Seeing Ink Spots: 2008

Monday, December 29, 2008

Our Family Grew

Here is Colonel Baxter F. Newman. He is a crazy puppy who loves to bite everything! Eyebrows, toes, boobs, shoelaces, zippers on your coat, nothing is out of the question. He totally torments my other dog, Zoe. She is always showing her teeth to him. That is what few teeth she has.

Saturday, December 27, 2008

A Grand Soiree

I hope everyone had a beautiful Christmas and has a celebration to ring in the new year. Hopefully a Grand Soiree is on your calendar for New Year's Eve. This is an invitation we created for a big fancy party just before Christmas. All supplies are from Stampin' Up! We used leftover DSP and ribbon from last year's catalog. In person they are super pretty.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Valentine Bundle on Sale!

Check out this super all-new Valentine bundle. You get a six piece stamp set, a heart trio punch, and a pack of Designer Series Paper. This three product bundle is priced at 20% off from now until January 19th. Click here for details.

Purchase the bundle and receive a one FREE class coupon for my new series, "Simple Chic Stamp Boutique." This class will be offered on the fourth Friday of each month.

Friday, December 19, 2008

Goin' for Dimension

Shape and dimension are a good combination for an out of the ordinary card. I like this pattern and think that a smaller version of this card would make great name cards at place settings.

To make the card: cut three square pieces of cardstock the same size, score each piece in half diagonally, take one square and adhere one side to the scoreline of another piece, adhere the side of the third piece to the scoreline of the second, then wrap the third around to tuck under the first. Decorate with a focal image and enjoy.

My snowflake on this card has been smooshed in Versamark. Then I added Heat-n-Stick powder, melted it with a heat tool, and then I quickly dredged the snowflake in Dazzling Diamonds glitter.It is super amazing in person.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Diamonds to the Max

The simple card quickly goes high end real fast. Just add Versamark, Heat-n-Stick, and Dazzling Diamonds to the focal point panel and poof, you've got a gorgeous card.

Colors include real red, whisper white, and not quite navy.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Cute Copy

This Christmas tree treat is super cute and it was the hit of my class last Thursday! I have to give all the credit to a Stampin' Up! demonstrator in Canada. Her name is Andrea Walford.

To make the treat punch the following from DSP (Designer Series Paper):

3 - 1" circles

3 - 1 3/8" circles

3 - 1 3/4" circles

2 - small stars

First fold each circle in half and then in half again to make quarters. Take each of the quarters and fold them in half to make eigths. Punch a 1/16" hole in the middle of each circle and thread them on to a bamboo skewer starting with the smallest circles. Leave enough room at the top for the star, which of course you add GLITTER.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Countin' Down 'til the Big Day

I picked up a piece of sheet metal from Orchard Supply Hardware to make my Christmas Countdown advent calendar. The countdown kit comes from Stampin' Up!'s Home Decor line and pictured is the small size. The sheet metal came 24" x 24". I asked my husband to cut it down to 18" x 24". He was gettin' in to the whole project because then he took a brillo pad to rub swirls into the sheet metal. After he fixed the sheet metal in an old frame we had layin' around. Would you believe he even helped add the decor element? I have included magnets on the back of each number.

Here is the really sad part of the whole calendar. I have to check my email for the daily Brighton ads to see if I am current on my advent calendar. There ads have a reminder as to how many days are left until Christmas.

By the way there are 14 days left 'til the big day.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Country Living Week - Project #4

I love this star ornament with the accordion flower. I guess it is because I added touches of Dazzling Diamonds glitter. Enjoy!

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Country Living Week - Project #3

Here is my free standing "believe" garland. I added red taffeta ribbon, red felt flurries, and a red button to finish the project. All other supplies come from the Country Living kit.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Country Living Close Ups

These close up pictures show the dimensional layers on my 12" x 12" holiday project. Many times I doubled the frames. Check back tomorrow for a very cool free standing garland decoration.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Country Living Week - Project #2

Tomorrow I'll post some close ups of this 12" x 12" project. Everything has lots of dimension. I used lots of the smaller pieces of chipboard as dimensionals and I also used Stampin' Dimensionals. I go through so many packs of those; I think everything should have lots of layers. All supllies for this project come from the Country Living kit with the addition of two buttons from the Button Bouquet pack.

Monday, December 1, 2008

Country Living Week - Project #1

All you need for this project is your Country Living Kit, a personal cutter/scorer, and a pair of scissors! The box dimensions are 3.5" x 3.5" x 2" deep. Cut your DSP from the kit to 11.5" x 5.5". Score the long side at 3.5", 5.5", 9", and 11". Then, turn and score at 2" to create the box bottom. Clip as you would any other box, fold on the score lines, and glue to chipboard front and back pieces.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Squirt, Squiggle, & Sprinkle

My favorite part of this card made by Elisa H. is the icicles. To make them, squirt Crystal Effects along the edge of your panel and occasionally add a downward squiggle to look like an icicle. Before you set it aside to dry, sprinkle Dazzling Diamonds glitter over the Crystal Effects. Stamps used in this card come from the Scandinavian set.

Friday, November 28, 2008

Cute & Colorful

Mr. Twigster is cute and the card is colorful. What more can I say? Oh, I have to say the card was made by Julie B. with all Stampin' Up! supplies. Have a happy Turkey weekend.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

SUPER SALE -- SAVE 30% to 50%

This is a first time for Stampin' Up! to be a part of the Thanksgiving shopping frenzy. No need to wake up at 4:00 a.m. to beat the lines of crazy shoppers. Just click here to go to my website and shop the bundled sales. The sale starts right now and runs until December 1st. Once at my website click on the "shop now" button in the upper right corner. You will see what is available and can actually order right then. Supplies are limited so don't wait.

To make the frenzy even better I will add a $10 gift certificate and a new Spring/Summer Catalog to all orders placed during the sale. Your new catalog and gift certificate will be available January 19th. All gift certificates will expire January 31st.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Ya Shur Da Flurvenbergen

These are the words we always say when we pretend to be Scandinavian. This card is no imposter, it's the real thing. Made by my swappin' buddy, Elisa, the card features the Scandinavian Season stamp set and the Alpine ribbon. A gorgeous diamond dusted panel for the focal point shows off the Christmas tree beautifully. Both the stamps and ribbon can be found in Stampin' Up!'s Holiday Mini catalog. The card is da pul fabulachti (more pretend words for it's fabulous). Enjoy

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Man in the Brown Boots

You have gotta love Mr. Twigster! His skinny legs in those big boots reminds me of my Uncle Gary. I remember being at a lake in Michigan where he was wearing cowboy boots with his bathing suit--he too had skinny legs and a little round belly. He's a cutie pie and a super awesome uncle.

My card here was made by my stampin' friend Julie B. This is one of her four cards she made for our swap group. She used Holiday Treasures dsp, the Scallop Circles #2 with the Big Shot, and the one and only Mr. Twigster. All supplies are from Stampin' Up!

Monday, November 24, 2008

Newly Mounted Old Set

I bought this stamp set last year to make my Christmas cards. I never got my cards sent out last year--I didn't even get them made. I have held on to the set hoping to make cards this year. While at the beach in October I finally mounted the set and stamped a stack of these soft-cool toned cards. I really like Sage Shadow and Baja Breeze together. I did use craft ink with Heat and Stick to apply the Dazzling Diamonds glitter. All supplies are from Stampin' Up!

Friday, November 21, 2008

Dots and Dashes Done Right

I love this festive chipboard album using a pack of retired Stampin' Up! designer series paper. For the cover's focal point I added one of the ornaments from the Trinkets kit in the Holiday Mini Catalog. It needed that extra something so I added a half pearl from the Pretties Kit and lots of Dazzling Diamonds glitter. My book is now ready for recipes. That's my plan to organize my favorite holiday recipes.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Deck The Halls (reprise)

Here is another card using the Deck the Halls stamp set from the Holiday Mini Catalog. I have paired the focal point ornament with a metal edge circle tag and a snowflake cut with my Big Shot. If anyone is thinking of getting the Big Shot -- go for it! I use mine all the time, for almost every project I make. The color combo here is directed by the Ski Slope DSP. Enjoy :0)

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

A Little Something Dimensional

The circle pieces from the Star Bright Designer Series Paper Ornaments are intended to make sphere ornaments (first photo). I wanted to give a group a stampers the opportunity to try the kit and make a project. This (second photo) was my economical approach to getting everyones hands on the product without purchasing multiple kits. I put my Riding Hood Red cardstock through my Big Shot and cut the Large Scallop leaving a fold at the top. The card is perfect for a plate of goodies, or attached to a bag as a gift tag (third photo). What do you think?

Monday, November 17, 2008

Presents have a Presence

I am really likin' all the options of precut designer series paper to fit the chipboard shapes. The focal point on my bag comes from the On Board Trinkets Ornaments kit. There are tons of options in the kit to make at least 40 ornaments. I plan to attach "to from" tags to what I make and use them as gift tags on boxes and bags. I love to make presents have a presence!

This bag has a bunch of swirls stamped tone on tone using an image from the Priceless stamp set. Then I free handed swirls with my 2-way glue pen to add GLITTER. But that was not enough, I added more glitter to the word peace. A girl can never have enough glitter. Dazzling Diamonds are this girl's best friend!

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Quick & Simple Party Favor

The Big Shot makes this project super quick and simple. I used the pillow box die from Stampin' Up!/Sizzix mixed with the Cute and Curly punch. I love the combination of the chocolate felt ribbon with the DSP. Both the paper and ribbon come from the Holiday Mini Catalog. To finish the favor I added a small Felt Flurry to the tag, they too are from the Holiday Mini Catalog. I totally appreciate how Stampin' Up! has coordinated all of the ornament sets, ribbons, flurries, papers, and bling. Their awesome catalogs make us paper crafters so successful.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

The Nominees Are...

I have been nominated for a Kreativ Blogger Award! How cool is that? I was nominated by Pennie M. check her blog and be inspired by her projects www.penniemccallum.typepad.com

I would also like to nominate five of my "bookmarked" most favorite blogs:

1. Julie B's Stampin' Space at www.justjulieb30.blogspot.com

2. A Little Piece of Art Stampers at www.drekow.typepad.com

3. Well Dunn Ideas at www.welldunnideas.blogspot.com

4. Stampin to Share at www.stampingtoshare.blogspot.com

5. Stamping and Scrapping with Nancy at www.nancykstamps.blogspot.com

Party Heartree?

Using the Party Hearty stamp set from Stampin' Up! I made this retro-contemporary color combo Christmas card. This card is one of two cards from my Santa Stampin' Extravaganza. If you missed the class, you missed the fun, food, and eight great holiday projects. Tomorrow I'll post another project from the camp. And yes, this card is finished with my very favorite Dazzling Diamonds glitter.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Cute Candy Cane

Check out one of tonight's projects. Using the Star Bright ornament kit from the Holiday Mini Catalog I made this very cute card. The strips from the kit are designed to make a paper sphere ornament, but instead I included them on my card panel being sure to leave an extra little gap for the candy cane to fit. I punched the card up with ribbon and a snowflake cut with my Big Shot. The trick to getting easy cut snowflakes is to use the thin shims which come with the Premium Crease Pad.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Stamp Camp Tomorrow

Here is a sneak peak of some of the projects we're making at my Santa Stampin' Extravaganza! There are eight projects in total and ALL of them are awesome. All supplies can be found in the current Stampin Up! catalogs. Check back for more ideas as I have everything photographed and I'll be showing lots of samples in the next few days. I have to say, I have been gone a little while from posting as I had seriously lost my stampin' mojo. But it's back and it's good!

Saturday, November 8, 2008

In a Hurry? Add a Flurry

The Felt Flurries snowflake packs make for quick focal points on cards and tags. You have to have them in both the little and large sets. They come in a mixed pack of Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze, and Whisper White snowflakes. They perfectly coordinate with all kinds of DSP and ribbons in the Idea Book and Catalog and the Holiday Mini Catalog. They are awesome for your upcoming holiday stamp projects. No glitter on this card, but everything comes from Stampin' Up!

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Chipboard Tag

This tag is intended to hang on a kraft or white bag as the "bow" for a wrapped gift. I used a precut chipboard tag and covered it with Ski Slope DSP. With just a few added embellishments the tag was complete. The stamped accent in the center of the large felt fusion snowflake comes from the hostess set Deer Friends and the ribbon is from the Holiday Mini. The finishing touch is a bit of Dazzling Diamonds glitter from, you guessed it -- Stampin' Up!

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

By Dena

I said I would post something great that I stamped this past weekend, but I can't. I sat and tried to make something and I have lost my stamp mojo. So, I am showing a picture of this card because it is super cool. It is simple in design by very clever. The Top Note die for the Big Shot was cut so as to include a fold. The card opens from the top of the green--it's awesome and made by my swappin' buddy in Iowa, Dena R. I really like the clean and quick layout. The button and ribbon pull it all together.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

One Last Page from my Beach Album

My oldest son took two guitars and a full sound system to the beach house. He played everyday while watching the waves roll in and out. With just a few punches and the Anchored rub ons the page was done. I promise this is the last page I'll show, cause there aren't any more that are complete ;0) Later today I plan to stamp so check back tomorrow.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Another View Inside My Beach Album

One day our family went to Balboa to the arcade to play ski ball and other fun games. My son found this one game that was giving away extra tickets, so of course everybody had to play. He was so excited because he had plenty enough tickets to get these cheap aviator sunglasses. As you can see from the photos the layouts are still quite simple. I did get creative and I punched a tiny half circle out of both ends of each letter to mimic the game tickets. Pretty cool!

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