Another Card for Fall

As you can tell, if you have been reading my blog, that I really love this year's Holiday Catalog.  I love the products because I think most of the products are so versatile.  The stamp set "FOR ALL THINGS"  is no different.  I am so happy that they included leaves, acorns, wheat, and more all in a watercolor technique.  They included so many of my Fall favorites.

Even though I stamped all these wonderful images, there was something missing.  So I decided to add some bling.  If you look very closely, you will see orange sequins!  I found them in my Paper Pumpkin kit this month.  I then colored the Jewel Rhinestones using the Old Olive and Pumpkin Pie BLENDABILITIES.   The supplies that I used for this card were:

STAMP SET:  For All Things

PAPER:  Mossy Meadow, Cajun Craze, Whisper White

INK:  Cajun Craze, Hello Honey, Mossy Meadow, Early Espresso

ACCESSORIES:  Orange Sequins, Glue Dots, Jewel Rhinestones, Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive Blendabilities

This was a very simple card.  Sometimes it is nice to have a card that is very simple and catches your eye.  You do not have to use a lot of different techniques or fancy folds.  Sometimes it is just nice to have something that is simple and elegant.  If you have too many things going on with your card, it can take away from the beauty of it. Don't be afraid to make simple cards sometimes.  They can be just as beautiful.   Enjoy the day!

A Wondrous Wreath CASE

I really am in love with this year's Holiday Catalog  One of my favorite Christmas stamp sets is "Wondrous Wreath".  But this set can be used for other seasons also.  
Michelle Buscher came up with an alternative used for Fall.  She case'd her card from the Holiday Catalog.  I loved the colors she used and I decided to do my own case of her card and changed it up a bit.

The supplies that I used for this card were:

STAMP SETS:  Wondrous Wreath, Good Greetings
PAPER:  Whisper White, Cajun Craze, Hello Honey, Blackberry Bliss, Color Me Autumn DSP
INK:  Hello Honey. Cajun Craze, Blackberry Bliss
ACCESSORIES: Wondrous Wreath Framelits,  Bitty Banner Framelits, Banner Framelits, Big Shot, Linen Thread, Decorative Dots Embossing Folder, Dimensionals

I liked the way it came out .  Fall is my favorite season and the colors of fall are also high on my list.  So this card will be one of my favorites for sure.  Enjoy the day!

Downline Meeting Make & Take

I held my downline meeting on Saturday at my place.  I decided that I wanted to meet with them as soon as I got home from Convention because I wanted everything still fresh in my mind.  

At this meeting I had a light lunch as a thank you for my downlines.  It was a great opportunity to relax and discuss what was on their minds.  There was so much sharing and brainstorming going which was so helpful, I think, for all.

Besides lunch and a overview of what went on at convention, we made Make & Takes.  2 of the Make & Takes used 2 new products that are being released in the new Holiday Catalog. The other 2 Make & Takes highlighted techniques that were presented at Convention.

This was one of the Make & Takes we did on Saturday.  This card uses a stamp from the "Scattered Seasons" stamp set which you will find in the new Holiday catalog this month.  To create that fall look of multi-colored leaves on the image, I needed to use a variety of colors.  Here is the process I used.

1.  Stamped the image entirely with Hello Honey ink
2.  Using a Sponge Dauber, I dabbed Tangelo Twist over top the words.  I made sure I did not cover all of the Hello Honey
3.  Using a Sponge Dauber, I dabbed Mossy Meadow around the edges.
4.  Then I stamped the image that you see in the picture.

The supplies that I used for this card were:

STAMP SET: Scattered Seasons
PAPER: Whisper White, Mossy Meadows, Tangelo Twist, Hello Honey
INK: Mossy Meadows, Tangelo Twist, Hello Honey
ACCESSORIES: Autumn Accents Bigz Die, Woodgrain Embossing Folder, Gold Sequin Trim, Sponges, Sponge Dauber

I love Fall and although we are not quite there yet, I just had to make this fall card.  It felt very comfortable to me.  Today I plan to do some stamping and get ready for my next stamp a stack.  Enjoy the day!

October Technique Class- Card 3

As I said in my last post, I love when you can find multiple uses for a product.  So for my third card this month for Technique Class, I decided to make a card that I found on Connie Babbit's blog, "ENVELOPE LINER CARD".  She posted on a tutorial on her blog and I just had to share her idea with my classes.  This is another way to use the Envelope Liner Framelits.  They loved it!  They too like it when you can find other ways to use a product.

When I made my card I also case'd the layout.  This is my version from her card.  It can be used like a pocket card as you can see from the pull-out piece.  At the bottom of the pull out piece I stamped a leaf.  Both stamps that I used were from the Best of 25 Years... Autumn stamp set.  I was so excited to receive that set because the images were from my favorite stamp sets over the years.  This pail full of apples was one of my favorites that I used a lot before it retired.  So you can imagine how happy I was when it came back in the set.

Next week I will be posting pictures from the Holiday Stamp A Stack that I will be hosting on Oct. 27  @ 1 PM at my house.  I know you will like them.  Well today I will be putting together Eli and Emmett's Halloween Treats for daycare.  Their daycare teachers always like it when I send in treats that are stepped up in wrapping that I made.  So go out and enjoy your day!

October Technique Class- Card 2

This card is a "FILE FOLDER CARD".  Since the ENVELOPE PUNCH BOARD came out, you see these type of cards all over various stamping blogs.  If you want a see a great video tutorial on making these cards, check out Patty Bennett's tutorial on You Tube.  

I love when a product is versatile.  I always feel like I am getting more bag for my buck.  So when I received the Envelope Punch Board, I was so excited when I found out that you can use this product for more things than just making envelopes.  I just think that using this product to make a File Folder Card is ingenious!  This is the variation that I came up with.  I love the color combination.  I love creating cards in the Fall because I just love the colors of that season the best.  The color combo that I used was Crumb Cake, Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, and Cajun Craze.  I have a class tonight and then next Saturday I will be having the last of the October Technique Classes.  

Next month  for Technique Class, November's theme will be "CHRISTMAS".  We will be making a SHAKER CARD, GIFT CARD HOLDER, and a RIBBON CARD.  I will be getting the specific dates to you at the end of this month.  Enjoy the day!

October Technique Class Card-CArd 1

Well, they say the computer is fixed and it was not the hard drive.  But I am still having problems so hopefully it will co-operate with me until I am able to get all my information onto another computer.  Since I do not understand how that part works, I am relying on family to help me add everything over to a different computer.  We started last night but was only able to transfer my photos.  I need to add a few other programs to that computer so I can add my other info.  I just need to get everything backed up because I need to have access to my projects.

Anyway...enough of my problems.  Today's card is one that we will be making this month at my Technique Classes.  This month's theme is "Autumn".  We will be making Autumn themed cards this month that can be used for all occasions but have a "fall" feel to them.  This card is using the "PAINTER TAPE" Technique.  I love the rustic effect that it gives to the card.  The sentiment and the leaves from the stamp set "Gently Falling" also make the card a little bit more whimsical.  This is a great card to give someone during the Autumn season for any occasion such as birthday, sympathy, thank you, ect.   

If you are interested in attending any of my technique classes this month, contact me.  I will be holding a class tomorrow morning at 9:15 AM and Wednesday @ 7 PM.  There is still space available in each class.

I have all 3 little guys today.  I can not believe everyone is playing quietly while I get this quick post done.  I am now off and running.  It will probably be a very very busy day.  Enjoy your day!

Downline Meeting Make & Take

Susan and I had our joint Downline Meeting on Saturday.  We have been demonstrating a new product and also demonstrating a technique at each of our meetings and then doing a Make & Take using that technique.  At this meeting, I demonstrated a technique using a baby wipe and re-inkers.  You place a few drops of various colors of re-inkers on a baby wipe.  Then you use the baby wipe to ink a SOLID image stamp and that creates a multi colored image.  I thought  that technique would be great to create an autumn leaf.  I love the leaves this time of year when they are changing colors.  The leaves are usually multicolored as they are changing.  so this technique was perfect for this Autumn inspired card.

For this card I used the following products:

STAMP SETS:  Gently Falling, Sweet Essentials, Glorious Grunge
PAPER:  Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Cajun Craze, Whisper White, Sweater Weather DSP
INK:  Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake
ACCESSORIES:  2-1/2" Circle Punch, Rhinestone Jewels, Brown Sharpie Marker (non SU), Baby Wipes (non SU), Dimensionals

I also colored the Rhinestone Jewels with the colored Sharpie Markers.  This was an extra technique for everyone to experience.  We had a great day and there were 2 other M & T's that we made and I will post those at a later time. 

Today we have all three boys again.  So we will be busy all day long.  The weather is really nice so we will have them outside playing a lot today.  Enjoy the day!

Congrats to my Downline

I finally had a few minutes to myself yesterday that I was able to get my congratulations cards photographed so I can send them out this month.  I have started to send out Cogratulations cards out to the top three sellers of the month in my downline.  This is the card that they will be receiving this month. It is a CASE of a card that I saw with some changes.

I love the rustic feel that this card has.  The burlap ribbon helps to convey that.  I tried not to clutter this card up, so it is very simple.  The "GLORIOUS GRUNGE" stamp set was used to create texture on the background.  And finally I used the "ROCK AND ROLL" technique on the Maple leaf to add more color and interest to the card.  The supplies that I used for this card were:

STAMP SETS:  Zoo Babies (sentiment), Maple Leaf, Glorious Grunge
PAPER:  Crumb Cake, Whisper White
INK:  Daffodil Delight, Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake
ACCESSORIES:  Burlap Ribbon, Linen Thread, Dimensionals, Regal Buttons (RETIRED)

I ran out of Natural Buttons because I am using them for this month's Technique Class.  So I resorted to  using a button that is retired from last year's catalog.  But the button goes with my color scheme so I hope I am forgiven for using a retired product this time. They will be going out in the mail today.

 I have a few people coming over today to work on the Holiday SAS cards.  I plan to start my personal Christmas Cards today.  We will see if I will be able to get started.  I plan to have a nice relaxing day with fellow stampers today.  Enjoy the day!

September Technique Class- Card 3

This is the final card of the three that we will be making at my September Technique Class.  This card uses the Colored Vellum technique.  Years ago when I went to my first downline meeting at Pennie's, I saw one of her other downlines demonstrate this technique.  I thought it was really neat but did not think about it  again until I saw some other people using it for their Christmas Cards this past month.  So I decided to try it again for this Autumn card.

If you look very closely at the leaves on the card, you will see that they are different colors.  I used Cardstock Vellum, embossed the image using Gold Embossing Powder.  I then took sponges and sponged the back of the embossed images.  I love the very light and muted look that you get by using that technique.  Very easy to do and it creates an effect that is very impressive.  Everyone you give this card or a card using that technique will be amazed.  

I am watching 2 of the kids today and that is why I was a little late posting today. They are napping right now, so I had a few free minutes to post.  I hope you enjoyed the card  today. If you want to make these cards and live in the area, I still have two Technique Classes scheduled this month.  Contact me if interested in attending.  Enjoy the day! 

October Technique Class- Card 3

This is the last card that we made this month.  This card is a great Fall masculine card for that special male in your life.  It can be used for any occasion. As a matter of fact, I am sending this card to a friend who lost his father this week.  I used the "Watercolor Crayon Spritz" technique.  This was very simple to make.  The supplies that I used for this card were:

STAMP SET:  Gently Falling, Petite Pairs
PAPER:  Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Comfort Cafe DSP, Howlstooth and Scaringbone DSP
INK:  Early Espresso
ACCESSORIES:  Wonder Crayons ( your choice of Autumn feeling colors), Stampin Spritzer, 1/8" Early Espresso Taffeta Ribbon 2-1/2" Circle Punch, Dimensionals

I love the Howlstooth and Scaringbone DSP.  This card demonstrates that this DSP can be used not only for Halloween but it also has patterns that can be used for masculine cards.  I love DSP that can be used for multiple purposes.  Enjoy the day!

October Technique Class- Card 2

When I saw this single stamp, I just knew I had to have it!  I love this stamp.  But sometimes when you see a solid stamp that has a lot of different components together, it is hard to think what to do with it.  But when I saw this card, I knew exactly what I needed to do to get those leaves looking like Autumn leaves.  I used a "Baby Wipe Background " technique to create those multi-colored leaves.  For this card  I used the following supplies:

STAMP SETS:  Day of Gratitude, Tweet Leaves, En Francois
PAPER:  Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, Bravo Burgandy, Whisper White
INK:  Early Espresso
ACCESSORIES:  Always Artichoke Seam Binding, Wood Grain Embossing Folder, Autumn Accents Bigz Die, Big Shot, Blender Pen, Chocolate Chip Marker, Pumpkin Pie Marker, and Tangerine Tango Marker, Daffodil Delight Re-Inker, Cherry Cobbler Re-Inker, Pumpkin Pie Re-Inker, Old Olive Re-Inker, Baby Wipes

This card came out better than what I thought it would.  I like how the leaves look as though they are changing colors.  I used markers to make the bird stand out from the leaves. I tried to use a color combination that I had not used for a while.  Sometimes it seems like I get stuck on colors when I make cards.  That is when I have to make a conscious effort to change things up.  I think it worked well on this card.  Enjoy the day!

October Technique Class-Card 1

It amazes me how sometimes the simplest idea changes projects from nice into WOW projects.  This is an idea I found online.  When I saw it I thought wow how simple, why didn't I think of that.  I think it was an idea that had been demonstrated at a Regional and she was posting it on her blog.  The idea is "Colored Dazzling Details".  All you need to do to color your Dazzling Details is to add a drop of re-inkers to a small amount of Dazzling Details.  How simple is that!  I used it on this card but it is hard to see.  I mixed the re-inkers with the Dazzling Details to make the colors for the leaves.  In real life the leaves just have this neat shimmer to them.  It really adds to the card.  To apply the colored mixture, I used an Aqua Painter but you can use a brush.  You just need to remember to wash the brush thoroughly with water ( I use a little soap ) or the bristles will harden.  The supplies that I used for this card were:

STAMP SETS: Hand Penned, Gently Falling
PAPER:  Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Always Artichoke
INK: Basic Black
ACCESSORIES:  Black Staz-On, Early Espresso 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon,  Brushed Bronze Buttons, Dazzling Details, Pumpkin Pie, Always Artichoke and Cajun Craze Re-Inkers

I love the look of this technique!  I can not believe something so simple can change the look of a card so much.  Well I have to finish getting my supplies out for my Technique Class this morning.  After that I need to finish getting all my Halloween Gathering supplies together for Thursday and finsh getting my Holiday Stamp A Stack supplies together for Saturday.  This is a very busy stamping week. Enjjoy the day!

September Technique Class- Card 1

This month I am trying to be extremely organized and prepared because my oldest daughter could give birth any day now.  I need to have everything cut and ready.  So if I have to go to the hospital,  everything I need for my classes and other events are ready.  This month's class's theme is Fall/Halloween.  I love Fall because of the colors.  This is one of the cards that we will be making.  This card is a Box Card.  When you see the inside of the card you will understand why.

The supplies that I used for this card were:

STAMP SET:  Petite Pairs
PAPER:  Crumb Cake, Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, More Mustard, Old Olive DSP
INK:  Soft Suede, Early Espresso, More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Old Olive
ACCESSORIES:  Woodgrain Embossing Folder, Big Shot, 1/1/4" Circle Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, 2-1/2" Circle Punch, Scoring Tool, Sticky Strip

I like the idea of this card.  I think it is cool that you can set it up and it is three dimensional.  I love the Peek Hole where you can view the sentiment on the inside of the card.  

If you wish to attend one of my Technique Classes this month, her are the dates and times:

Tuesday, September 18 @ 9:15-11:45 AM
Wednesday, September 19 @ 7-9:30 PM
Saturday, September 29 @ 9- 11:30 AM

Cost is $10 or $5 if $25 worth of product is purchased.  If interested in attending , please contact me.

Well, another day of babysitting the boys.  It is supposed to be a beautiful day here today.  Maybe we will go to the playground today since it will be so nice.  Enjoy the day!

August Technique Class- Card 1

I am finally back after an unintentional break.  I guess I was so exhausted after planning the Baby Shower, putting together the Baptism after meal, and organizing my husband's family reunion the week after, I just could not get myself to do much.  But I was not relaxing after all those events, I started to babysit for Eli and Emmett the day after the reunion.  I like to think I just did not get to post not because I was exhausted but that I needed to get organized with a new routine.  I hope you all understand the small break in posting.

But today I am posting one of the cards from this month's Technique Class.  This card is using the TRIPLE TIME STAMPING technique.  This technique seems to be very popular right now.  When I saw it, I thought it would be perfect for a Fall card using my favorite stamp set, FRENCH FOLIAGE.  I just love the colors of Fall.  The supplies that I used for this card were:

STAMP SETS:  French Foliage,  Friendly Phrases
PAPER:  Cajun Craze, Whisper White
INK:  Cajun Craze, Old Olive, More Mustard, Soft Suede, Early Espresso
ACCESSORIES:  Brushed Bronze Designer Buttons, Hemp Twine (retired)

The Brushed Bronze buttons are found in the Holiday Mini.  They make the perfect embellishment for a Fall project.  I should not have used the Hemp Twine since it is retired but I could not find my Linen Thread which is still available for sale.  

I am off and running again today.  I have both of the boys.  Emmett just settled down for a nap and Eli is off doing errands with Grandpop.  So it gave me a few minutes to get this posted.  Enjoy the day!