Heartfelt Inkspiration

This “fancy fold” is a diorama fold.  Flat, it fits into a standard A2 envelope (it can be folded to 5¼” x 4¼”).  With a very little persuasion, it opens up into this 3-D card.  This was made by a swap partner, Karen Long.  She did a beautiful job!

Stamps:  Holy Family (Holiday Mini p. 23)

Ink:  VersaMark

Paper:  Soft Suede, Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla

Other:  Heat Tool and Stampin’ Emboss Powder (Gold), Circle Scissors Plus and Glass Mat, Brads (Gold), Stampin’ Dimensionals

This camp project was inspired by an experiment I did with the Emboss Re-Lift technique.  Very simply, stamp the image in VersaMark ink and emboss it with Clear EP.  Sponge over the image with Whisper White Craft ink, then iron the panel between pieces of copy paper.  The heat lifts the embossing powder off the stamped panel, leaving an interesting shadow effect.

Stamps:  Lovely As a Tree (p. 110), Teeny Tiny Wishes (p. 145)

Ink:  VersaMark, Whisper White Craft, Real Red

Paper:  Old Olive, Real Red, Naturals Ivory

Other:  Sleigh Bells Ribbon (Holiday Mini p. 17), Bold Brights brad (Real Red), Heat Tool and Stampin’ Emboss Powder (Clear), Stampin’ Sponges, Modern Label Punch, Stampin’ Dimensionals

In this season of gratitude,
I think of what a blessing
you have been in my life
and in my business…

…and how thankful I am
for the gift of your friendship.

Happy Thanksgiving

Here’s a late afternoon shot of our Christmas Crank cabin about 15 miles north of home.  There were 12 of us with the run of the building, except for an apartment upstairs for the caretaker.  (He took care of the property; we took care of ourselves!)  The right entry takes you into a large room with fireplace where our tables were set up.  It was noisy, productive, and fun.

Do you take your stamping and paper crafting projects “on the road”?  Then this tip is for you:  Create a portable, stamp-on-the-go container with your essential tools.  I use a soft-sided, handled tote (you can buy them everywhere) with zippered compartments, divided sections, and pockets for everything I need:  a variety of adhesives, the retired Stampin’ Up! tool kit, hand punches, bone folder, various scissors, my personalized colophon stamp, mat pack, a small grid ruler, AquaPainter, Blending Pen, Adhesive Remover, regular pens and pencils — and some non-stamping tools such as tissues and camera.  I keep this packed the same way in my studio.  When I’m working, the whole tote comes to the table and I work out of it.  It’s easy to put the tools away when I’m finished so that I always know where they are.  When I clean up the studio for camp, my tote is simple to move to another area.

It took me a bit of experimentation to get the right container.  I tried baskets and wooden totes designed for tableware.  This tote was not perfect, either:  I have a jar inside one of the open compartments so that some of my tools remain upright and don’t slide around.

Make your life simpler:  design a tool tote!

For one week only, November 23-30, Stampin’ Up! customers can get amazing discounts — up to 50 percent off — on over 40 products and product bundles!  You can place your order for any of these items as usual:  (1) online through my Stampin’ Up! web site, (2) at a camp or workshop (I’ll be submitting an order Wednesday a.m.), or (3) calling me.  Check out these discounts:

*This bundle is only available while supplies last.

Stressing about your Christmas cards or projects yet?  Stress no more!  There are now seven new digital downloads for My Digital Studio available, including several holiday-themed kits that will make your Christmas projects a breeze!

Downloading new images is simple — and did you know that Our digital downloads are compatible with other software programs?  (You cannot, however take advantage of Stampin’ Up!’s professional print services without purchasing My Digital Studio.)

Need help with your downloads? I’m here for you!

Stand by for news!  On Monday, November 23, Stampin’ Up! will be offering items at discounted prices (up to 50% off!) so you can get started on your holiday shopping.  That’s all I know for now, so check back on Monday to get more information!

At the Super Saturday events, we encourage stampers to swap their work.  Sometimes I am the beneficiary of an extra swap card — hooray!  This card was made by my friend Betty, inspired by the color combinations on page 15 of the catalog.  An art teacher, Betty does beautiful work and, no surprise, has a great eye for color and texture.  This card uses textured card stock (and why don’t I own any?) and a strip of black using the faux suede technique.  I’ll share that some time.  Additional interest is created with “direct to paper” — pressing the ink pad against the paper.

Are you looking for the stamp for the sun on this card?  Don’t know for certain, but I’ll bet she created a reverse mask with a punch and sponged it.

A beautiful card, stamped inside as well.  Thanks, friend!  See ya Friday evening!

Stamps:  Asian Artistry (p. 15)

Ink:  Ruby Red, Stampin’ Write Markers (Ruby Red, Always Artichoke, Basic Black), Basic Black

Paper:  Kraft, Ruby Red (Textured), Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla, Basic Black

Other:  Hemp Twine

Or maybe a secret desire to be one of the von Trapp children in their matching drapery play clothes.  (This was somewhat actualized on a family trip to Washington, DC, in the early 60s for which my mother made each of us girls a dress of blue and red polka dots — get it? — and one for herself as well.  My father was spared.)

Anyway, ever since I saw the flocked paper in Stampin’ Up!’s Christmas Cocoa Specialty Designer Series Paper, I’ve been wanting to create an Alpine card.  You may wonder why I used a Real Red and Whisper White paper with Ruby Red and Very Vanilla.  You’ll learn the simple secret to this in December.

So here’s to brown paper packages …

Stamps:  Christmas Greetings (p. 28)

Ink:  Creamy Caramel, Always Artichoke

Paper:  Kraft, Old Olive, Ruby Red, Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla, Christmas Cocoa Specialty Designer Series Paper

Other:  Big Shot and Texture Plates Kit #4 (Distressed), Stampin’ Sponges, Scallop Edge Punch, Earth Elements Brads (Old Olive), Stampin’ Dimensionals

Each Tuesday I plan to present a shortcut, an idea, a new use for an old product — something that will enhance your stamping and paper crafting.  Here’s the first one.  As usual, click on the photo to enlarge.

I keep scraps “just in case” — three words that can doom all attempts to keep organized.  But “you never know when you might need it” (uh-oh), and here’s why.  A scrap might be just the right size for a stamped image, but too small to hold onto so you can punch it out.

Find a scrap of card stock and swipe a bit of Dotto removable adhesive on one corner.

Adhere a corner of the stamped piece to the Dotto and use the scrap as a handle so you can use the punch.  Be sure to remove any scrap from the back of your stamped image before adhering it to your finished project.

We’ll be using this particular piece on a project in December.  Here’s a tiny sneak peek: