Braided Sunset Card

     I subscribe to the blogs of some of the top demonstrators in Stampin' Up!  Their cards and projects are beautiful and I LOVE to CASE (Copy And Share Everything)  their ideas.  This card is no exception to that!

     I CASEd this card from Brandy Cox.  She has a pattern, on her website, for the braided part of her card.  Go HERE to download the pattern.

     I just sponged the background on this card - all you do is start with the lightest color and work to the darkest color.  It was quick and simple, and the effect is definitely a WOW!

RECIPE

CARD STOCK:  Whisper White & Early Espresso

INKS:  So Saffron, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Tangerine Tango, & Stazon Jet Black

STAMPS:  Serine Silhouettes & Teeny Tiny Wishes

TOOLS:  Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dot Embossing Folder, Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch

OTHER: Braided template from Brandy Cox

Click HERE to order Stampin' Up! products from my website, 24/7

     This is one of the cards we made at on of my past Stampin' Nites.  If you are interested in making cards like this one, and learning new techniques, please consider coming to my monthly Stampin' Nite. There is no commitment, just come and have fun!  Check my Stampin' Nite link (at the top of my blog) for information on my next class.  You definitely won't be sorry you came!

Happy Wednesday!

My website:  http://stampingwithsandy.stampinup.net

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Happy St. Patrick's Day (a little late)

     I'm so sorry it's been awhile since I've last posted.  We were giving the state tests this week, and every night I was coming home exhausted.  Last night I went to bed and hour after my boys did - that's how tired I was.

     Since Thursday was St. Patrick's Day, I wanted to share the two things I made, (I'm not Irish, and I just don't get that excited about this holiday - sorry!)

     This card was designed by Bonnie Fields, a fellow SU! demonstrator.  This was her card for our dessert night this past Monday evening.  It was super simple to make, and it's gorgeous!

RECIPE:

CARD STOCK:  Whisper White, Early Espresso, & Garden Green


INK:  Garden Green


STAMPS:  Lucky Shamrock


TOOLS:  Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Full Heart Punch, 1-3/4" Circle Punch, Corner Rounder Punch, Gold Brads, Mat Pack, Piercing Tool, & Dimensionals

Click HERE to order Stampin' UP! products, 24/7, online from my website.

     Here a St. Patrick's Day box I made:

     This is the same box as I made in THIS post.  After I made the one for Valentine's Day, I knew I wanted to make one for St. Patrick's Day.

RECIPE:

CARD STOCK:  Handsome Hunter (retired), Very Vanilla, & Presto Patterns Speciality Designer Paper


INK:  Early Espresso, Handsome Hunter & Glorious Green (both greens are retired)


STAMPS:  Got Treats?


TOOLS:  Big Shot, Box #2 Die, Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, Mini Library Clips, Crimper, Paper Cutter, Stampin' Sponges, SNAIL Adhesive, & Sticky Strip

Click HERE to order Stampin' UP! products, 24/7, online from my website.

     I used retired paper to use up my stash.  I hope this prompts you to pull out your stash and use it.  It's not doing any good in hiding.

Happy Saturday!

Happy Birthday (to Mom)!

     In honor of my mom's birthday, I've decided to post this birthday card.  This is not her birthday card (that one will be reviled after she opens it).  I CASEd it from Mary Brown.  I switched up the colors a little bit, but it's her design.  Though I really like the design, I'm not 100% happy with this card.

RECIPE:

CARD STOCK:  Pretty In Pink,  Rose Red, Baja Breeze,  Whisper White, & Red Glimmer Paper


INK:  Pretty In Pink, Baja Breeze,  & Rose Red


STAMPS:  Create A Cupcake


TOOLS:  Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dot Embossing Folder, Two-Tags Die,  3/8" Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, Build A Cupcake Punch, 1-3/4" Scallop Circle Punch, Ticket Corner Punch

Click HERE to purchase these or any Stampin' UP! products 24/7

     Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Monday!

Good Luck in KU colors

     I had a student teacher for the past 8 weeks, as well as another co-worker on my team.  Both ladies are going to Kutztown University in Pennsylvania.  Friday was their last day with us, as they are moving on to another placement.

     We had a little party for the ladies - cake, cupcakes, stories, and of course, homemade cards:

     Kutztown Univeristy's colors are maroon and gold, so I used Bravo Burgundy and More Mustard.  I never thought I'd like these two colors combined together, but I really like how they look together!

     I wanted the cards to be the same, but not exactly the same.  Below are better close-ups of each card.  The only difference between the two cards are the rounded (or non-rounded) corners.

     On the inside of both cards I used the same stamp.  I thought this stamp was perfect for these cards.

RECIPE

CARD STOCK:  Bravo Burgundy, More Mustard, & Whisper White


INK:  Bravo Burgundy ~ I used Watercolor Pencils & a Blender Pen to color in the book worm


STAMPS:  Sincere Salutations, Heard from the Heart & School Days (retired - I'm hoping it comes back in the 2011-12 Idea Book & Catalog - I love this set!)


TOOLS:  Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, 1-3/4" Circle Punch, Corner Rounder Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Stamping Sponges, Dimensionals, & Paper Snips

Click HERE to order these or any Stampin' Up! products 24/7

     Don't forget about Sale-A-Bration!  It's going on until March 31, 2011 (that's only 25 more days!).  Fro every $50 of Stampin' UP! product your purchase (not including tax & shipping), you will receive a FREE SAB item.  If you don't have a Sale-A-Bration catalog, let me know.  I'd be happy to give you one - OR - you can click on the SAB catalog to the left and download it to your computer.  

     Not only can you choose items from this fabulous catalog, you also have 54 choices from the 2010-11 Idea Book & Catalog.  You can download a flyer that shows you pictures of all 54 sets.  On the right-hand side of my blog, in the section "Supply Lists for All Catalogs", it's the first one lists.  Just click and download.

     You can place an order with me, or you can goto my online store and place an order there.  Just make sure your order totals $50 BEFORE tax & shipping.  You want to receive that FREE items from Stampin' UP!

Click HERE to order these or any Stampin' Up! products 24/7

     Also, Stampin' UP! is offering a too-good-to-be-true offer for anyone who wants to join Stampin' UP!   From now until March 31, 2011 the starter kit is only $148.75 PLUS they are giving you $50 for FREE items on top of that.  I have all the details in THIS post.  I'd be happy to answer any of your questions.  And yes, you can sign up for just the discount - Stampin' UP! makes it really easy to be a hobby demo.  The requirements are easy to keep up with without having to sell tons of products.   But, if you are one who wants to sell tons of product, that's easy to do too, and that way you can make tons of money.  It's all up to you :O)

Happy Sunday!

Tissue Box Cover

     So, have you guessed yet what I used the hearts from yesterday's post on?  No, not a card.  No, not a scrapbook page.  No, not a Valentine.  But this:

...a tissue box cover!  What do you think?

     I found the pattern and directions on Splitcoast Stampers.  The minute I saw this project I knew I wanted to make one.   I went to my Color Coach to pick the colors.  I knew I wanted to use Pink Pirouette, but I didn't know what other colors to use.  The Color Coach is the BEST tool  ever!  I came up with Pink Pirouette, Baja Breeze, and Early Espresso.  It is a beautiful color combination!

     The really hard part in making this was deciding how to decorate the box.  I spent about a week trying to decide what to do.  I didn't want it to be "Valentiney" (is that a word?), but I also wanted the frills and "girly" look to it.  During that week, I just started playing with things and the lacy heart was born, see my post HERE for a free tutorial on how I made the hearts.

     Here is a view of the top of the box:

Sorry this picture is blurry  :O(

     I will tell a little secret, that you must promise not to tell.  I used a Nestability to do the opening on the top.  I really struggled with how to do the top and I could only come up with a product not sold by Stampin' UP!

     Here are pictures of each side of my box:

RECIPE:

CARD STOCK:  Pink Pirouette, Baja Breeze, & Early Espresso

INKS:  Pink Pirouette, Baja Breeze, & Early Espresso

TOOLS:  Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Beautiful Wings Embosslit Die, Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit Die, Pinking Hearts Border Punch, Full Heart Punch, Basic Pearls Jewel Accents, Stamping Sponges, & Tombow Multi-Purpose Adhesive, SNAIL Adhesive, Color Coach, & Crimper

NON-SU! TOOLS:  Spellbinders  Blossom Two Nestabilities (I used the middle sized one of the 5) & Kleenex Tissues

Click HERE if you would like to order any of these products.

     I hope you have enjoyed seeing my tissue box!  If you are interested in making one, contact me.

Happy Saturday!

For those December birthdays

     Those of you with friends and family who celebrate a birthday in December know exactly what I'm getting at.  December birthdays are tough to not mix with Christmas.  My sister-in-law has a December birthday.  Over the years, I have made it a point to not mix the two, which sometimes can be a challenge.  But this year was not a problem for me.

     I knew the minute I saw this technique I had to try it.  It's not hard at all.  I first made a mask for my stamp, as the stamp I chose is bigger than the oval in the middle of my card.

FREE TUTORIAL:

     Let me back track for a moment so you can follow me better:

     I bought a wooden frame (5x7) at a local craft store in the wood section.  I then stamped my image on computer paper, then put the wooden frame over my stamped image and traced the oval.  I then cut out the oval.  I used Mono-adhesive and attached my mask to my card front and stamped my image (this was to ensure that my stamped imaged stayed within the oval).

     I then ran the card through the Big Shot in an embossing folder.  I put the embossing folder on Tab 1 (no bottom plate), then I placed the wooden frame on top of my embossing folder, ensuring that the oval was positioned correctly over my stamped image (not hard since you can see through the embossing folders), then placed a plate on top and ran it through.  Volia!  Beautiful embossing with the center blank.

     I then used Blender Pens and "watercolored" the flowers.  I'm really happy with the way this card turned out.  The hardest part of making the card was coloring the flowers.

RECIPE:

CARD STOCK:  Very Vanilla & Blushing Bride

INK:  Crumb Cake, Blushing Bride, Bashful Blue, & Always Artichoke

STAMPS:  Elements of Style & a retired birthday set

TOOLS:   Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, wooden frame (non-Stampin' UP!), Designer Label Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, Stampin' Sponge, & Dimensionals

     Don't let Christmas creep into those December birthdays.  Make the birthday person feel extra special by focusing on their birthday separate from Christmas by making an extra special birthday card.  If you need ideas, please let me know.  I'd be happy to show a ton of birthday ideas.

Happy Friday!