Stamping With Lois

Look Here Graduation Card

I just received my new SU Look Here Bigz XL die and I'm tellin' you, I will get LOTS of use out of this baby.  I am known as "the gift card aunt" at Christmastime.  Now I can really jazz up my gift cards for any and all occasions.  My first card using this die had to be a graduation card for my friend, Curt's son Alex.  I am going to his graduation party this weekend and needed a little something to put a gift card in.

 

Stamp Sets: Tassel Time (retired) & Big Deal Alphabet

Ink:  Basic Black, Real Red (school colors)

Card Stock:  Basic Black, Real Red, Whisper White

Accessories:  Big Shot Die Cut Machine, Look Here Bigz XL die, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Sticky Strip, SU glue stick

This new die is really fun and easy to use.  The instructions are printed right on the package and they are simple to follow.  You are meant to slide a gift card in where I have "the tassel was worth the hassle."  I have plenty of ideas for this die that don't include gift cards...think photos, invitations, whatever your imagination allows!

Until next time...Happy Stamping!

The wavin' wheat, can sure smell sweet...

When I saw the pre-order set called "Autumn Days," I had to have it-just for the image of the wheat.  It reminds me of the line in the title song from the musical Oklahoma (hence the title of this post).  I guess it is a "midwestern thing" that I tend to choose sets with farm themes whenever they are available.  My pre-ordered items arrived this afternoon while I was home for my half hour lunch break.  It was heart-wrenching leaving my precious box containing all of my new inks, card stock, punch, markers & more in order to finish my workday, then go to my daughter's house to feed her cat's, get her mail and water her plants.  Once I finally arrived home, I needed to finish preparing for my technique class tomorrow night which left little time to play with my new stuff. 

Here is the quick and easy card I came up with:

Stamp Sets:  Autumn Days, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink:  Soft Suede (one of the new "In Colors")

Card Stock:  Soft Suede, Very Vanilla

Accessories:  Big Shot die-cut machine, Curly Label Bigz XL die, Punch Window Movers & Shapers die, Modern Label punch, Paper Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, Soft Suede 1/2" Polka Dot ribbon (solid side out), Gold Brads

Did you notice that the sentiment is layered?  I used the new Modern Label punch for the Very Vanilla layer and then used the Curly Label Bigz XL die with the Movers & Shapers die for the Soft Suede layer.  Pretty neat, huh?  The Movers & Shapers die comes with 4 dies, each a little larger than one of our punches so you can layer or punch out shapes in your card fronts.  The possibilities are only limited by your imagination!

And no, I did not make a mistake when I listed Soft Suede 1/2" polka dot ribbon on the supply list.  This new ribbon is polka dotted on one side and plain on the other.  I chose to use the plain side for this particular card.

Hopefully, I will have more time to play, err, create with my new supplies in the next few days, so check back soon.  Until next time..Happy Stampin'!

Overcoming My Addiction

I must confess, I am addicted to Designer Series Paper.  I love all of the patterns and colors.  I love it so much that I have a hard time cutting it and using it.  You wouldn't believe how much of it I have.  When I first saw the Specialty Paper called Rockabilly in the catalog, I thought it was absolutely adorable but resisted buying it until the recent buy three get one free Stampin' Up! promotion. 

This evening I decided to actually use some of it to make a card that we will be making in my technique class on Friday, June 12th.  Here is the card I came up with:

You can see the other card we will be making by going to my April 29th post called Shimmery Fifth Avenue Floral. 

If you would like to sign up for this month's technique class, space is limited, so contact me today: mailbag@fuse.net

Shimmery Fifth Avenue Floral

The other day, I was blog surfing and came across Patty Bennett's blog that had a tutorial called "Watercolor Roses".  I thought I knew how to watercolor, but no, not this way.  These roses were absolutely gorgeous!  I had to try it, so I called Stephanie Luman (my best friend and upline) and we planned to get together and try this technique.  We actually squealed with delight when we saw our results.  Here is the card I made with one of the four roses I watercolored with Stephanie:

What do you think?  Wouldn't this be great for a Wedding card or a Mother's Day card?  Would you like to learn this technique?  It is easy and once you learn it, you can use any color combination of ink refills that you would like to create your own one-of-a-kind rose.  I will be teaching this technique in my monthly technique class on the second Friday in June.  Contact me today to sign up!

Stamp Sets:

• Fifth Avenue Floral

• Oval All

Card Stock:

• Pretty In Pink
• Taste of Textiles (white on white stripe)
• Shimmery White
• Certainly Celery
• Old Olive

Ink:

• Pink Pirouette (refill)
• Pretty In Pink (refill)
• Regal Rose (refill)
• Old Olive (classic stampin' pad)
• Certainly Celery (marker)
• Pretty In Pink (marker)

Accessories:

• Big Shot die-cut machine
• Stampin' Up! Top Note die
• Stampin' Up! Little Leaves die
• Aqua Painter
• Oval Scallop Punch
• Large Oval Punch
• Stamping Sponges
• Paper Snips
• Stampin' Dimensionals

Easter Chick

I saw a card similar to this one somewhere (my apology to the artist) and changed a few things to make it my own.  I plan to use these cute little chicks as place cards on my Easter table.

Stamps: none

Card Stock:  barely banana, pumpkin pie, basic black, whisper white

Ink:  Pretty In Pink, So Saffron

Accessories:

• Big Shot Die-Cut Machine
• Scallop Circle #2 die
• 5 petal flower punch
• scallop circle punch
• 3/4" circle punch
• 1/2" circle punch
• 3/4" square punch
• boho blossoms punch
• stampin' sponges
• sponge daubers
• crop-a-dile
• pretty in pink grosgrain ribbon
• white gel pen (optional to accent/highlight eyes)

Cut two of the scallop circles from barely banana card stock using the Scallop Circle #2 die.  Sponge so saffron ink around edges. Cut one scallop circle out using scallop circle punch, cut in half to make two wings.  Sponge so saffron ink around all edges. 

The hair is created by punching a 5 petal flower out of barely banana card stock, sponge edges with so saffron ink and adhere to back of one large scallop circle (this will be the front of the card).  Place a little adhesive to the back of the hair and attach the other large scallop circle (card back).  Use the crop-a-dile to punch two holes so that you can thread the ribbon through to hold the card together.

Use a sponge dauber and pretty in pink ink to make the chick some cheeks.  The eyes are 3/4" whisper white circles with 1/2" basic black circles.  White gel pen can be used to accent the pupils.  A 3/4" barely banana circle cut in half creates the eyelids.

The feet are just two pumpkin pie flowers punched out using the boho blossoms punch.  The beak is a 3/4" square of pumpkin pie.

Easter Treat Holder

 

I wanted something to put a few Easter treats in for my grown children who really don't eat much candy.  I got out my Big Shot and remembered that I had seen some cones that had held treats and I thought I'd make a cone into a carrot!

Paper:

• Any orange-colored Designer Series Paper
• A coordinating green cardstock

Accessories:

• Big shot die-cut machine
• Scallop Circle die
• Sticky Strip
• Crimper
• Tabletop Paper Cutter

• Multi-purpose adhesive

Technique Class

 

This tri-fold Manhattan Flower card is one of the projects that we will be making in my technique class on Friday, April 10th.  Linda Heller created this card, I just substituted the ribbon slide for the embellishment she used.  I think this would be the perfect card for Mother's Day, a wedding or a special birthday, don't you?

Card Stock:

• Pink Pirouette Textured 12 x 12
• Whisper White

Accessories:

• Big Shot Die-Cut Machine
• Manhattan Flower Textured Impressions Die
• Paper Snips
• 3/16" Corner Rounder
• Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware-ribbon slide
• Whisper White Organza Ribbon

Great Card for a Great Friend

I just got the supplies I pre-ordered from the new Occasions Mini and decided to make a card with the cute new "Great Friend" set.  I just LOVE these butterflies.  The "Lots of Tags" sizzlits are a great addition to my Big Shot die library!

Stamp Sets:

• Great Friend
• Baroque Motifs

Card Stock:

• So Saffron
• Kiwi Kiss

• Whisper White

Ink:

• So Saffron
• Kiwi Kiss
• Tangerine Tango

Accessories:

• Big shot Die Cut Machine
• Sizzlits: Stampin' Up! Little Leaves
• Sizzlits: Stampin' Up! Lots of Tags
• Wide Oval Punch
• Stampin' Dimensionals
• 1/4" wide Whisper White grosgrain ribbon
• Paper Snips
• Ribbon Scissors

Now I just need to make a pile of these so I can send one to each of my great friends!

Family Vacation Page (8-1/2 x 8-1/2)

Whether you just returned from a beach get-away or you are reminiscing about one, be sure to take the time to scrapbook the photos of your trip.  Here is a simple beach-themed page...

Stamp Sets: 

• Fifth Avenue Floral
• Ticker Tape Alphabet

Ink: 

• VersaMark Ink Pad
• Basic Gray Classic Stampin' Pad
• Stampin' Write Markers Neutrals

Card Stock: 

• Kraft
• Designer Series Paper Urban Oasis

Accessories: 

• Stampin' Dimensionals
• 3/4" Circle Punch
• Mini Library Clips
• 1" Double-Stitched Baja Breeze grosgrain ribbon
• Sizzix Big Shot Machine
• Sizzix Bigz Beautiful Butterflies die

Instructions:

1. Stamp flower images in VersaMark ink repeatedly on Kraft page.
2. Adhere Urban Oasis Designer Series Paper (8-1/2" x 2") to page.
3. Tie Baja Breeze 1" double-stitched grosgrain ribbon in a knot and adhere to page (wrap and adhere ends to back of page).
4. Adhere large photo to page using Stampin' Dimensionals.  Cut butterfly from Urban Oasis designer series paper using Sizzix Big Shot die-cutting machine and Beautiful Butterflies Bigz die.  Adhere butterfly to photo.
5. Punch circle from Urban Oasis designer series paper using 3/4" Circle Punch.  Fold circle in half over top of small photo and adhere.  Attach Mini Library Clip to photo.  Adhere photo to page using Stampin' Dimensionals.
6. Stamp "Family Vacation" in Basic Gray ink on page.
7. Journal along bottom of page using Basic Gray Stampin' Write marker.

 

 

 

New Sidebar Catalogs

It took me all day, but...check out the catalog links on my sidebar! 

You can now view all of the new catalogs & brochures:

• 2009 Spring Summer Idea Book & Catalog
• Celebrando Creatividad (hispanic version)
• Spring Summer Catalog Sampler
• Decor Elements Brochure

There are loads of great new style watch color schemes, stamp sets and project ideas.

Be sure to check out the Celebrando Creatividad catalog.  You can order from this catalog at any time.  It has some beautiful products that are not in the regular catalog.  I just love the set called Flores Suaves.