A CLOSER LOOK

 Here's my desk blotter and most-used items surrounding it.  I recently came up with a way to maximize the stamping area with a very simple product by Crayola.  It's a sheet of thick frosted plastic I got at Hobby Lobby and cut to fit the blotter.  (Sorry, I forget what it's called.)  Underneath, I placed a sheet of SU grid paper which I use to line up my stamping or to center something on a card front.  What a help that is!  As you can see, I keep my Cuttlebug handy on the right since I use it often.

One of my most annoying problems was having to waste time looking for things that got buried under scraps, etc.  Clear acrylic handles were the items "lost" most often.  I used to store all my embossing folders and dies in the top drawer underneath the Cuttlebug; but I moved them elsewhere.  In the front of the drawer, a plastic container holds all my adhesives so that I can put them back as I use them--no more hunting for them on the table!  I just keep that drawer open whenever I'm working.  On the right side of the drawer is a container for my acrylic handles, which you can hardly see--proof of just how easy it is for one of them to "hide" on the table.  Behind those containers is a shallow one to hold incoming cards that need to be answered.

 Having a small space forces me to be more efficient and to purge my supplies often, so bigger is not always better!

DE TOWER DECLUTTERED!

 Compared to previous post, notice the absence of clutter on desk and table tops.  No more piles on the floor, either.  Plus I got all the work done in time to meet Jackie for lunch at Wegman's...

Hope this inspires YOU to start off the New Year with a more orderly creative space!

DECLUTTER DE TOWER!

 Was I busy this Christmas or what????

It's time to put the tower back together, but first I thought I'd give you a tour of the "before."  The first photo was taken from my desk chair toward the closet and Jenny's (my cat) chair.  In the foreground is the edge of my table with a pile of papers on the end.  Next is my desk with the monitor and keyboard.  The waste basket is pulled out from underneath the desk.  In front of it is a stack of 2 plastic containers filled with Christmas stamps, with even more on top.  Behind the waste basket is a box on the floor with a duplicate order that came in on Christmas Eve that I have to return -- like I needed the extra work!  To the right of that on the floor is a pack of printer paper, which belongs in the white cabinet currently blocked by two tote bags.  Behind the chair is the closet, which remained fairly neat, probably because everything I needed is pulled out!  This part of the room shouldn't take long to get back together.  The real challenge is my stamping table area.

The second photo shows my Cuttlebug still open from the last use.  Paper piles in several spots have to be sorted and put away, as well as some punches, stamps and inks.

But first, I need to go downstairs and have my coffee.  See you back here later for the "after" photos!

MODERN CHRISTMAS CRACKERS

I saw a video on YOUtube for making these Christmas Crackers with the Envelope Punch Board, and they couldn't have been easier!  Since our house is a contemporary, I decided to keep the ends pushed in instead of tying ribbons around the narrow parts as is usually done.   They each hold two Lindt truffles and will also serve as place cards for the table setting.  I thought I'd try the less traditional look for a change.

There were lots of versions of these on YOUtube, some large enough to use as small gift boxes.  (Just do a search for Envelope Punch Board.)

BIRTHDAY DEER

Click on the photo to see the glitter on the snow.  I used Star Dust Stickles, and it really glistens the way snow is supposed to!

The birch trees are from a new set I just got in the mail last week from Sweet 'n Sassy.  First I cut down the stamp so that I could use them separately or all together for whatever effect I'm after.  This one is the left 2/3 of the whole stamp.  The deer are from a Memory Box die, which also has another deer with antlers; but I thought these two were a better balance.  In fact, they show up a lot in the headlights around here ;)

The birthday greeting is from a Simon Says Stamp set, and I used Versafine Smokey Grey ink to keep it softer than it would be in black or dark brown.  The twine also came last week, and I love the silver thread running through it.  It's also a bit heavier than bakers twine.

Although it could be a nice Christmas card, this card will go to my son for his birthday on Jan. 8th.

WARMTH AND WONDER

I just love this Hostess Set from SU because it has everything you need for a card, including the inside and outside greetings.  I've already made several cards in different variations and colors, some with emphasis on the tree, some with the deer, and even a background panel with white snow flakes on kraft.

This card started out with sponging the background in Broken China and Tumbled Glass Distress inks.  Next I inked up the tree in Versafine Olympia Green and stamped off before stamping the main tree on the card.  Then without reinking, I stamped the tree a second and third time (very faint here.)  The snowflake was inked with Broken China and stamped off before adding to the card.  The tree ornaments were stamped with Encore Champagne Metallic ink.

The reindeer was stamped in dark brown twice:  once on the card base and once on a scrap of white.  After adding the light green overlay, I cut the deer out (minus the antlers) and mounted it over the first one with a piece of  foam tape.  After applying Tombow Mono glue to the greeting , I was able to slide it in place underneath the deer legs to finish the card.

The inside greeting from the same set is stamped in the dark brown.  This set made it soooo easy!

TIP:  Since this is a wood mounted set, I came up with a way to center the ornaments perfectly on the tree.  I turned the ornament stamp upside down on the tree and marked on the side of the wood mount with a pencil line exactly where the tree trunk is.  Now I can line up the dots every time!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

EXCERCISE FOR AGING STAMPERS

Now that I'm starting to feel my age more and more these days, I don't have the energy (physical or mental) that I used to. (forget about tennis!)  However, I now appreciate participating in the "sport" of stamping.  I get my exercise stretching to reach something that falls on the floor, aerobics jumping out of my chair to get a stamp set from across the room and muscle-building applying pressure on a stamp or cranking out a die cut on my Cuttlebug.

Praise God for a sense of humor!

BIRTHDAY COFFEE

The UPS man arrived today with my precious SU order--YAY!  After sorting all the guest orders and bagging them, I ran upstairs with my new toys and started making some cards.

This one combines the Perfect Blend and Endless Wishes sets...hello Scrap Drawer!  After stamping the cup on a piece of light green, I stamped the lid portion on white and the collar on light brown using Smokey Gray Versafine ink.  For the greeting, I curved the polymer stamps to line up with the curve of the cup and stamped the top part in black and the larger word in light brown.

Since the card is a side fold, I ran the front through the Cuttlebug to emboss the birthday greetings.  Then I added a piece of brown textured cs from my Scrap Drawer, already zig-zag cut on the right side, after wrapping some natural hemp around the top.

Once I add the inside greeting, this should make a nice masculine birthday card!

THANKSGIVING CARD

Using a long-retired SU set, "Bountiful Blessings", this is the card I came up with for the members of the Mothers Class this year.  Rather than color in the image, I decided to keep it simple and rustic looking.  After tearing the edges, I sponged brown ink on the sides, then added some black sponging just on the very edges over the brown to give it a little more definition.

For embellishment, I used 2 pearls and a gem in the lower right corner.  Inside, I first stamped the wheat sheaf of the set in brown, then stamped "bountiful blessings..." in black over it.  The embossing folder on the front gave it a bit more texture.

I am so thankful for the members of my Mothers Class.  They truly are an inspiration and make Wednesdays the highlight of my week.

SIMPLE CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT

For the next Mothers Class, we'll be making these Christmas ornament cards--soooo easy!

After punching out a circle of dsp,  add a gem in the center and set aside.  Next, take a piece of white cardstock cut to
3 3/4"x5" and stamp the greeting on the bottom in an ink to match the cardstock base (SU Choc. Chip in this case.)  Then attach a piece of red metallic cord on the top of the card, taping it securely on the back.  Use a dimensional to attach it on the front underneath where the ornament will go.  Then add the  ornament on top of the dimensional.

The "pine branches" are done with a Martha Stewart fern punch and glued into place with TomBow mono glue.  A bow is added for the finishing touch with a glue dot.

Although you could use red or green cs for the base, I thought this dark brown made it a little richer looking and a bit more unusual--who would have thought!

WHITE HOLLY BERRIES

I just HAD to CASE this card shown HERE!  (10/29/13 post)

Holly trees do have red berries, but the white looks so much better here.  It's ok to be creative, right?

First, I ran the Penny Black holly die through the Cuttlebug using Pear Pizzaz cs.  Then I sponged the ends of the leaves with Color Box Olive Pastel chalk ink.  Using the same ink, I sponged the left third of a textured white panel and tied the natural hemp around it.

After stamping "Christmas Blessings" with Versafine Olympia Green ink, I mounted the panel on the card front with dimensionals.  TomBow mono glue was used on the left end of the branch and three leaves to hold it in place.  I slid the branch under the hemp, leaving the rest of the leaves and branch free so that it gives some dimension to the card.   After adding tiny pearls for the berries, the card was done.  This, by the way, took very little time to make--which means I'll be making more!

Thanks, Birgit, for such a wonderful design!

NEW TOY, OLD TECHNIQUE

The new die that I ordered from Penny Black came the other day, and I finally got a chance to try it out today!
This is the design I came up with for Mothers Class next week.

Using scraps from our previous Christmas bargello card, we'll snip them and place them on a piece of cardstock that was run through the Xyron machine.  Leaving spaces between the pieces, we'll add gold embossing powder on the remaining glue and heat.  After trimming and mounting the mosaic piece to the upper left of the card, we'll color the holly sprig and gently glue it to the card, add the tag and gold or red twine bow.

UPDATE ON JACKIE:  She should be home this weekend, thankfully, and plans to be in class next week.  Meanwhile, one of the other moms was in the hospital with an obstruction--what are the odds of two from the same class being in the hospital with the same problem at the same time.  Her issue resolved itself without any drastic measures, however; and she was released on Tuesday and in class yesterday.  Thanks for all of the prayer support that I'm sure helped in their recovery!

Birthday Card for a Good Friend

This was a fun card to make, and it didn't take very long.  I made it a folio card that "hinges" on the left.  The stamp is from a SU set, "Have a Seat."  Since my friend has this kind of furniture in her house, I thought it was just right.

The sun was very strong today, so this card photographed  a lot brighter than in real life.  It was fun making the cushion and pillows out of scrap dsp.  Inside it reads "The most valuable antiques are old friends."  I added that the older the antique, the more valuable.  We've been friends for over 30 years.

SIMPLE SATURDAY #31

BARGELLO CHRISTMAS CARDS...

...TWO FOR ONE!

Next Wednesday, the Mothers Class will be revisiting the Bargello technique which they learned last year and requested that we do again.  (See Splitcoast Stampers for this technique.)

After cutting all the pieces and mounting them on a piece of white cardstock, we'll run it through the Cuttlebug with the Christmas Tree die.  Using the negative space shown on this first card, we'll cut some trees from Pear Pizzaz cs to place in the opening.  Students will have the choice of taping it to lie flat or using dimensionals to raise it above the background.  After gluing sequins, a star and the greeting to the front of the card, we'll go to the second card.

Using the tree that was cut out of the Bargello panel, we'll then make a horizontal card.  (The red background is a richer shade of cardstock than it looks here.)  After attaching the star and a lime green gem, the tree and greeting will be mounted with dimensionals.  This one should take no time at all to complete!

I just love the way this came together so that none of the bargello panel was wasted.

SPECIAL NOTE:  Jackie will be missing some classes because of being in the hospital.  Instead of heading for a trip to Oregon to see her new grandchild as planned, she had to have emergency surgery to remove a blockage in her intestines.  She was in a lot of pain and is still recovering.  We're hoping she'll be out of  ICU soon.  Please keep her in your prayers.

FUN HALLOWEEN CARD

Here's the card we'll be doing at Mothers Class today--too cute!

The Candy Monster is from a set I just received in the mail from Taylored Expressions, along with some orange candy dots.  The matching die made this card super easy to do.  The small details are colored in with Gelly Roll glitter pens.  Jackie is bringing her large googlie eyes to class--they'll look much better than the small one I had on hand.

The polka dot dsp behind the circle opening is from a 12 x 12 K & Co. pad I picked up last year.  (Unfortunately, it looks washed out in this photo.)  It is mounted on the inside of the card to show through the die-cut circle behind the one-eyed monster.  I attachd him to the card front with a piece of foam tape below the opening.  Notice his green teeth, probably rotten from eating too much candy *lol*!

Should be a fun class!

WORLD CARD-MAKING DAY COMES TO A CLOSE

We enjoyed another sunny Indian Summer day today, so I was outdoors for quite a bit.  I did manage to make three new cards for pastor, though.  This is one of them.

It won't be long before all the leaves are off the trees and the days grow colder.  That's the best time to stamp.  Christmas cards, here I come...

I hope you all had a creative day today in honor of World Card-making Day!

GUESS WHO'LL BE GETTING THIS ONE!

Although the design is simple enough, the creative process took well over an hour.  I was experimenting with the stained glass look, but it didn't come out the way I'd hoped.  (I'll give it another try later this week.)

After gold embossing the leaves on vellum and coloring the back with markers, my first attempts at finding an adhesive that didn't rub off is what took all the time.  I finally ran the bottom leaf through my Xyron Label Maker, but I wanted the top one to be a little looser.  Nothing else worked, until I tried my TomBow Mono Glue down the center of the leaf.  The acorn was done on cardstock, so it was easily adhered with a dimensional.

Please click on the image and take a closer look!

HAPPY STAMPERS!

 Today at Mothers Class, I not only remembered to bring my camera; but I also remembered to USE IT!






Evelyn donated her card to the package I made up for the pastor.  I had only three, so hers was the fourth.  Thanks, Evelyn!

Jackie gave the camera a big smile, while Bambi finished working on hers in the background.

Kim's card came out great!

Each stamper used a different Bible verse for her card, so it was a nice variety.

Finally, the class worked on their Christmas cards.  Nicole is on the left.  Although she arrived late, she caught up quickly and finished all three of her cards.  (We do two of the Christmas cards each week so that everyone has a nice stash by December.)


If you click on the photos, you'll see why they're called the Advanced Class!