Easter Blossoms embossed pearl card...

This Pretty in Pink card features the Easter Blossoms stamp set, along with words from the Bring on the Cake set. Both sets are available in the Occasions Mini Catalog. I borrowed this idea from Lisa Young. I stamped the image in Jet Black StazOn and used the Uni-bal white gel pen to color in the blossoms. The card front is embossed with the Framed Tulips embossing folder (also in the mini catalog).

Sketch challenge with Nature Walk stamps...

I love the way this Nature Walk card turned out. It's actually the first time I've used the set. I started with Very Vanilla, then Early Espresso and Botanicals Gazette dsp. I had a couple inches of crochet trim and a big button for the left side of the card. The words - a close-up is shown below - are from the Hodgepodge Happiness stamp set.

Many layers have been distressed with the Cutter Kit, and sponged. I masked the bird so the Old Olive cage wouldn't show through the Early Espresso body. Did you notice the dry embossing? It's difficult (impossible!) to show on my photos, but I used a stylus to outline the bug bodies on the designer paper. The card looks and feels very cool in real life. See the Sweet Stop Sketch I used below and join in!

Plane & Simple for Stamping 411 sketch challenge...

I had fun creating this birthday card using the Plane & Simple stamp set in the Occasions Mini Catalog. You can see how I punched part of a scallop circle below to sponge the clouds. I used Bashful Blue ink for the sponging, and Not Quite Navy ink for the plane and compass. The designer paper is from the Blueberry Crisp package.

I used the Stamping 411 sketch shown below. This card takes me back to when I was new to stamping - I used sponging and tearing a lot because these techniques are cheap and easy!

A key to my heart fits color challenge...

I started with a Sahara Sand card for this week's color challenge that I chose, with a layer of Poppy Parade dsp and card stock. I just received the Trinket Keys and had to use one of those cuties! The "Key to my Heart" phrase from the You're a Gem stamp set fits perfectly with the little hearts from Tiny Tags. I punched out five hearts with the 1/2" circle punch and adhered them with dimensionals. I used the sketch below from Technostamper.

Vintage flower adornment on Springtime Vintage card

Card club members made this beauty on Monday. I CASE'd it from here. I added the vintage flower adornment with mini glue dots. The card was first run through the Elegant Lines embossing folder in the Big Shot, then we added a strip of Always Artichoke, a layer of Baja Breeze and a strip of Springtime Vintage dsp. I love the new Baja Breeze seam binding - knotted here under the flower.

American Ink make & takes...

By Michelle

I shared our group swaps yesterday, so today I thought I'd share the make & takes. I always take volunteers for these, so it was great that so many brought ideas for everyone to make. My make & take was the Be My Valentine gatefold card posted earlier.


By Barb - Faux Silk Technique



By Kimberly

By Mary Ann

American Ink swaps for January...

Our American Ink team gathering was super fun Saturday! We had lots of make & takes, tons of great food, good fun and fellowship. Our next gathering is the 2nd Saturday of February, also at my studio. If you'd like to join us as a guest, please email me at ericandterry@comcast.net. You can see the wide variety of styles, and many Occasions Mini products used, in the swaps below:


By Kimberly

By Mary Ann

By Michelle

By Karen

By Frankie

Be My Valentine gatefold card...

I started with a 4-1/4" x 8-1/2" piece of Basic Gray card stock for this gatefold card, scoring at 2-1/8" and 6-3/8". The pieces of Love Impressions dsp are 1-7/8" x 4" and sponged around with Basic Gray ink. I stamped Be My Valentine in Real Red and cut it out, then adhered it with dimensionals to a 3" circle (new die in the Occasions Mini) that I ran through the Square Lattice Embossing Folder. I added a few rhinestones to the middle of the flowers on the heart, and a big red button to hold the front closed.

I added a 4" square piece of Whisper White inside the card, stamping the little heart from the XOXO stamp set, and the sentiment from Word Play. This is my make & take for my American Ink gathering today.

Hugs & Kisses XOXO card...

I decided to go with a Valentine theme for my swap for tomorrow's American Ink demo gathering. I used the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, some 5/8" Real Red satin ribbon, and a Full Heart punch of the Red Glimmer paper. I used two stamps from the XOXO set - the sentiment and the little heart, which was punched out, and 1-1/4" squares from the Love Impressions dsp. I love my group get-togethers! I'll be sharing more swaps and make & takes tomorrow.

All that glitters and XOXO...

I just received my Red Glimmer Paper and Love Impressions dsp from the Occasions Mini, along with the XOXO stamp set, so I had to use those. I started with a Whisper White card base. I used the glimmer paper to punch a Full Heart, as well as for a few layers. There's a rhinestone on the "o" in Love too.

I just added a Valentines Class on January 27 at 6 p.m. at my studio. If you'd like to attend, please email me at ericandterry@comcast.net by January 25. Thanks!

Another Things I Love card...

My Things I Love class was fun last night. I posted one card yesterday. Here's another one we made. It's Pear Pizzazz, Peach Parfait and Not Quite Navy. There's a rhinestone on the chocolate, and the Big Shot was used for the Two Tags die and the embossing folders (Perfect Polka Dots above and Square Lattice below).

Fun new digital downloads for My Digital Studio...

Item 121821 Love Impressions Designer Series Paper $2.95

Item 124009 Love Impressions Embellishments $3.95

Item 124016 Cupcake Punch $0.95

Item 124017 Create a Cupcake Stamp Brush Set $5.95

Item 124013 Artistic Etchings Stamp Brush Set $3.95

Item 124014 Notably Ornate Stamp Brush Set $3.95

Item 124490 Love Bandit Stamp Brush Set $5.95

Item 124015 Bring on the Cake Stamp Brush Set $7.95

Item 125158 Chat Room Love Stamp Brush Set $5.95

Item 125159 Chat Room Occasions Stamp Brush Set $5.95

Item 124012 Love Letter Designer Series Paper $4.95

Item 123601 XOXO Stamp Brush Set $1.95

Item 122169 Botanical Gazette Designer Series Paper $3.95

Item 123603 Nature Stamp Brush Set $1.95

Item 123602 Vintage Flowers Embellishment Kit $1.95

Item 122172 Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper $4.95

Item 123604 Sewing Stamp Brush Set $3.95

Item 122170 Sweet Stitches Designer Series Paper $3.95

To order any digital download, please go to my Stampin' Up! website - http://therubberroom.stampinup.net/ and click on "SHOP NOW." These are under Digital Crafting. If you need help or have any questions, please feel free to contact me!

Things I Love: Baja Breeze glass glitter & seam binding...

I've got a class tonight using the Things I Love stamp set, so I thought it'd be fun to incorporate some of the new Occasions Mini Catalog product. This card uses the Baja Breeze seam binding and glass glitter. The designer paper is from Elegant Soiree, and Soft Suede is the brown color. I punched a strip of Baja Breeze with the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch for the circles to rest upon. And I thought a pearl looked better on the chocolate than glitter.

Easter Blossoms on Sunny Days dsp

I love silhouette stamps, so when I saw Easter Blossoms in the Occasions Mini Catalog, I had to have it! I think it pairs well with the Sunny Days dsp. I used the sketch challenge from Stamping 411 to create this card in Poppy Parade, Pear Pizzazz and More Mustard. If you'd like to order this or anything else from the Occasions Mini, today's the first day you may order from it! Please email me with your order, or you may place it directly here: http://therubberroom.stampinup.net/.

Stamps: Easter Blossoms, Tiny Tags;
Ink: Poppy Parade and Pear Pizzazz pads;
Paper: Whisper White, Pear Pizzazz, Poppy Parade, More Mustard, Sunny Days dsp;
Accessories: Modern Label Punch, Regals Brads, 1/8" Daffodil Delight taffeta, Eyelet Border Punch, dimensionals, Medium Jewelry Tag Punch.

Three more thank-you cards from class...

This card took one little stamp from the hostess Level 2 set Cute by the Inch, the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, and some paper from the Pawsitively Prints II pack to create a cute and simple thank-you card. The card also uses the Square Scallop Punch and 1/2" poly-stitched Poppy Parade ribbon.

I used the catalog for inspiration for this Happy Together card. The sentiment is from the Family Phrases stamp set. I ran the Rich Razzleberry and Tempting Turquoise strips through the Square Lattice embossing folder before adding them to the Old Olive card. That's a rhinestone in the middle of the cut out flower.

I used another card in the catalog for inspiration for this one, which uses the Level 1 hostess set Punch Potpourri and crochet trim. The colors are Crumb Cake, Not Quite Navy and Real Red. I also used the Cutter Kit to distress the Crumb Cake layer, and the Eyelet Border Punch.

The other two cards from this stamp-a-stack were posted on Dec. 30 and Jan. 1. Have a wonderful Sunday!

My Top 10 List of Favorite Items in 2010...

1. Punches - I own them all. Twice.
2. Embossing Folders - Seriously, how did we make cards before these were available? It's hard not to use them on every project.
3. Ribbon - Especially the satin and poly-stitch In Color stuff.
4. Big Designer Buttons - I love these things!
5. Rhinestones/Black Flourish Designer Jewels - Bling that's easy to add.
6. Basic Pearls - Easy elegance that you simply peel off and stick.
7. Designer Paper - So wonderful you almost don't need stamps.
8. Antique Brads - I love that they're all different and all beautiful.
9. SU! Card Tree - An eye-catching way to display your cards.
10. Sketch Challenges - Get you out of your "rut" and creating in new ways.

Though this is my Top 10 List of Favorite Items in 2010, all but the card tree are available in 2011 as well! It's a new year, so why not try branching out and using more punches and embellishments if you aren't already. As for sketch challenges, you've seen many on my blog. My favorites - http://fridaymashup.blogspot.com/, http://stamping411.blogspot.com/, http://technostamper.blogspot.com/, and http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/. There are many more out there. I wish you a 2011 filled with creativity!

Butterfly Prints thank-you card...

I'll start the New Year with a card from my thank-you card class. This one is Baja Breeze with a strip of Nursey Suite dsp layered on Regal Rose. I pierced the bottom line and added a button from the Candy Cane designer buttons (only available till January 3). I stamped this butterfly from Butterfly Prints in Regal Rose and punched it out with the Butterfly Punch, adhering it with a dimensional. The sentiment is out of the Trendy Trees stamp set.

A note about mailing a card like this with a big button: Never ask a postal clerk if it needs extra postage because he/she will always say "Yes!" Also, when you place the card in the envelope, make sure the big embellishment faces the back and to the right if possible (not behind where you'd put the stamp, for example).