVDs--the list is almost as endless as your imagination! I put it through its paces because I don't have a Thanksgiving specific stamp set, and I wanted something larger than any of my "thanks" stamps could offer.

MDS has a collection of over 5000 products that SU! offers in physical form--card stock, stamp sets, Designer Series Paper, embellishments, punches, and Simply Scrappin' Kits--that I can utilize to create something digitally! Once I've created it digitally, I can print it myself or have it professionally printed--more on that in another post. Don't think that this program isn't something for you. It's so easy to use, it's amazing! More to come!

I used one of the included alphabets and resized it--which you can't do with regular stamps!--to craft this custom sentiment. I printed it on Very Vanilla card stock, cut it to size, and added the turkey. I was able to customize the color of the letters so that they matched the card base too!

I hope you like my turkey. Watch for more to come on MDS! I'm getting certified and can't wait to share all that I'm learning with you.

Just Playin' Around...

2009-11-05T15:42:00.003-05:00

Had this little pumpkin idea come to me in my inbox and tinkered around with a scene for it. It's made with 5 scallop circle punched circles that are scored down the middle, attached to each other, then to the card base. Add a bit of Chocolate Chip card stock to make a stem, and that's it!

I'm Not Sure I Like This

2009-11-03T07:00:00.000-05:00

This card was inspired by the colors of the season and a card I saw in this month's Stampin' Success magazine. The original used a smaller tree, but all I have is the one from Season of Friendship. The original showed using coordinating colors of Designer Series Paper to create "rolling hills", and to pop two of the layers up on Stampin' Dimensionals to make it look more 3D. Since my tree is so much larger, I'm not sure the effect worked, but it's growing on me.

I laid all the layers flat and tacked them together on the So Saffron base with some removable adhesive so they wouldn't scootch while I was stamping the tree. I had to fill in some tiny gaps with my Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Marker. I wanted to create a sky of clouds, so I punched out a scallop circle and used a sponge dauber to create them. I started at the top and used Sage Shadow ink. The cloud is created by the negative space not inked. Does that make sense? Anyway, I hope you get the idea. If you don't, let me know, and I'll take pictures. I thought it was a little underwhelming, so I very lightly sponged some Really Rust onto the area to give it a bit more color.

The leaves in the DSP "hill" are a very different size than those on the tree, so I limited myself to stamping a few on the limbs and not confusing things by having any on the ground. I inked those in SS and RR.

There's no sentiment because I can't decide what kind of card this would be useful as. Thinking of you, surely, but what other sentiment would work? I'm just not sure at all about this card...

An Experiment with Circles

2009-11-02T07:00:00.000-05:00

As you can tell by the past two posts, I draw a lot of inspiration from fellow crafters. Squareheadedstamper (her term, not mine), Brandi Wiggins-Cote of Canada provided the catalyst for this card.

I used a 3.25" circle of Garden Green card stock, which I cut in half and folded, freehand, to create these little cuties. I haven't perfected the technique enough to show you step-by step how I achieved these trees, so I'll work on that and post pictures when I get it better figured out. These were beginner's luck.

I decorated the trees with 1/4" circles in Real Red and Metallic Silver card stock. I also strung them with "garland" made with the silver and gold elastic cord currently available in the Holiday Mini Catalog. For the center tree's "ornaments", I tacked glue dots in place and then sprinkled the entire tree liberally with Dazzling Diamonds. That didn't seem flashy enough, so I dug back through my other Christmas stamp sets and found a tiny poinsettia in Season of Joy. I stamped it on Cameo Coral and cut them.

The background "snow" on Not Quite Navy card stock was made using a stamp from the Snowflake Spot (retired) set. It was inked with white craft ink, sprinkled with Clear Embossing Powder, and set with my heat tool. I tore a piece of Whisper White card stock to create a "snowbank", and stamped "all spruced up" from Fun & Fast Notes in Garden Green. This card reminds me somewhat of the Charlie Brown Christmas special, where there were all kinds of beautiful trees and then there was the sad one that Charlie ended up loving.

A n Almost-Complete CASE

2009-10-31T07:00:00.004-04:00

I saw this card two weeks ago on Nancy Riley's blog. She does a weekly roundup of her favorites from all the blogs she peruses, and this one made her picks for the week. The creator is Tammy Fite, a fellow SU! demonstrator. I recreated it, only changing a few things.

I wanted something that was evocative of Autumn, without purchasing a specific set. I inked the entire Medallion stamp in Perfect Plum (PP) and then used sponge daubers to add accents of Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive (OO). Quick and easy, and the sponges create such a soft look!

Tammy stamped the upper half of her card base with the swirl from Baroque Motifs. I did the same. I didn't have any coordinating Designer Series Paper for the bottom half, so I just stamped the image again below and accented it with the small flower from the set. Yhen I placed the image, which was matted with Dusty Durango (DD) and OO card stock, on the card base. There's a small strip of DD helps keep the OO 1/4" grosgrain ribbon in place.

The placement of the sentiment was challenging. I went with "cherish" from Baroque Motifs, because that's what this season makes me want to do. I want to bottle the weather, press the beautiful leaves, and make the most of what I know is fleeting.

Make the most of this weekend! See you Monday!

I Have a Good Reason, Really...

2009-10-30T13:58:00.006-04:00

Wow...15 days since I've posted. Well, instead of giving you the reasons, which I'm sure you'd understand because you're doing other stuff besides sitting around waiting for me to post here, let's get to a card!

Lorri Heiling is a very encouraging SU! demonstrator in AZ. She has a blog, and posts monthly the cards she and her downline make to swap at their meeting. This week, she posted this card by Barbara (who does not have a blog), and I LOVED it! I wrote Lorri immediately, seeking details. Lorri found a thread on SCS that gave details about this card design and its creator, Penny Wessenauer. That thread led me to Penny's Photobucket page where all the directions were neatly typed, complete with pictures! Don't you LOVE the internet?!

Here's my take on her design. I started with Soft Suede (SS) card stock, which is such a yummy color of brown that it's almost a shame to put it in the same category as Chocolate Chip or Close to Cocoa. (I won't reiterate all the instructions, because Penny already did a fantastic job with them.) I had my dear friend Shelly in mind for this card, since I missed her birthday and wanted her to have something that would communicate how I feel about her all the time, not just on the one day a year we officially celebrate her existence.

I pulled out the Peaceful Wishes set, which is retired (don't even get me started), and tried to think of a complementary color to pair with the SS. I chose Always Artichoke (AA). Aahhhh...I love trees, and these two evoke an evergreen forest in my mind. Enough waxing poetic. I needed a layout to help get my juices flowing, and I'd just seen a one for a square card on Melissa Sauls' blog. I stamped the evergreen branch image on 2-1 3/8"x3.5" strips to create patterned paper and then focused on the main image.

One of the main reasons I purchased this set was for this image. I used the direct to rubber coloring technique with my SS, AA, and Ruby Red Stampin' Write Markers. After a good huff on the stamp, I admired my work on the Very Vanilla (VV) card stock. I wanted to mat the image, and one thing led to another and suddenly I had 3 layers!

Now for the fun part--creating a little stopper so that the card would have a built-in easel! The pinecone in the set was sized appropriately to serve this purpose, and I mounted it with 2 double-stacked Stampin' Dimensionals to give it the height it would need. The sentiment from Kind & Caring Thoughts completed the card. I'm so tickled with how it turned out! Now I'm going to have to wait at least a week to hear what Shelly thinks of it. She lives in Vietnam, so this card's going a LONG way to its home.

Here's a side view so that you can get a better idea of how the easel is created. That Penny is BRILLIANT!

Delightful Inspiration

2009-10-15T17:23:00.006-04:00

I was perusing blogs yesterday, trying to relax, and I checked in with Laurie Schmidlin of Just Give Me Stamps. She had posted a little Christmas card design that made a lightbulb go off in my head. I was too tired to pursue my idea yesterday, but today, after I'd done some other stuff that was deemed productive, I played around with the idea she'd inspired.

The idea was to use the center of one of the ornaments in the Delightful Decorations set to create mini ornaments for an evergreen. I pulled out Peaceful Wishes, which has said branch, and inked it up with Mellow Moss. It really doesn't photograph nicely, but it is a pretty, soft green. Then I set about to create the little ornaments. I chose Ruby Red, Summer Sun, and Bashful Blue as my ornament colors. After I'd stamped each ornament, I used my 1" circle punch to extricate just the decoration from the center of each paper globe. Then I inked them with Versamark and embossed them with Clear Embossing Powder to give them shine, like a real ornament. (Almost burned my finger when I picked up the first one; that stuff can get HOT!)

Then I needed the ornament topper so they could be hung on the tree. There is no stamp for this, so I applied Versamark to a 1/4" scrap strip of Whisper White and embossed it with Silver Embossing Powder. A little snip here, a little snip there, and I had a topper! Next, the loop. Two glue dots and a little noose of silver elastic cord, and I was in business! I applied one more glue dot to the back so it would stick to the base and positioned them where I wanted them on the branches. Then I applied a glue dot to the top of each ornament, and a Stampin' Dimensional to the main part of the circle to compensate for the thickness created by the topper, and I had what I'd pictured in my head. Thanks, Laurie!

One last note: the greeting is from Many Merry Messages, a set that I think will be retired after this catalog year. If you like it, don't put off purchasing it. It has 8 great greetings in a variety of beautiful fonts that coordinate with each other. It's a fantastic investment you'll use for years.

I know it's only October and seems really early to be thinking about Christmas, but it's something that has to be done if you're considering making your cards this season. By getting started now, you have a prayer of enjoying the process, instead of waiting and having it end up as a dreaded task to complete. Don't become a Scrooge--think and plan and have some fun!

All items mentioned in this post are available for purchase through my online Demonstrator Business Website. Click on the Shop Online button in the upper right of the blog and then click on the SHOP NOW button at my site. You can have it all delivered directly to your door and get the same prices you would if you'd ordered through me via email or by phone.

Candy--Corn, that is!!

2009-10-14T07:00:00.001-04:00

Oh.My.Word. This is one of the most challenging times of the year for me to go to the grocery store. As soon as I walk through the automatic doors, I am BOMBARDED with displays of Halloween candy. I love the miniature packaging, and all the creative ways candy manufacturers have come up with to make their products "relevant" to the 1-day sugar rush we call trick or treating. But what REALLY makes it hard to avoid the magnetic pull toward the display is laying there (lying there?) in wait for me--BAGS of BRACH'S CANDY CORN.

DO NOT BE FOOLED--there is NO other brand besides BRACH'S when it comes to candy corn. All the other stuff is a sad, poor imitation of this marvelous confection of sugar, corn syrup, and honey. According to Wikipedia, Brach's estimates that Americans purchase enough of it to circle the Earth 4.5 times (if all the pieces were to be laid end to end). I do my part. It is simply amazing.

My dear friend Darcie lives in IL and shares my obsession with and adoration of candy corn. I thought of her last night as I was dumping a bag--yes, I can show some restraint, and Bob was with me--in my cart (NOT a buggy), and today, I was munching on some after lunch when I got the idea to make her a card shaped like the candy!

It came together with great ease. A strip of Summer Sun at the bottom, a wider strip of Pumpkin Pie in the middle, and some Whisper White left to peek through at the top. I measured in 1.5" from each side of the 4.25" x 5.5" base and cut on an angle to create my triangle. Then I used my corner rounder punch at the bottom to soften the edges, and snipped of the corners at the top with my scissors. As you can tell, I should've used my Bold Brights colors, but I didn't trust myself ot have the bag open while I was crafting, so I didn't compare colors before I was taking the picture. Still, I love it--and it's calorie-FREE!

I added the sentiment "Thinking of You" from Kind & Caring Thoughts on the outside, inked in Chocolate Chip, and put the accompanying "and it's all good!" on the inside. Wish I could be there to see her face when she opens the envelope in a few days.

What's your favorite Halloween candy, and why?

Although There Are No Words

2009-10-13T15:50:00.004-04:00

A new acquaintance and customer of mine had a tragic loss in her family this past week. Her daughter-in-law, 31, died suddenly. As I was going on with my life, this woman was walking through shock, pain, and deep grief.

Does it strike you, like it has me, how very odd it is that this happens with great regularity? One mile away from my house, someone's life is forever changed, and I would've had no idea, had she not sent me a short email.

When I received her message, I was too paralyzed to do anything except send a short message back expressing my condolences. This afternoon, that didn't seem like enough. So I made her a card, even though we're not all that well acquainted yet.

The colors of the card are Whisper White, Always Artichoke, and Cameo Coral. I broke into a package of new paper I have called Bride Specialty Paper, which debuted in this fall's Big Idea Book. It was designed specifically for making wedding invitations, but stampers never limit themselves to what things are intended for!

Several places in blogland I saw examples of how this paper had been brayered to change its color, so I tried it. WOW! Adding color reveals this beautiful pattern! I really like how quick and easy it is to create texture and eye-catching detail with this stuff.

The sentiment is non-SU!, but conveyed my heart perfectly. I added a little Whisper White taffeta ribbon to pull the design together.

I hope her heart will be encouraged some, knowing I'm walking beside her through this, even if it's not as closely as some who know her better. Who can you encourage, even from afar, with a simple card and your words today?

She'll Leave More than a Lipstick Stain Behind...

2009-10-12T13:43:00.005-04:00

Cheryl is a partner at Starbucks who is moving on to pursue her passion of social work. Her last day will be Wednesday, so it was my task to create a card for her. She's the only one on staff who wears lipstick, and it's not just any muted shade--it's bright pink! We tease her that we always know which cup is hers (we use ceramic mugs, so as not to put more trash into the landfills)! So, I had to immortalize her in the design somehow.

I had Rose Red, Marigold Morning and Vintage Violet (both 2006 InColors), and Old Olive already on my craft table, so I decided to play with those a bit. I was inspired by a card I'd favorited at SCS several months ago. Of course, I had to make it more challenging by adding a fourth color to the mix, one I had no ink pad for, to boot! I putzed with it for 2 days, and finished it this morning at 4:15a before I started the workday.

What stymied me for the longest time was what to do with the large panel on the left. I didn't have any Designer Series Paper that coordinated, so I was left staring at this blank space. In the end, deadline pressure paid off, and I made it into a bookmark! It's adhered to the card front with removable adhesive, so she'll have a little reminder of her time with us while she studies. It says "best wishes" on the back.

The stamps used were It's a Loop Thing, a retired Hostess set, and Say it with Scallops, also retired.

It has stopped raining here--2.5" was predicted, and I'd not be surprised if we got at least that much--so I'm going to trot off to the grocery store.

Got Gift Cards? I Have Holders!

2009-09-30T06:00:00.000-04:00

The most common present that many people opt to give these days is a gift card. They're great to receive, but their presentation is lacking. As pretty as the card may be, it's still just a card. Sometimes it doesn't seem like much when you present it. It's not the gift card's fault; it just needs a little help to be special. Enter the gift card holder.

There are about as many variations on this kind of packaging as their are crafters, so I had plenty of inspiration as I was casting about for ideas. These are three I've come up with so far, and I'm putting together a class for anyone interested in having a stash of these on hand. I'd love to partner with you to put a date on the calendar to provide you and your friends with these unique items!

The first one is simple, yet sporty and fun! It's a quickie too, which is sometimes just what you need. It uses a fantabulous color combination of Baja Breeze (yes, I know it's retired, but I love it, so you know how special you must be if I'll share my hoarded stash for this project), Tangerine Tango (again, it's retired, but I don't care), and So Saffron. Love it! The little party hats seem to dance on the cover (thank you, Diana Gibbs for the idea and colors), and they're popped up on Stampin' Dimensionals on top of circles punched with the .75" punch. A slit punch helps keep the card closed and the gift card in its place. Here's a shot of the interior: the gift card is just held in place with mono adhesive.

The second card features a Christmas theme, utilizing the ornaments from Delightful Decorations. This holder goes together so quickly, thanks to the ornament punch that coordinates with the set! A belly band holds the holder together and the card is tucked away in a pocket inside. There's even a place to write a little message! So cool. I learned how to make this at a demonstrators gathering hosted by Glenda Travelstead.

I saved the best for last! Isn't this purse CUTE!! Dawn Griffith posted a tutorial on her blog, and I want to make sure she gets the credit she deserves.
The interior has a clear envelope that has been cut to size to hold the gift card securely, and the bottom flap is perfect for a little message to the recipient. It's held closed with a very small magnet. How's that for GIRLY?

I may add a few more to this repertoire, but I hope you are excited by what you've seen and want to get some friends together and make these! The cost of the workshop will be determined by the number of holders each person wants to make.

Contact me through the comments and let me know when you'd like to schedule this fun time of crafting with your friends.

Shop the Clearance Rack at Stampin' Up Online!

2009-09-29T17:15:00.002-04:00

What great news! Stampin' Up! has decided to offer retired items they have a surplus of at up to 80% off! Click on my Shop 24/7 button in the upper right to be taken to my business website, and then click on the Shop button there to go directly to the store. You'll get the same pricing I would, since you're using me as your demonstrator. Check it out--there is some great stuff there!

Wedding Present

2009-09-29T15:04:00.005-04:00

(This was supposed to post while I was gone last weekend, but I forgot to schedule it. Enjoy!) My cousin closest in age to me on my dad's side is getting married this weekend, and as you read this, I'm on my way via car to bear witness to the nuptials. Because funds are tight these days, my gift is my presence, but I didn't want to show up completely empty-handed. So I made these simple monogram cards using the color scheme from the wedding.

The base is Whisper White and the medallion is stamped on Real Red, matted with Basic Black. I hope they'll put them to good use as thank yous for all the wonderful gifts they'll receive.

Trip Postscript: Driving 1600 miles in 2 days to attend this wedding might be considered by some to be insane, but I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Time with family, whatever lengths you have to go to to have it, is time well spent, and you don't get another chance to experience some of life's events.

We were out of the car only about 3 more hours than we were in it, if you add it all up, but in that brief time I:
*saw my cousins, my niece and nephew, my aunts and uncles, my great aunts and uncles
*chatted with friends who met us along I69 at Starbucks (where else?) for late night coffee (decaf)
*listened to my niece play the few notes she knows on the flute she's learning to play
*made a spontaneous stop at a bakery on the way to the wedding and had great treats
*talked with my cousin about the narcissism of today's culture while speeding along I65
and witnessed a milestone event.

The happy couple is enjoying Hawaii, and I'm back in town, planning this month's Stamp-A-Stack and gearing up for the holiday card making season. And a good time was had by all!

More Birthday Cards

2009-09-29T14:32:00.003-04:00

I have a few things to show you, but I want to hold off just a bit longer. I realize it has been awhile since I posted, so I thought I'd tide you over by giving you some card eye candy. This card is from my friend Connie in IL. She got into card making several years after I did, and we spent good quality time while I lived there crafting together. She has used her talents to support her local crisis pregnancy center by making cards for them to use, and she also makes cards for her church to send out to those who are ill or shut-in and can't make it to services. Don't you love how card making can encourage others? Thanks, Connie, for encouraging me on my birthday!

The other handmade card I received is from my friend Elisabeth, who lives in England with her family. She just moved there last year, and has found stamping to be a wonderful way to meet new people and help them nurture their creativity--some of whom never thought they had any! She has limited space and limited supplies, but such a beautiful way of making the most of what she has. She knows how I love earth tones. Thanks, Elisabeth!

Circles for a Sweet Baby and Water Water Everywhere!

2009-09-23T07:00:00.005-04:00

My dear friend Aminah, whom I've known since she was in college and was Michael's babysitter, and her husband Nate had a baby on the best date of this year, 09-09-09. (How cool is that!) Their sweet little girl's name is Miriam Hope, and she's quite a cutie! I'd love to cuddle with this baby and sit on the couch with her mama, but I live 800 miles away from this dear family, so the best way I can celebrate with them is to send them a card.

When I spoke with Aminah before she had the baby (they didn't find out the sex!), I casually inquired about the colors of the nursery. She said brown, green, and orange. Soothing earth tones. Love 'em! When I received Miriam's birth announcement, there she was, laying on a blanket that had circles in the pattern. I LOVE CIRCLES.

So, I got out all my circle punches this afternoon--1.75", 1 3/8", 1.25", 1", .75", and .5"--and started making circles in Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie (perfect for a little punkin!), and Old Olive. I layered them all on Very Vanilla to create a one of a kind background. Perfect!

Then I started playing with an idea that I'd visualized in my head. It involved chipboard frames--3 of them to symbolize Mommy, Daddy, and Baby. I inked them up in Chocolate Chip with my reinker and a sponge dauber and set them aside to dry. What sentiment to use? It needed to be small, so I pulled out a retired set of sayings from the Hostess line and came upon "it's a girl". Classic and to the point.

The final product has several more layers and measures roughly 4.25"x6ish". I mounted everything on some natural cardstock I'd bought at a chain craft store (it was surprisingly thin and flimsy but served the purpose) and it's ready to be mailed! I hope they like it. It was made "just for them".

A Beauty from a Friend

2009-09-22T14:09:00.005-04:00

My friend and fellow demonstrator Nadine Amy sent me this GORGEOUS card for my birthday! Isn't it stunning?

The layout is a tri-shutter, and it has many panels to decorate. Nadine used the Cottage Wall DSP, which combines Old Olive, Orchid Opulence, and Rich Razzleberry. The butterflies on the front were created using the Beautiful Butterflies Sizzix Bigz diecut. Two half pearls from the Pretties kit create the body.

The interior showcases more of the DSP and flowers from Embrace Life accent the smaller areas. She punched those with her 1" circle punch and matted it on OO using her 1.25" circle punch. The sentiment "just thinking of you on your birthday" is from On Your Birthday, a 12-piece sentiment set. Accenting the message is the butterfly from Great Friend, stamped in OO and mounted with Stampin' Dimensionals.

This made me feel so special! Thanks a bunch, Nadine! Who will you bless with a handmade card today? I'm off to make a baby card.

Got Elves?

2009-09-21T07:00:00.001-04:00

I love the idea of Santa, mainly because he has ELVES. Consider how much you could accomplish each holiday season if you had a vast army of people who would do everything you'd ask them to with smiles on their faces! I also wish for elves about this time every year because this is when I begin to think about making Christmas cards.

Each year the thought of making Christmas cards evokes two reactions in me. Part of me loves the idea of expressing how much I cherish my friends and family by giving them a handmade card, while the other part of me can't figure out where I will find the hours and hours (and energy) it will take to make them.

Well, this year is going to be different. Why? I've discovered SU!'s Christmas Jingle Simply Scrappin' Kit! What does a scrapbooking kit have to do with Christmas cards? Wait and see!

The kit comes with 8-12"x12" sheets of textured card stock in four colors: Very Vanilla, Real Red, Old Olive, and Chocolate Chip. Also included are 6-12"x12" sheets of double-sided Designer Series Paper that coordinate with these four core colors. The best part of the kit is the 6 sheets of self-adhesive stickers. ALL that for $20!

So I decided to get my hands on one of these kits and see how many cards I could create using these elements. I made 24! Ready to see my creations?

These first 8 cards were designed to be made twice. (Double click on the pictures to see each foursome in more detail.) With 2 sheets of every sticker page, this is accomplished painlessly with some simple planning, leaving plenty leftover for 8 more. I cut the card stock into 4"x12" strips, then cut those down by 1" so that I would have traditional size cards that would fit in A2 envelopes.

Here is the second set of eight. I loved how quickly and easily these came together. What's even nicer about this whole process is that there's very little cutting or stamping involved. I used several sentiments from various Christmas stamp sets I have, but the first eight cards don't have any stamping on them at all! This kit has plenty of supplies!

So, I'm offering what I've done all the work of planning out to you. I will cut all the elements and all you'll have to do is assemble them. In approximately 2 hours' time, you'll have 24 cards ready for mailing or gift giving. The fee for this will be $35. If you purchase multiple kits, the price will be $30 each. I will supply ribbon and envelopes as part of that $35 fee, so please keep this and the fact that I'll be doing all the prep work for you in mind as you consider the price.

Those who host a group of at least 3 friends to make these cards together will receive something special from me--a handmade by me container to hold 6 of these cards for gift giving. You can let me know of your interest in hosting one of these events by contacting me via email (jenn.nahrstadt@gmail.com) or by leaving a comment with your contact information. If you're looking for a photo card idea that's a step above the Walmart printout, I have a kit available for this as well!

Just consider me your card making elf this year!

What Is It They Say About Elephants and Their Memories?

2009-09-19T09:00:00.000-04:00

Is it true or is it a myth that elephants have good memories? As in, they remember things. I'm not sure, but this elephant seems to have a good memory for remembering birthdays of his friends, and being ready and willing to par-tay!

This card for today's Stamp-A-Stack features a bunch of retired stuff. Retired stuff still works, y'all, so it's getting put to good use! The set is Wild About You, the DSP is Cutie Pie, and the card stock is Purely Pomegranate. I loved this color {sigh}. This is a pretty straightforward design, but the little details of the ear popped up on a Stampin' Dimensional and the layered party hat in coordinating colors (from the current set Party Hearty) make it more special than your average greeting card from the grocery.

This card was originally intended for our monthly card making night at the Ronald McDonald House. I have a second that I'll show at another time, closer to when we go. The census at the House is always changing, and this month's residents are mostly male and older teens. At the advice of a fellow volunteer who is at the house weekly, we're postponing until there's a group there that might enjoy crafting more than this demographic. You gotta know your audience, and the guys just don't have the love for crafting! So some of the supplies will be put to good use this weekend at my house instead.

Happy weekend to you! My folks arrive from IN for the week, so we'll be getting some good face time with them in the next 7 days. Someone in our house is having a birthday, so we'll be going out to dinner and having some chocolate cake! Be sure to remember those in your life with birthdays. It really does mean more than you think to get a card in the mail.

Wedding Medallion

2009-09-18T09:00:00.000-04:00

This Medallion background stamp is more and more fun to use each time I play with it! If you haven't seen the first post I did using this stamp, click here. Earlier this week at work, a partner commented that we should have a card for our district manager who is getting remarried this weekend. I told him I'd put one together, and this is the result.

I was influenced heavily in the design by this post by dberry on Splitcoaststampers.com. I really liked how she made the image look like a tile, and so I set out to put my own twist on it. The image is large--4.75" square. I chose Very Vanilla for the card stock and Soft Suede for the ink. I needed to be able to easily divide the VV in thirds, so I made my square 4 7/8". This allowed me to score at 1 5/8" and get the desired look. After I scored the square, I folded it and creased it several times to break down the paper fibers. Then I tore it apart. This left only the outer edges to distress with scissors.

I used some Soft Sky card stock from the InColor collection of 2 years ago (measuring 5 1/8" square) and attached both layers to a 5.25" base of Soft Suede. Old meets new.

Where to put the (from Kind and Caring Thoughts) was the biggest challenge. I thought about splitting it up and putting "Best" in the upper left corner and "Wishes" in the lower right corner, but I determined that keeping it all together was better. I split the message using my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig positioning system.

Most wedding cards feature designs that are feminine, so I'm pleased that this one seems to strike a balance and maybe even lean toward being more masculine.

Can You Finish This Phrase?

2009-09-17T09:00:00.000-04:00

Give a hoot, ______ ___________! I'm dating myself by making this mention, but I couldn't ignore what my brain gave me when I started this post. Use it or lose it, they say, and I want to keep my brain active for a long time.

So, that PSA aside, here's another card we're making at this month's Stamp-A-Stack. It features two sets, Season of Friendship and Owl Together Now. I don't own the second set, but my dear friend Lydia sent me some stamped images from this set almost a year ago for a project I was working on, and they've been flittin' around between my desk, storage, and another table in the craft room, and I decided they needed to be used.

I chose a color scheme from the 2009-2010 InColor Collection that has been popular this month--Rich Razzleberry, Dusty Durango, and Soft Suede. It really is a nice combination, and makes me yearn for true autumn, which begins officially in 4 days! It's pretty easy to see which colors were used where, and Very Vanilla is the top layer. I stamped the tree trunk from SoF in Soft Suede. Then I inked up the leaves stamp with DD and stamped it with once and then again after I remoistened it with a huff. I stamped off the RR leaves before placing them on the tree.

Then for the fun part! I used my InColor Stampin' Write Markers in the aforementioned colors to beautify my owl. Those attending Saturday will have two to place in their trees. Then I went to place the sentiment "you're a hoot!" on my card, only to realize that it was stamped on Whisper White card stock. What to do? I pulled out my light table and traced the letters with my SS marker! There's a .25" strip of SS across the bottom to ground the tree, and it looks more natural in real life.

In case you're too young to know, the answer to the fill in the blank question above is "don't pollute!" Have a great Thursday!

Wondering Where I've Been?

2009-09-16T16:04:00.005-04:00

Well, it's not that I haven't been making cards. It's just that I reached a halting point because I couldn't work under the conditions I'd created! Check it out! This afternoon I determined that nothing else would happen in there until those spaces were cleared or at least organized. About 45 min. later, I had a clean desktop on which to photograph lots of cards I'd created just for you!

This first one is one I made last night, when I was completely unsure I would have 5 designs for this weekend's Stamp-A-Stack. I've had this card by Nancy Riley stored in my Google Reader favorites for 3 months, and it was just the inspiration I needed to get my creative juices flowing. (Props to Karen Giron for the sketch!)

The base is More Mustard and the 1.25" squares are from the Autumn Vine Designer Series Paper pack. This is retired, but I want to use up my stuff, so I'm making a little dent, 1.25" at a time! There are 8 total. The center square features more of the DSP, the larger pattern of the same one used in the smaller squares becomes the focal point matted on Chocolate Chip card stock. There's the sentiment "you're so thoughtful" from Absolutely Fabulous stamped in Chocolate Chip there amidst the leaves and vines. The ribbon is Sage Shadow .25" grosgrain, and I cut a slit in the fold of the card base to thread it through to tie a knot.

More cards forthcoming, now that they're all photographed! Posts for days! Thanks for sticking with me through the periods of silence.

Thank Y' Kindly

2009-09-07T13:55:00.004-04:00

I've owned the Wanted set for 2 years, and every time I've pulled it out to make something, it has been a major challenge. Strike 1: it doesn't have a sentiment, unless you count "Wanted", which can only apply in so many situations with certain folks. Strike 2: I'm a city girl, so channeling my inner "country" is like visiting a foreign country where I don't speak the language. Well, hallelujah, I found a way to like this set before it incurred its third strike!

It all started when I visited Donna Moore's blog and saw this cool woven effect (second picture) done around a scalloped circle. I'd seen it awhile back, but had never investigated how to achieve said look. Now I really wanted to know. A quick email to Donna, and the answer was in my inbox!

It's SUPER easy, which is what I like--it makes you look all swank and stuff when you're really not! Simply punch a scalloped circle and attach a length of linen thread on the back. Come up between the top two scallops, count to your right three scallops, and wrap the thread behind the circle in the notch between the third and fourth scallops. Come back up 1 notch over from your starting point and repeat. Around and around and allemand left with your left hand...I mean keep repeating until you finish back where you started.

This became the starting point for this card. After I made a few more (they're addictive), I colored direct to rubber on one of the circular designs in the Wanted set with my Really Rust, Sage Shadow, and Chocolate Chip SU! Stampin' Write Markers. I stamped it on Very Vanilla card stock and punched out the design with my 1.25" circle punch. On the third circle, I used "thank you very much" from a retired set called Bitty Basics.

I didn't want to complicate the card with competing eye candy, so I chose a subtle piece of Designer Series Paper from the coordinating Outlaw pack (also retired--sorry, I'm trying to use up my stashes), and paired it with a piece of SS card stock. The base is 3" x 6" RR.

This is one of the cards we'll be making at this month's Stamp-A-Stack. Please leave a comment if you're interested in attending! The date is Sept. 19, from 10a-1p, at my house. Y'all come by now, y'hear!

Flight of a Three-step Stamped Butterfly

2009-09-04T09:00:00.000-04:00

This card was inspired by this one that I saw online at SCS awhile back. I liked the color combination of Crushed Curry, Bermuda Bay, and Kraft. I also loved the little border along the bottom that Disneywed created.

This is how I reinterpreted the card. The butterflies abounded, dancing along the upper and lower borders. The Flight of the Butterfly set features 2-step stamping for the 'flies, and this time I combined 3 of the images to create my focal point. The solid image, inked in Sahara Sand (there is no Kraft ink available), was the base. I then stamped the dotted butterfly in CC and topped it with the dotted outlined image in BB. Can you say Stamp-A-Ma-Jig?! I never would have been able to line up those three without that tool.

I really like this whimsical card, and the sentiment from the set is perfect for wishing someone well, be it on their birthday or on some other occasion. You can purchase this set by clicking on my "shop now 24/7" icon in the upper right sidebar of this blog and have butterflies fluttering around your stamp room too!