Stamping With Lois

For The Birds

I apologize for my lack of posts recently, but I hope to more than make up for it with today’s post.  I have made a card that is inspired by an extremely talented stamper named Linda Heller.

 

 

Stamp Set

113204 Cheap Talk

Ink Pads/Markers:

100072 Close To Cocoa Marker

105115 Pumpkin Pie Marker

100066 Ballet Blue Marker

100079 Old Olive Marker

100908 Chocolate Chip Classic Ink Pad

Paper:

100613 Ballet Blue Card Stock:  5-1/2” x 8-1/2”

100730 Whisper White Card Stock:  2” x 8-1/2”

105117 Pumpkin Pie Card Stock:  1” x 5-1/2”

100702 Old Olive Card Stock:  ½” x 5-1/2”

112152 So Saffron Patterns Designer Series Paper:  2-1/4” x 5-1/2”

Accessories:

116802 Sweet Treat Cups (2009-2010 Holiday Mini Catalog Item)

112091 Scallop Edge Punch

103683 Mini Glue Dots

112004 1-3/4” Circle Punch

101049 Stamp-a-ma-jig

103579 Paper Snips

104332 Snail Adhesive

104430 Stampin’ Dimensionals

114323 Medium Window Sheets:  2-3/4” x 2-3/4”

Bird Seed (a little less than 1 teaspoon)

Instructions:

1.    On the strip of Whisper White card stock, use the markers to color directly on the stamps, breathe on the colored images and stamp the two birds and the branch.  Use Pumpkin Pie for the beak, legs and feet; Ballet Blue for the bodies of the birds; Old Olive for the leaves; and Close to Cocoa for the branch and limbs.  Color in the birds’ eyes with the Close to Cocoa marker.

2.    Use Paper Snips to cut out the small bird and the branch.  Cut off the limb that has two leaves.  Set aside all cut pieces for later use.

3.    Use the 1-3/4’ Circle punch to cut out the larger bird making sure to position the bird in the upper portion of the circle.  Set aside for later use.

4.    Use Scallop Edge Punch to scallop one edge of Pumpkin Pie strip.

5.    Apply Snail adhesive to the lower edge of the back side of the striped Designer Series Paper and adhere to Pumpkin Pie scalloped strip.

6.    Apply Snail adhesive to the upper edge of the back side of the striped Designer Series Paper and adhere to Old Olive strip.

7.    Use the 1-3/4” punch to cut a hole on the right side of the finished strip.

8.    Temporarily position the finished strip on the card front.

9.    Apply Snail to the back of the 1-3/4” circle with the bird image in it and place it in the 1-3/4” opening on the finished strip.

10. While the finished strip is still in place, use Chocolate Chip ink and the Stamp-a-ma-jig to stamp the sentiment so that it looks like it is coming out of the bird’s mouth.

11. Remove finished strip from card front.

12. Spray a little Static Guard on a paper towel and wipe the inside of the Sweet Treat Cup so that the seeds don’t stick to the cup.  Add a little less than 1 teaspoon of bird seeds to the cup.  Adhere the window sheet over the cup opening.

13. Apply Mini Glue dots to the back of the window sheet edges and position the completed cup over bird image on the card front.

14. Adhere branch to finished strip, trim end.  Position small limb so that it is sprouting down from the branch about 1” from the limb with one leaf.

15. Apply Snail liberally around the Sweet Treat Cup as well as to the finished strip  and adhere finished strip  to card front.

16. Adhere small bird to branch using Stampin’ Dimensionals.

17. Admire your finished “Shaker Card.”

 

 

Sweet Treat Cups with Sweet Centers

I finally found some time to go downstairs to my stamp room and play work with my pre-order stuff from the Holiday Mini Catalog.  The new items will be available to order on September 1st.

I think these Sweet Treat Cups are the cutest idea I have ever seen!

Today's post features the Hot Air Balloon stamp, stay tuned...there are four more stamps in this set that all allow for incorporating the Sweet Treat Cups:  a Halloween themed stamp, a Christmas themed stamp, a Valentine themed stamp and a floral stamp.

  Stamp Set: #116521 Sweet Centers

  Ink Pads/Markers:  #102283 VersaMark, #115656 Melon Mambo, #105209 Bashful Blue, #105217 Certainly Celery, #102277 Old Olive

  Paper: #106564 Pretty In Pink: 6" x 6", #115320 Melon Mambo: 2-3/4" x 5-3/4", #101650 Whisper White: 2-1/2" x 5-1/2" plus scrap to cut out a 2-1/4" circle

  Accessories:  #112004 1-3/4" Circle Punch, #116802 Sweet Treat Cups, #115611 Melon Mambo 1/2" Polka-Dot grosgrain ribbon, #109043 Scallop Circle Punch, #101610 Stampin' Sponges, #100005 Heat Tool, #109130 Clear Embossing Powder, #112530 Circle Scissor Plus, #112531 Glass Mat

  Instructions:  1.  Ink up Hot Air Balloon image with VersaMark and then Melon Mambo Classic ink.  Stamp onto Whisper White (portrait position) piece about 1-1/4" above lower edge.  Cover with Clear Embossing Powder and emboss using Heat Tool.
2.  Create a mask and mask off the Hot Air Balloon using a light-weight paper or vellum. Temporarily adhere over image.
3.  Tear two pieces of light-weight paper or vellum to use as a mask.  Temporarily adhere them (with the torn edges facing the upper portion of the piece) at opposite angles about 1-1/4" from the lower edge.  
4.  Punch a scallop circle out of a light-weight paper or vellum to use as a mask.  Cut it in half.  Temporarily adhere both masks to the upper portion of card and sponge around with Bashful Blue ink.  Re-position the "cloud" masks and repeat until you have the desired look, working your way down to the lower masks.
5.  Remove lower masks, flip them up-side down and temporarily adhere them to the "sky."  Sponge Certainly Celery "hillsides."  Sponge a little Old Olive at the torn edge to accent the top of each "hillside."  Move masks lower and repeat until you achieve the desired look.
6.  Fill Sweet Treat Cup with Pink candies (Jelly Belly jelly beans or M&Ms work well).  Cut out a 2-1/4" circle using the Circle Scissor Plus.  Peel off the circle from the Sweet Treat Cup and adhere the 2-1/4" circle to the cup to close it.
7.  Position the 1-3/4" Punch just above the stamped image to punch the hole for the Sweet Treat Cup.  Insert Sweet Treat Cup. 
8.  Adhere ribbon at an angle to the upper right corner to finish off the white piece.
9.  Adhere finished piece to Melon Mambo mat.
10. Adhere completed piece to Pretty In Pink card front.

If you would like to place an order, please CLICK HERE and press the "shop online now" shopping cart.

As always, if you have any questions or problems, please do not hesitate to contact me! 

Deal of the Week #1

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During the month of July, Stampin' Up! is offering one discounted product as a "Deal of the Week."  The first deal of the week is the Scallop Edge Punch (Item #112091) and it is only $10.99-that is over 30% off the regular price of $15.99!  This item will  be on sale until Monday, July 6th at 11:50am (Cincinnati, Ohio time).  Each week, I will post the details of the "deal" and the order deadline.

If you'd like to order the Scallop Edge Punch, there is no minimum purchase required, CLICK HERE to place your order online anytime from MY STAMPIN' UP! WEBSITE or CLICK HERE to contact me via MY E-MAIL ADDRESS before midnight on Sunday, July 5th so that I can place your order before I go to work on Monday morning.   

  

Quick & Easy Card for a "Fabulous Friend"

I am so sad that the Specialty Designer Series Paper called Parisian Breeze is on the Last Chance list.  I love the texture and soft, feminine colors in this assortment, but since it contains this year's 'In Colors,' it has to go.  Here is my quick and easy card using this beautiful paper:

 

Stamp Set:  Oval All

Ink:  Basic Brown, Baja Breeze, Barely Banana (marker)

Card Stock:  Parisian Breeze Specialty DSP, Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Taste of Textiles (also on the Last Chance list), Kraft

Accessories:  Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Baja Breeze 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all of the wonderful dads out there!  I hope you are spending a fun day with family. 

Instead of the usual fun masculine card that has a favorite sport, car, or tool theme, I decided to try my hand at a card inspired by a fellow demonstrator named Linda Heller.  It is for the "shirt & tie" dad.

 

I can't believe I made a card using no stamps or ink pads!  This was a fun & easy card to create.  Here are the ingredients:

Card Stock:  Whisper White, Manchester Designer Series Paper (this paper is on the Last Chance list-supplies are limited and while supplies last, so click here to order NOW so you don't miss out!)

Accessories:  1-1/4" Square Punch, Small Tag Punch, Corner Rounder, Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots, Paper Cutter, Bone Folder, Uni-ball Signo White Gel Pen

I promise, I will actually stamp something for my next post.

Until next time, Happy Stamping!

~Lois

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

Crazy For Cupcakes Class

 

Make your next birthday celebration an event to remember when you gift your friend or loved one with this mouth-watering, cupcake-themed card set! In this class, we will be making the four cards pictured above as well as the adorable cupcake box that holds all of the cards. 

Date: Friday, May 1st or Tuesday, May 5th

(I am holding class both nights-choose which works for you!)

Time: 7:00-10:00PM

Cost: $25.00

Location: My Stampin' Studio-Milford, Ohio

Seating is limited so call or email me today to reserve your seat! Deadline to sign up is Sunday, April 26th.

If you are unable to attend and would like this class as a "Class to Go" contact me for details.

Lois Schuerman

513-576-6851

mailbag@fuse.net

• Class includes all consumable supplies needed to complete all five projects PLUS detailed, printed instructions for you to take home so that you can reproduce these projects. 
• I supply Stampin' Up! glue sticks for your use in class, if you prefer another type of adhesive, feel free to bring your own. 
• Please bring your own personal paper trimmer and paper snips if you have them in order to save on time (mine will be available for use by anyone who doesn't bring them)
• I will have a light snack and bottled water available during class.  If you prefer to bring your own beverage, please be sure it is in a bottle with a screw-on lid so that we avoid spills and ruined projects.

Class supplies we will be using:

• Stamp Sets: Crazy for Cupcakes, On Your Birthday
• Inks: Basic Brown, Close To Cocoa, Pink Pirouette, So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose Classic Stampin' Pads.  Optional: Close To Cocoa & Regal Rose Watercolor Wonder Crayons.
• Paper: Sweet Always Designer Series Paper, Whisper White, Close To Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, Pink Pirouette, Medium Whisper White Envelopes
• Accessories: Sticky Strip, Snail Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals, 2-way Glue Pen, Crystal Effects, 1" Double-Stitched Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, 5/8" Regal Rose Grosgrain Ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Silver Brads, Paper Snips, 1/16" Handheld Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, Ticket Corner Punch, Key Tag Punch, Crimper (optional), Blender Pen, Stampin' Scrub, Stampin' Mist, Paper Trimmer & Scoring Blade, Bone Folder, Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, Uni-ball Signo Gel Pen, Embossing Buddy (optional), Stampin' Sponges, pencil & ruler, Velcro Circles.

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.