Congrats! Benn & Kristen

A picture is worth a thousand words... or 100 wedding invitations and 125 thank you cards! I made these for my nephew Benn and his bride Kristen. I love the way it all turned out!

I used Love Blossoms Stampin' Around Wheel, Beautiful Wings Stampin' Up! Embosslits Die, Pacific Point cardstock and ink. I also used 5/8" black satin ribbon and black glitter glue. Some assembly required. :)

MONDAY Oct 29th ONLY: super sale!

I know I've changed the tone of my blog to more what I make not what I sell.. but I HAVE TO SHARE this Stampin' Up! promotion!

MONDAY OCTOBER 29th ONLY -- 15% off STAMPS!

All* stamps in the current catalogs including:

• Regular stamp sets
• Background stamps
• Personalized name stamps
• Cookie press stamps
• Single-image stamps

*This DOES NOT include Hostess sets, Bundled stamp sets or Digital stamp brush sets.

PLUS I need to share with you that Stampin' Up! has added MORE single stamps! Please call or email me your orders ASAP! Any time over the weekend or Monday by 4pm. I don't want anyone to miss out! AND... I might just sweeten this deal. Place and order to find out! Think of what you need for the holidays or crafters on your Christmas list!

Be sure to check out the Stampin' Up! catalog AND the Holiday catalog!  Or download them to your computer here: http://www.stampinup.com/us/enu/22124.asp

 

designer series paper card

I can't believe i'm about to say this but... sometimes stamping doesn't have to be the focus of a hand made card. <gasp!> I know, right? I can't believe I'm putting this out there. But see for yourself! I made this belated birthday card by mixing designer series papers! Don't be afraid to mix and match and layer. Then I mimicked the pattern of the paper onto the envelope using similar stamps for a finished look. Ta-da! Happy Belated Birthday, Jess!

Featuring Stampin' Up's Patio Party Designer Series Paper: Baja Breeze, Midnight Muse, Primrose Petals, Summer Starfruit, and Whisper White and Fabulous Florets stamp set.

rock and roll technique

In my last technique share I said: Instead of a boring old solid stamped image you will have a cool looking one-of-a-kind image! That applies for this technique as well! 

You will need a solid image stamp, two coordinating ink colors (one light, one dark) and of course...cardstock to stamp it on! Ink up your stamp in the lighter color. Then switch to the darker color and instead of pressing it down on the stamp pad only press the outside edge of the stamp to the ink. You'll have to "rock and roll" the stamp around to get all the edges covered. The more you do, the more extra color you grab. It creates a bit of a gradient effect and depending on the stamp image you pick, it can create a darker border.

I've been using this technique for years and I love it! So Friday when my brother said "do you have a card I can have for the wedding tomorrow?" I said "Sure!" cause I knew this technique would give me a great looking card fast!

    

I used Stampin' Up!'s "Cottage Garden" and "God's Blessings" stamp sets in Bashful Blue and Pacific Point. 

"thumping" technique

Any one else think that is the stupidest name ever? BUT don't let that stop you for trying it. Ink up your favorite solid or background stamp (I'd avoid detailed line art) in a light to medium color. Pick up a coordinating darker marker color and quickly and sporadically tap the inked up stamp as much or as little as you want! Don't worry it shouldn't hurt your marker! Stamp and ta-dah! Instead of a boring old solid stamped image you will have a cool looking one-of-a-kind image!

Here's where I used the Stampin' Up! sale-a-bration set "Fresh Vintage" stamp in Pacific Point blue and "thumped" (oh I hate saying that!) in Basic Black! Stamping in two different colors at the same time will give your images a little something extra that will make even a simple card look extra special! I love how it never looks the same twice.

it also creates a great background --try it on a coordinating color background!

I also added some glitter to spruce it up even more! I'll share the full card after this weekend (it's part of a gift for my nephew's wedding -- a whole post in and of itself!) Meanwhile, happy thumping! (Yeah, I said it!)

Shimmery Leaves Frame

Talk about one unique wedding invite after another! This invitation brought on a unique challenge: shiny paper! I went out and bought shimmery pearl paper to match the invitation and Jet Black Stayzon ink to stamp on it with. But playing around I discovered that not only did regular ink work but the shimmer came through!

unfinished frame with the invitation.

You can't see it in this photo (bad placement by me) but the invite has a gray leaf on it. I used this larger leaf stamp April made me years ago. It was perfect!

customized matching tissue paper!

frame (minus glass/backing,) card w/ envelope, gift bag and tissue paper!

close up of the matching card (the inside is blank.)

nothing is complete without pearl accents!

This frame package was created 10-1-12 for CarolynC as a gift for her niece. She particularly liked the "Love begins in a moment" saying because I guess it was love at first sight for the happy couple!

Michigan Wedding Frame

One of my favorite kinds of craft projects to work on is to try to match a theme. Many of the projects I have queued up to share are inspired by different themes, hobbies, invitations or registry items.

This first project I'm choosing to share is a picture frame I decorated to match a wedding invitation! It was very unique and required a little freehand work with a marker... but I think it turned out great!

the front of the invite next to the finished picture frame

a close up of the map outlined in marker with a strategically stamped ♥

I really like the texture of the embossed heart detail along the bottom edge of blue

I used Stampin' Up! Pacific Point cardstock, ink, and marker, plus whisper white cardstock, Primrose Petals ink and Adorning Accents Textured Impressions Heart Embossing Folder. I also used Close to My Heart's stamp sets: Keepsake Alphabet and Tiny Typewriter Alphabet. (Oh and some random heart I bought ages ago that's like a stamp on a stick. LOL)

I hope this couple likes their frame as much as I enjoyed making it! Created 9-15-2012 for AmyC as a gift for the happy couple. God bless!

ch-ch-cha-changing!

Stay tuned! I'm unhappy with how i've been using this blog and i'm ready for a change. Watch for upcoming posts where i'm going to share old and new stamp projects!

Single Clear Mounts!

I don't think this has every happened before! Stampin' Up! has picked out three sentiment stamp sets and are dividing them up. For a limited time only... you can buy SINGLE CLEAR MOUNT stamps out of these sets!  So if you thought "That is the perfect 'happy birthday' but I'd never want that 'celebrate today' stamp so I guess I won't buy it." Now is your chance to get what you want! Amazing!

October ONLY!