Stampin' Mim: November 2011

Monday, November 28, 2011

Snowman Soup

Silent Auction for the school scholarship this week, and I have made some quick sale items. They look cute all together. The big baskets donated by staff were wrapped today by my National Honor Society members and the students did a fabulous job. Even the guys got involved and enjoyed the bow competition the girls started. They are really such fine young people...I am very blessed to be at this school. Each hallway selected a theme (Teddy Bear, Family Night, Pasta Night, Welcome Baby, Holiday Baking, etc.), and staff members brought in an item to match their theme. NHS will monitor the tables during conferences. Hope we will make lots and have a big scholarship to award in June!

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Snow Angel for D2D and JUGS112

(click photo for a larger view)

This sweet little 3X3" card and envelope set is for two challenges this week. The Just Us Girls challenge is 3D/template - make cards and a matching holder. This box was cut from Olive card stock on my Cricut at 7 1/2" using the CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge. It holds six 3X3" cards and envelopes. I ran the bottom portion of the card fronts through the Cuttlebug with a Swiss Dots folder. The designed paper is from CTMH Everlasting Creative Basics (retired).

The image is a very darling stitched snow angel from Designed to Delight. Their Saturday Design challenge is SNOWMEN.

Pinecones

For years I have collected pine cones. I have dozens, and display them each year with fresh pine and cedar arranged around bisque Santas my mother painted. What a fun surprise to see a tutorial here for making paper pine cones for my cards! They are easy and another absolutely clever way to use that beloved scallop punch.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Punches and Dies

Sweet Stampin'Challenge is to use punches and dies. Nothing sweeter than the Close To My Heart Art Philosophy cartridge with matching stamps! For this card I cut two shapes at 1 3/4" from Colonial White card stock. Stamped one with New England Ivy ink, the other with Chocolate ink, and cut away the striped portions. (CTMH stamp: December 25th set, C1469) The New England Ivy card stock was scored and sanded. For the label behind I used Nestabilities (Labels One), and stamped the Colonial White piece with Cranberry ink. The Chocolate ribbon was pulled through holes punch at either end of the label.

Anything Goes D2D

Delightful Inspirations at Designed 2 Delight. I just love the detail in this poinsettia. I printed the digital image several times on green and red CTMH papers from the Mistletoe collection (retired). I cut them out and layered them, curling the flowers a bit. I used a white gel pen to make the centers.

Welcome Baby!

Baby cards seem to be in demand this month for family, friends, and colleagues at school. I have used Sketch #142, Card Patterns. Though after I put them together, I realized the sketch has the ribbon more to the left. Mine are OK, but they would have been more balanced if I followed directions!

These two cards use retired CTMH papers (Key to My Heart and Paisley). The baby is from an old SU! wood set; lace and ribbon from the local craft store, crystals and pearls from CTMH. The inside sentiment reads 'precious little BABY'

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Love Art Philosophy cartridge!

I decided to be brave and try using my Cricut on designed paper instead of card stock as I've seen other talented people do. Wow! It was perfect. I have so many beautiful pieces of paper left from retired CTMH collections, and now I can create quick, easy gift projects using them.

These little gift bags were a perfect fit for this week's 'Student of the Week' awards. So many kids at school are showing up with coughs and colds as the weather changes to windy and cold.

Next I'm going to attack the stack of Christmas paper scraps I have, and try out some other shaped boxes that are on the CTMH cartridge.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Christmas Card Flip

Really like the new CTMH papers - they have designs on both sides of the card stock. Take a sketch and you can make two very different looks with the same measurements. The 2 1/4" X 5 1/2" pieces on the card front are simply flipped over. I did change the color of the mat from Holiday Red to Topiary. A quick card, and could be made without the button for flatter mailing.

CTMH: Believe, X7145B

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Wedding Decoration

One of my workshop stampers wanted a pennant to tie on the chairs of the bride and groom at her son's wedding reception. This is what we made using CTMH Art&Philosophy cartridge for letters (cut @ 31/4"), and bling and pearls. I made the flower using directions from Brenda - wet and crumple white daisy scallop circles, plaint with Create a Shade Pearl paint, and I used liquid glass to attach lots of little pearls to a large flat brad for the center of the flower. I free hand drew and cut the little bow tie. The ribbon is black with black polka dots - very elegant. I am so pleased with how they turned out and can't wait for her to come pick them up tomorrow!

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Honor All Veterans

Thank you to all the men and women who have served our nation, and to those who are now giving so much for us all.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

So Grateful

This card uses a new stamp from Close To My Heart. It's only $9.95! So Grateful, B13395.
I cut the tag using Colonial White paper with the Art & Philosophy cartridge for my Cricut. Papers are from retired collections...I really loved the textured papers, and am glad I purchased them before they were retired. This card is one we will make at my card workshop this afternoon. The inside reads "Plant smiles, Grow laughs, Harvest Love" from the Treasure Life set, D1306 (one of my all-time favorites).

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Read...Explore Bookmark

Today I am going to do a craft make'n'take at the library! The Friends of Bonney Lake Library sponsor an event each month and asked me if I would like to do something for November. So today they will make a fall card and this bookmark. It's such an easy yet unique design. I made this one using a 3 1/2" square of CTMH Elemental paper. Fold down two corners and decorate. There is a card stock triangle glued on the back over the folds to keep it sturdy. To use, just tuck your page into the pocket. Hope they enjoy making this, and that I might find some new people interested in joining my monthly card workshops.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Birthday Kitty

I experimented with using odorless mineral spirits with my Prisma pencils. You place the printed image on a towel or paper towels and pour over a teaspoon or so of spirits. While the image is damp you can color and shade. Wow! It makes the paper smooth as silk and the pencils apply almost like markers. It dries within 20 minutes or so, and if you get impatient, the heat gun speeds up the process. I really love coloring, but can't afford Copics yet. So I believe this will be my 'poor man's' version :)

Bugaboo image, $1 bin sentiment, stash ribbon, silver embossing powder,a tiny bling for the flower center, sliver brads, and a square off a 4"x4" textured pad of colors I bought years ago.

Sometimes it's fun thinking of ways to use up what you have!

Happy crafting!