Thursday, September 8, 2011

Embossing Folders, Blender Pens, and Cork

I was having fun using my new embossing folders.  Both the houndstooth and the stripes made there debut in the 2011-2012 Idea Book and Catalog (the big one.)  I used the houndstooth embossing folder on the base of the card.  I think you will be able to see it if you click on the picture for a closer view.  I used the stripes embossing folder on the island indigo panels.
I love the cork sheets and was glad that I was able to find a place to work them in.  And look! I even worked in some ribbon (black 1/8" taffeta ribbon!)
I used blender pens and my ink pads to color in the bonsai tree.  If you have never used a blender pen before, then check out this short video:



Stamp sets: Plant Hope
Paper:Very Vanilla, Island Indigo, Basic Black
Ink: Staz On Black, Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso
Accessories: Black 1/8" taffeta ribbon, silver brads, cork sheets
Tools: Blender Pens, Houndstooth and Stripes Embossing Folders, Big Shot

Happy Stamping!
-Staci

Monday, September 5, 2011

Sandpaper and Sponges

This scrapbook layout has my signature grunge feel with lots of stamped elements layered in.  I created this page for when Logan and I traveled to Florida to visit family.  I waited until Logan was about 3 months before making the trip out there.  As a new mom, I was worried about being on the road with a little one.  It turned out to be a great trip and I learned that it is a bit difficult to trapse around Florida with a 3 month old who likes to nurse every 2 hours.
 This page includes a home made embellishment.  I started with a square piece of crumb cake.  I stamped the dots from the Extreme Elements stamp in versamark and embossed with clear embossing powder.  I matted this square with a Night of Navy square.  I punched a hole (with that retired punch that I can't remember the name of) and ran chocolate chip 5/8" grosgrain through it.  Then I added two elements- the compass and the circle brad.  I stamped the compass from the Sentimental Journey set, embossed it, cut it out, and then placed a silver brad in the center.  I added interest to the designer circle brad by rubbing it on the chocolate chip craft pad. It took a long long long time for the ink to dry because the brad is non porous and the ink just sits up on top. 
 In the picture above you will notice the tear right under the embellishment.  It looks like it is there on purpose right?  Well to tell the truth I had to work that tear in because I didn't have a 12" length of crumb cake.  I only had a 8.5 x 11 inch sheet to work with so I basically pieced it together.  So instead of piecing it together at the end I pieced it together part way through.  I then tore it and sponged it to make it look like it fit with the rest of the page.
The title is a combination of the Jayne's Type Alphabet set and one of the words in the Sentimental Journey set.  The letters from this alphabet set are very nice.  I added to the grunge feel by using the kissing technique on the letters.  ie. Ink up the "B" then press the star stamp to the inked "B."  Then stamp the "B."  Don't forget to add stars to the title to add to the layered look!
On the stamped squares I just collaged the images from the extreme elements and sentimental journey sets.  I experimented with different colors for each to give the page more variety. And I sponged around them too -as if I needed to tell you that!

The journaling is handwritten with a Stampin' Write marker I also sanded the Designer Series Paper to get some of that fabulous white core to show through.
I do not think it was intentional at the time of creating this scrapbook page but I made it out of 100% Stampin' Up! products. Go me!  Go me!  Oh yeah.  Oh yeah.  So the Designer Series Paper and the sentimental journey stamp set and the designer brads are retired (but you can easily substitute them with other items.)
Thanks for looking at my artful, grungey, yet baby scrapbook layout! 

Stampin' Up! products used:
Stamp sets:  Jayne's Type Alphabet, Sentimental Journey, Extreme Elements
Paper:  Crumb Cake, Night of Navy, Chocolate Chip DSP, Bashful Blue
Ink: Bashful Blue, Versamark, Night of Navy, Chocolate Chip (Classic and Craft)
Accessories: Designer Circle Brads, Chocolate Chip 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, silver brads
Tools:  Square punches, hole punch (I still can't remember the name and my old catalog is buried in a box in the depths of my closet...and it's late and well you get the picture.)
I also used sandpaper and sponges, hence the title.

Happy Stamping!
-Staci

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Here comes Fall

It is so hot here (in Tucson) that it is hard to believe that it is September.  As the calendar turns, my anticipation for cool crisp days increases.  Soon...soon.  So in honor of Fall, which is my favorite season, I made this quick card.  I used the new Gently Falling set from the Holiday Mini Catalog (pg 16 and 17.)  The holiday mini catalog releases today, yeah!  I just love all the accessories in this one- from several new kinds of ribbon to mini jingle bells.  I know!  Mini jingle Bells!


The Gently Falling has oodles of 2 step stampin' images.  I chose the maple leaf for the middle of this card because I liked the size of it.  It is a maple leaf, right?  I live in Arizona and before that in Florida so you will have to excuse me, I don't know my leaves.  I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to get it perfectly lined up.  See the video below for a 2 step stampin' tutorial and follow this link for a tutorial for the stamp-a-ma-jig.  The stamp-a-ma-jig video is not mine....
The main panel is created by stamping the outlines in Cajun Craze all over the Cajun Craze cardstock.  I tried to do this randomly.  Simple.  Fast.  Yet pretty.  Yeah!

Stamps: Gently Falling
Paper: Naturals Ivory, Cajun Craze, Daffodil Delight, More Mustard
Ink: Cajun Craze, Riding Hood Red
Accessories: Basic Pearls
Tools:  Stamp-a-ma-jig


Happy Stamping!
-Staci

Monday, August 29, 2011

In a Christmas kind of mood

Christmas in August???  Sure.  Why not?  I just love Christmas and it is NEVER too early to start working on those Christmas cards.  In years past I usually make a bunch of one card.  This year, thanks to my card clubs, I will have a variety of cards ready to go.  So this is the Christmas card that I designed for the girls this month.  It looks pretty simple except that I snuck in some embedded embossing just behind the ornament- take a look at the close-up.
I also added pearls to the swirls.  I thought that I wouldn't use the pearls all of the time.  But now that they are in my stash I use them a lot.
I punched out the Riding Hood Red piece and stacked it on the Early Espresso piece and then stacked that on top of the Marina Mist matte.  Be sure they are securely adhered together then place them in the houndstooth embossing folder and run them through the Big Shot.  And Voila!  you have created an embedded embossing card.  Easy, right? 


I used the Letters from Santa Designer Series Paper (DSP.)  I challenged myself to use one of the busier patterns.  Plus I couldn't bear to use the delicious stripes included in this paper pack.  I love striped paper and usually keep them in my stash for an extra long time because I admire them rather than use them.  How silly!  I did recently create a scrapbook layout with the stripes from this pack.  Maybe, I will get that online soon. 
Stamp Sets:  Delightful Decorations
Paper:  Letters to Santa DSP, Riding Hood Red, Marina Mist, Early Espresso, Old Olive, Whisper White
Ink: Old Olive
Accessories: Basic Pearls
Tools: Houndstooth Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Decorative Label Punch

Thanks for looking!  Your comments are appreciated.
-Staci

Friday, August 26, 2011

It's in the details

Today, I want to share a page with you that I created awhile back. It is the first page, the intro page, to Gavin's Baby Scrapbook. It is also one of my all time favorites.
As you read my entries for scrapbook layouts you may notice that I jump around a bit. That is how I like to do it. I like to let inspiration hit me. So I typically do a few now pages, stuff that recently happened, followed by older pages. The older pages I do in no particular order. Although, recently I have been trying to finish both of the boys' baby books. I have also noticed a strong deviation from my normal level or intricacy of scrapbooking. So I think I am going to halt on pushing to finish the books and just finish them when I get to them. It so funny how demanding my self-imposed deadlines can be.
I think this one is a favorite of mine because of all of the little details.  I guess it helps that I love, love, love this photo of Gavin.  So here is a detail of the embellishment that I made.  The cardstock and designer paper is SU but the pewter thingies (can't think of the word right now) is from my stash.  You know that stash of stuff you have in your craft closet.  What a great idea!  I should use something from my stash.  I do not know if it is called a stash but in the knitting world it is so from henceforth the stuff in my craft room is called the stash.  I started with the square of DSP and crumpled and sanded it.  I love how our DSP has a white core so that you can actually sand it and see white!  The strip on the right was created by running Chocolate Chip cardstock through the crimper.  The other piece is just corrugated cardboard.  I inked it up with craft ink.  Maybe I sense a video tutorial coming......
I love the title too.  The letters are from some cheap set that I picked up at the local craft store, on sale of course.  Do you see that I used eyelets?  Is that not vogue anymore?  I got the feeling that it has gone out of style but I am not a fashionista and I guess there are no scrapbook police so I used them anyway.  The small letters are ribbon slides but I used a piece of paper instead of ribbon.  I liked it better because they don't slide around as much.
The little letters are from this cute retired set from SU.  They fit in the little hole punch perfectly.  I hope they come out with another set like that.  Here and above you can see the serious amount of spongeing that I did.  The paper was cute (also a stash piece from a paper sale- I can't resist those 4 for a $1 sales or whatever they are) but it was too plain it definitely needed some distressing.  I think I used direct to paper technique with a Not Quite Navy craft pad. The ink is much wetter and looks like paint.  I also used a stipple brush and added in more texture that way too.
And then I have the half pocket and journaling tag.  I just love the Satin Ribbon tied with twine.  The intro page always includes a letter to the recipient, in this case Gavin. 
I am not going to list everything that went into this one because I don't remember but I thought you would like to at least know the color combos.
Paper:  Blueberry Crisp, Chocolate Chip DSP, More Mustard, Not Quite Navy, Sahara Sand, Chocolate Chip, and Very Vanilla
Ink:  Not Quite Navy craft and classic ink, More Mustard, Chocolate Chip Craft
And for the SU junkies, I used Alphabits and Sanded.

The more I do this blog thing the more I like it!  I hope you are inspired to get creative!
Happy Stamping!
-Staci


Tuesday, August 23, 2011

First Video Tutorial

This card was posted last week but I wanted to revisit it with a video tutorial. I spent the last two days trying to figure out how to do this. In the end I found that you have to use You Tube in order to get a good quality video. Here is the original card:
Here is the video tutorial for the patterned paper that I created for this card. The original post can be found here.



Well that was exciting!!! Not too bad for my first ever.
Happy Stamping!
-Staci

Monday, August 22, 2011

My first ever Scrapbook Layout Sketch Challenge

While surfing across paper crafting blogs I found Once Upon a Sketch.  So I am playing along with my first sketch challenge for a scrapbook layout.  I am already blown away by the other entries, you can check them out here
This layout is a hybrid.  A hybrid in the traditional sense- combining elements from digital scrapbooking and paper scrapbooking.  It also is a hybrid of  3 of the main direct sales scrapbooking companies.  I used Stampin' Up! and Creative Memories paper, and CTMH stamps and cricuit cartridge.  AND this is what I came up with:


You can click on any of the pictures for a closer look.  I usually have a lot of layers on top of each other but not stacked up next to each other.  This was a bit of a stretch for me and I love how it turned out.  Below is the original sketch. 

The journal assignment was to include two lines from your favorite song.  I have so many favorite songs that it was hard to choose.  In the end I went with my all-time favorite artist John Mellencamp.  I chose his song, "Your Life is Now."  I placed the journaling in the tiny circle and followed the circle even upside down.  Yikes!  That too is a first. 
The star and key are from the new cricuit cartridge from CTMH.  The key is in Marina Mist and Soft Suede.  The star is cut from retired Blueberry Crisp Designer Series Paper.  The larger circle is also from the cricuit.  I tied some linen thread around part of the circle (not shown in this image.)  The smaller circles are the 1 3/8" circle punch.  I punched them from the CM paper and sponged them in Soft Suede. 

The images here are also from the cricuit; I added half pearls and linen thread for interest.  To make the fleur, cut it in white and add Soft Suede to it by wiping the pad over the paper.  Yup, just direct to paper.  Then matte it in Soft Suede and add mocha pearls. 
You can also see the faint swirl on the paper behind the paper elements.  That was the stamped using pink pirouette.  It is faint but shows up better in person.  Sometimes even this professional photographer has problems with this sort of technical photography.  In my defense, close-up and product photography is a completely different world from weddings and portraits.

In this next picture, you can see the swirl that I stamped in Soft Suede.  I had fun adding both pearls and rhinestones.  I hope that Gavin isn't embarrassed by the rhinestones when he gets older.  LOL!  This picture also shows the stitching and sponging that is done all the way around the 12x12 layout.  I found a fantastic stitching on paper tutorial that you can see here.  The black smudgy paint is printed on the paper.  Isn't it divine?
The title was designed in Photoshop and then printed on vellum.  I adhered it to the back of the matte and then used a piece of artist tape that I sponged in soft suede to keep it down.  I had tried a brad at first but it just didn't look right. 
I like how you can see the many layers in this one.  Behind the photo matte and to the left of it is an alphabet strip that came from the cricuit.  I used the direct to paper method and wiped my soft suede pad across the letter strip.  Love it!  As a side note, I used my 2 way glue pen to adhere all of the cricuit elements (some to each other and others to the layer below.  I couldn't have survived with out it! 

Here is the photo after I edited it.  I basically applied a grayscale filter and then reduced the opacity so that there is still some color in the photo.  I desaturated unwanted distracting colors like the green stripe in Gavin's shirt.  You can accomplish this by isolating the green (and cyan) channel under the hue/saturation filter and then slide the saturation slider all the way to the left.  Then I added a grungy painted frame in white and grungy swirls in black. 
Well I hope you loved this project as much as I loved creating it. 

Here is a list of Stampin' Up! products used:
Paper:  Well Worn DSP,  Blueberry Crisp DSP, Soft Suede and Marina Mist Cardstock, vellum
Ink:  Soft Suede and Pink Pirouette
Tools: 1 3/8" circle punch
Accessories: pearls, rhinestones, and linen thread.
Other:  stampin' dimensionals, 2-way glue pen, sponges

Here is the list of other products that I used:
CTMH stamp sets, CM paper, CM cutting system, CTMH cricuit cartridge, cricuit, sewing machine and thread, inkjet printer, artist tape.

Have a creative day!
-Staci

Friday, August 19, 2011

Sick days and Potential Card Swaps

My son is home sick today from school.  I had planned to get a lot of photography work done.  So much for that idea.  So I am blogging earlier in the day than usual while listening to Sesame Street.  Oh, the life of a Mom!
So on to the cards- I was working on creating a card for a swap.  The only criteria for this swap is to use 100% current SU! products.  I have very little from the new catalog but wanted to showcase at least something new so I chose the houndstooth embossing folder.  I just love the embossing folders and there is a new one in the upcoming holiday mini!  So excited!  I tried inking the folder and then running it through the Big Shot (I forgot what that technique is called.) But all I got was a inky mess.  I think the folder is too busy for that technique or maybe it was operator error.  In any case, I came up with a new technique.  I embossed the paper first and then brayered it with craft ink.  I love how it turned out.  I think this would only work on a pattern that is really raised and that is close together. 


As you can see, I also used a lot of distressing and sponging on this card.

The main portion (to the left) is a combination of most of the stamps found in the Extreme Elements set.  I started by stamping the large paint splatter in Cajun Craze.  I then layered in some Soft Suede stars and spots.  I finished off with Staz-On ink so that the top images would really show up.  Here is a close-up:

The "i miss you" sentiment comes from the Three Little Words set.  I like how it can easily be exchanges with "i love you."
For the finishing touch I wrapped the linen thread around the middle portion.  I attached the ends to the back with regular tape.  I love how the linen thread has the look of twine but it is lightweight so that it doesn't add too much bulk to my card. 
That's it for now.  I hope you enjoyed this card. 
Stamps:  Extreme Elements, Three Little Words
Paper: Cajun Craze, Always Artichoke, Crumb Cake
Ink: Cajun Craze, Soft Suede, Always Artichoke (craft,) Black Staz-On
Accessories: Linen Thread 
Tools: Houndstooth Embossing Folder, Big Shot

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

One more for Operation Write Home

I know I posted a OWH card yesterday, but here is another.  This time it is chalked full of retired material.  I don't usually post projects that contain retired Stampin' Up! products but I wanted to play along with OWH sketch challenge #79 and had a special request to use the retired Travel Journal designer series paper.  So this is what I came up with. 
The blue layer is the DSP but the centerpiece is my crazy layering stamping thing that I do.  I stamped the elements from Extreme Elements in Bashful Blue and Crumb Cake.  I then stamped over them in Night of Navy using the Sentimental Journey stamp set.  I love this set!  It is so perfect for guy cards!  See how I used it on this card that I created last year by clicking here.  I also used on it a fantastic scrapbook page but I haven't posted that yet but you can imagine its greatness.  He-he.

Do you still want the list of materials even though I used a retired stamp set and DSP?
Well I think I will list them anyway.
Stamps:  Sentimental Journey, Extreme Elements (shocking!  Do I use this set everytime?)
Ink: Bashful Blue, Crumb Cake, and Night of Navy
Paper:  Travel Journal DSP, Pumpkin Pie, Crumb Cake, Whisper White, and Soft Suede

Doing these OWH cards really makes me think outside of the box or more like inside the box.  I feel like it isn't a great idea to use lots of embellishments and layers- I want to keep them mailing friendly.  So I should be back soon with cards that are ramped up a bit and more to my liking.
Happy Stamping!
-Staci

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Operation Write Home

I am sorry it has taken me an entire month to blog.  I have been busy making cards for the two clubs I am leading and I also recently have gotten involved with Operation Write Home.  This is a card that I designed with my friend Donna Shelton.  We tried to keep it simple so that even beginner stampers could help us quickly turn out ten cards. 
 
If you would like more information about Operation Write Home please follow the link  http://operationwritehome.org/index.html  Very simply- you can make cards for deployed heros to write home on.  There are a lot of other great information to be found on the website from technique videos and templates. 
Back to the card.  I did use two retired things on this card.  First the DSP that I punched the bird from is from a retired pack.  Just substitute it with your favorite DSP and the blue layer is also a retired SU! color.
Stamps: Baroque Motifs 
Ink: Crumb Cake and Soft Suede
Paper: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Always Artichoke, and First Edition DSP
Accessories: None (so that we could keep it flat)
Tools: Bird Punch
and lots of adhesives.  The cards are sent to someone in the states who packages a huge assortment of cards and then sends them over seas to our soldiers and then the soldiers use them and send them back to their families.  So use LOTS of adhesive.
I hope to be back soon and share some of the great projects that I have been working on.
Happy Stamping!
-Staci

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Snow Much Fun from the New catalog

Here is a card that I designed for my recent workshop.  The ladies just loved this one!

I used blender pens and the ink pads to color the snow man.  I used the centers of the Lace Ribbon Border Punch to create the snowflakes.  Just punch a strip of the lace ribbon punch and then clip out the center pieces.  In this close-up you can see that I used the starburst wheel on the Lucky Limeade layer.


I applied dazzling diamonds using my 2 way glue pen to create snow under the snow man and a tiny snow bank next to him.


Here are all of the tools that I used-
Stamps: Snow Much Fun, Starburst Wheel

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Cherry Cobbler, Luck Limeade
Paper: Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Lucky Limeade, Cherry Cobbler, Naturals Ivory
Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds, Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon
Tools: Lace Ribbon Border Punch, Corner Rounder, Blender Pens
Other: Orange Water Color Pencil

Have a creative day!
-Staci

Friday, July 8, 2011

Another Penant Parade

Here is another cute card using that Pennat Parade set and the Petite Pennants Builder punch.  Isn't this cute.  I saw another demonstrator make the ice cream cone and said, "Oh my goodness!  I have to try that," and "wasn't that clever!"  Then when I went to page 69.  I see a card made with the ice cream cone.  yep, right there on page 69, staring me right in the face!  I know, right?  Did I get that inflection right?  I know! right?  I know.  Right!  well anyway, moving on to the making of this card......
Start with your basic easel card.  Just google it for the instructions or follow this link to SplitCoast, http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/easelcard/.  Mine is a 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 card so that it fits into an envelope when folded down.  Ha!  As if any of my cards actually fit into an envelope.  Just like my scrapbook pages never fit into the page protectors.  Call me the layer queen! 
Start with the cone in the middle.  Stamp the swirly stamp in Chocolate chip on whisper white and punch out using the penant punch.  (Because if I have to write out petite pennants builder punch one more time! Aaaarghh! (yes, I did just say aaaargh!  see previous pirate posts...))  Then switch to the Cupcake punch and punch the cupcake top in pink pirouette.  And punch the cherry out from Red Glimmer Paper.  Yes, we sell that too.  Page 181.  The other parts are just layering it up, distressing, and tearing.
I used a sentiment from Crazy for Cupcakes.  The little star or snowflake shape is from the Pennant Parade set.  Punch out in 1/2 inch circles and stagger step using multiple pop-up dots.

Stamps: Penant Parade, Crazy for Cupcakes
Paper: Pink Pirouette, Wisteria Wonder, Whisper White
Ink: Wisteria Wonder, Chocolate Chip
Tools:  Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, 1/2" circle punch, Large oval punch, Petite Pennants Punch, Cupcake Punch 

I hope you enjoyed this one!  Happy Stamping!
-Staci

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Happy Happy Birthday with Island Indigo

How can you NOT have a happy birthday with a color named Island Indigo? 
I created this fun Birthday card with the new Penant Parade set and the new hostess set, Happiest Birthday Wishes.

This was not the easiest card to make.  The idea was the easy part.  Executing it took several days because I didn't have the patience to do this all in one shot.  So thank goodness for husbands who sometimes like boring movies.  Well, not boring for him, but not something that captured my attention.  So while listening to him chuckle at this lame movie I busied my hands with threading the linen thread through the itty bitty holes. 

I stamped the pennants in Melon Mambo on Melon Mambo paper using the penant parade stamp set and then punched them out using the new Petite Penants Builder punch.  How cool is that?  6 perfect penants that I didn't have to cut or measure.  Just stamp amd punch.  LOVE IT!!
The top of the pennant is created by using the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch to create a longer stretch of faux ribbon and then cut it in half lengthwise.  They are the perfect little toppers for these pennants.
 You can see the Candle Crazy wheel that I used in the close-up.  I used just one wheel and two spacers on a builder wheel.  That was a fun and new one for me to try.  I used Melon Mambo ink but it looks reddish because it is stamped on top of the Daffodil Delight cardstock.
Stamp the Happy Birthday randomly on the Island Indigo cardstock BEFORE embossing.  Just thought I would mention it.  Te-He-He

So here is the complete ingredient list----
Stamps: Pennant Parade, Happiest Birthday Wishes, and Candle Crazy builder wheel
Paper:  Island Indigo, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Regal Rose
Ink: Island Indigo, Melon Mambo
Accessories: Neutrals Brads (Basic Gray,) Linen Thread
Tools:  Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch, Petite Pennants Builder Punch

Happy Stamping!
-Staci

Saturday, July 2, 2011

New Catalog

Yeah!!!! Yipee!!!  The new catalog is here!  I am so stinking excited!  There are so many great products in this catalog.  Just the ribbon page alone makes me want to jump for joy!
So here is one of the two projects that we created at my workshop last night.  We had 8 ladies and 7 of them signed up for my club.  Whoo-hoo!

This is a cute little 3x3 notecard.  Also called a love note.  I used pop up dots under the frame.  And I created the blossom using the boho blossom punch and a So Saffron Brad.  The leaves of this brad were created by sponging the medium sized blossom and then cutting away two leaves.  Cut it into a sort of heart shape.  Choose 2 petals that are side by side and cut towards the center.  The bottom portion of the heart is glued behind the other blossom.  Finish by setting a brad in the center and curling the edges of the blossom up towards the brad.

Items Used

Stamps: Four Frames p.141, Three Little Words p.166
Ink: Wisteria Wonder, Lucky Limeade, Concord Crush p.176
Paper: Wisteria Wonder, Lucky Limeade, Concord Crush, Whisper White p.176
Accessories: So Saffron Brads (subtles brads) p.199
Tools: Scallop Trim Border Punch & Decorative Label Punch p.209

I hope you are enjoying the new catalog as much as I am!  Until next time, Happy Scrapping!
-Staci

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Beware Pirates

Beware Pirates is one of my favorite stamp sets.  I am so sad to see it retire.  I made this scrapbook layout for my son, Logan, who loves to dress up like a pirate.  He calls the Renaissance festival "the pirate place."
I loved the opportunity to use the Designer Series Paper Pack.  I just love that print!
I made the colored background behind the boat by combining the brayering technique with spongeing.  I first brayered More Mustard and then Cajun Craze over the top of the More Mustard layer.  I then sponged Night of Navy on the bottom portion.  I then stamped over it in Staz On Black ink to really help the silhouette to stand out. 

I also used the Beware Pirates sentiment to create a small title for the page.  I love it when I can use so many of the stamps from one stamp set on the same project!
Here is the materials list:
Stamp sets:  Beware Pirates
Inks: Basic Black, Night of Navy, More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Chocolate Chip, Staz On Black
Paper: Night of Navy Designer Series Paper, Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Night of Navy, Chocolate Chip
Accessories:  Chocolate Chip Marker, Neutrals Brads
Tools:  Brayer

Happy Scrapping!
-Staci

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Goodbye Cogs Punch

Here is a Scrapbook Page that I created for my son's second birthday.  I used one of my favorite stamp sets:  Extreme Elements.  This is somewhat an unusual layout for me because I chose to use ONLY one photograph.  It is also a typical layout in that I created a piece of background paper and created an embellishment.

I used a lot of different Stampin' Up! products in this layout.  Everything except the spray pen that I used is Stampin' Up!  I know, I know, [insert shameless self advertising here] right? I started with a 12x12 of Whisper White paper.  I laid it down on that brown packaging paper that comes in the Stampin' Up! boxes.  Double kudos to me for helping the environment!  Then I took a spray mister- this is a small spray bottle created for crafters- that  I bought at the stamp expo but I am sure you can find them at your local craft store or you can buy them from my favorite Close to My Heart consultant, Wendy Taylor.  Fill the spray mister part way with water and add a few drops of Cajun Craze Classic Ink Refill.  The spray comes out heavy so stand back.  I stand over mine- the page is on the floor and I am standing over it.  Set that aside and let it dry.
I then cut the Designer series paper in Cajun Craze and Not Quite Navy- these are both found in the Regals paper stack.  I am very happy that the paper stacks will be exactly the same in the new upcoming catalog.
 
The small piece of paper at the top left is a little tricky.  I started by brayering a whisper white piece of paper with Not Quite Navy ink.  I didn't cover the entire thing with ink.  Then sponge around it and then stamp a few of the Extreme Elements onto it.
For the cork piece, I stamped the fleur onto the cork with NQN and then punched it out with a 1 3/4" circle punch.  I then used the Cogs Punch to punch out a large cog in Cajun Craze and Basic Black.  Don't forget that the Cogs Punch is retiring at the end of this month.

I chose to cut out the individual letters instead of using a Stamp-a-ma-jig to line them up perfectly.  The little cogs are also from the cogs punch.
That was a lot to type!!!!  I hope you enjoyed this page layout.  I better go make dinner for my little indians! 
Happy Stamping,
Staci


Stamps:  Extreme Elements, Jayne's Type Alphabet
Paper:  Cajun Craze and Not Quite Navy Designer Series Paper; Whisper White, Basic Black, Cajun Craze, and Not Quite Navy Cardstock
Ink:  Not Quite Navy
Accessories: Cork Sheets
Tools:  Cogs Punch, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Brayer
Other:  Cajun Craze Ink Refill, Spray Mister

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Goodbye Hello Again

Strange title isn't it?  I am sad to say goodbye to the set called Hello Again.  Yep, it's on the retiring list.  So is the retro remix wheel that matches the set. 
I just love making three by three cards.  I made several variations of this card with this wheel and set.  It was such a great pair for whipping up a simple card.  I liked that I could make the look of patterned paper quickly with the stamp set or with the wheel.  On this card I used the wheel in Cajun Craze on So Safron cardstock to create the feel of patterned paper.  The base of the card is Elegant Eggplant.



Stamps:  Hello Again, Retro Remix wheel
Paper:  Elegant Eggplant, Cajun Craze, So Saffron
Ink:  Cajun Craze
Accessories:  Hemp Twine
Tools:  Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, Crop-a-dile, Small and Large Tag Punches

I will be back soon with more retiring cards and layouts.  Until then, Happy Stamping!
-Staci

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Another Father's Day Card

There is something really satisfying about using stamp sets that have been in your stash for awhile.  So I was really pleased with myself when I used not one but two retired sets on the same card. 
Making a card for my motorcycle loving husband called for use of this retired motorcycle stamp.  I made this card for Father's Day and chose to put the sentiment on the inside of the card. 

Stamps: Print Pattern, Motorcycle
Paper:  Soft Suede, Basic Black, Naturals Ivory
Ink:  Soft Suede, Staz On Black, Cherry Cobbler
Tools:  Blender Pen

I started with Naturals Ivory paper and stamped the motorcycle in Staz On Black ink.  I used a blender pen and Cherry Cobbler ink to color the tank.  I then stamped the diamond pattern in soft suede on the soft suede cardstock.  Distressed the edges and layered together.

Happy Father's Day!
-Staci

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Razzleberry Challenge and Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch

Don't you hate when you have too much of cardstock of ONE color?  I had an extra large stash of Rich Razzleberry.  The past tense is because I sold it off shortly after showcasing it on this lovely card.
In any case, my personal challenge was to make a card with Rich Razzleberry.  I also wanted to tryout the Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch.  This is the new triple punch featured in the summer mini catalog. 

In the close up, you can see that I embedded the flowers in the card.  They almost look quilted.  This technique is called embedded embossing.  I achieved this by gluing my punched flowers to the card and then embossing it in the big shot.  I used the square lattice embossing folder.  Pretty simple, right?

The last flower was added after the embossing in order to make it stand out.
The little shiny flowers were stamped with the little flower in the Bold Blossom stamp set (also found in the Summer mini) with shimmer paint.  Apply the paint directly to your stamp by using a sponge dauber.

Ingredients
Stamps: Bold Blossom (W 123232, C 122232)
Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Pink Pirouette, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White
Ink: Frost White Shimmer Paint (116854)
Tools:  Square Lattice Embossing Folder (119976), Big Shot, Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch (122464), 3/4" Circle Punch

I hope this has inspired a project of your own!  Happy Stamping!
-Staci

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Details for Dream Gardens

So I said I would be back with more detailed instructions and pictures.

Well, I started by Brayering in So Saffron over a good portion of my whisper white cardstock.  (Cardstock piece measures 4" x 5 1/4") Be patient with this layer.  This is a light yellow and it takes a while to build up.
Then I brayered over the So Saffron layer with More Mustard.  I only went about half way as far as I did the first layer.
Then I brayered a smaller portion at the top with Cajun Craze.  Sorry no pics for these first few steps.  But I think you can follow along without them.
The next step is sponging old olive along the bottom in order to make the grass. I also sponged all the way around the piece of cardstock with old olive. 
I then stamped the silhouette stamp in Staz On Black ink.  I used a stamp-a-ma-jig to get the positioning right.  DO NOT stamp on your imaging sheet with Staz On.  I probably didn't need to say that but just in case.  Use Gray or Basic Black, Staz On is permanent.  As a side note watch out when you use Staz On and clear blocks.  I have one block that has a line on it from a Staz On incident.
Next cover the geisha with a sticky note.  Leave just a sliver of the bottom of her showing.

The sponge a black shadow under her.  I used a Q-tip to get it more precisely in the area that I wanted it to be.

All done.  Just mount it to your 1/4 fold card.  I used black just to make it more dynamic.  See yesterday's post for a complete supply list.

Happy stamping!
-Staci