Embossed Vintage Wallpaper with butterflies

This is a thank-you card for one of my customers. I like to stick notes of appreciation in their orders, because they do mean alot to me!

I went to my scrap box for everything but the button. The card body is Wisteria Wonder, with a couple pieces of a Vintage Wallpaper-embossed Whisper White and a few Pink Pirouette butterflies from an embosslit for the Big Shot. I used a scrap of Pink Pirouette for the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border, then added the button with some white Baker's Twine.

I'd used the embossed butterflies and vintage panels on a card I posted July 8. You can see the original card here.

Not So Seriously top dog card

This group of dogs is from a fun set called Not So Seriously. In addition to some cute images, there are some great phrases for outside - and inside - the card.

I started with a Cajun Craze card and added a Stripes-embossed layer of Not Quite Navy. You can see some of the Well Worn dsp on top of that. Did you see the new denim ribbon? I love it! I used Watercolor Crayons and an aqua painter to color in the dogs. Hope you like it! This is one of my club cards this month.

Button Buddies for Monkey Challenge 65: Buttons & Bows

This Button Buddies pig is the cutest! First, there's that nose. I added the nostrils with a black marker so they were visible through the button. (Just a side note: When you add Baker's Twine in the button, it looks like snot! Yikes.) I used the marker for the eyes too.

Did you notice the new Houndstooth embossing folder on the Melon Mambo layer? I used the debossed side. The dsp is from the Cheery Treat hostess pack, along with some Lucky Limeade ruffled ribbon. And the words? Well, they come from the Not So Seriously stamp set. The inside says: And I'm thoroughly enjoying it!

I used the sketch from A La Card Monkey. I love the little piglet and his soft pink snout! 

One last note: I've created my very first paid tutorial on a new tab above. Nobody's purchased it yet (I just added it minutes ago), and it's only $1.95. Let me know what you think! It's an adorable Flip-Flop Album, made with real flip-flops! It's great for all kinds of summer photos - of vacations, trips to the beach and waterparks, etc. I think it's a great gift for that hard-to-buy-for person in your life.

Easy Events, Button Buddies and Array of Sunshine cards

These three cards are all from a recent 10-card class I did earlier in the week.

Stampin' Up! has a cute new set called Easy Events that offers a sentiment with a graphic on a single stamp. I paired one stamp with a strip of designer paper from the Well Worn pack, and colored the image with markers (So Saffron, Cajun Crazy, Not Quite Navy, and Crumb Cake).

I love how cute and easy this Button Buddies card turned out. It's all Melon Mambo card stock and ink, as well as polka-dotted designer paper from the Cheery Treat pack (a hostess item). The sentiment is from a set called Friendly Phrases.

I like the bold styling of Array of Sunshine, a stamp set you may select with your hostess dollars. This card uses Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive inks, along with Whisper White card stock and designer paper from the Pocketful of Posies pack. The sentiment is from another hostess item called Perfect Words.

Faith in Nature with Beau Chateau dsp

Here's another quick card for a 10-card class. It starts with Pink Pirouette card stock stamped at the top with En Francais background stamp. The designer paper is from the Beau Chateau pack. I stamped the pear from Faith in Nature (a hostess item) in Chocolate Chip ink on Very Vanilla card stock and added a bit of Pink Pirouette with a sponge dauber. That layer is adhered with dimensionals.

Pretty Postage card for 10-card class

I used Beyond the Garden dsp and the Pretty Postage stamp set for this quick and easy card. It uses the Postage Stamp Punch, as well as 3/8" Whisper White taffeta and Tangerine Tango ink and card stock on a Whisper White card.

Paper Rose Tutorial

I made up a quick and easy photo tutorial to show how this paper rose was made. It's adhered to the Blossom Box (new die for the Big Shot) with dimensionals.

Paper Rose Tutorial:

1. Punch 8 flowers using the Fancy Flower Punch

2. Spritz top side of each flower with water and crumple tightly. (I use Stampin' Mist because I always have it on my desk, and it has the bonus of smelling like roses!)

(Note: If you're using designer paper, don't spritz with anything. If you're using colored card stock, spritz both sides of the flowers.)

3. Open up flowers and stack them on each other. Then pierce a hole through the center and add a brad. It's a big stack, but you will be able to open the brad's legs on the back side.

4. Starting with the top flower, squish it into the center from both sides as tightly as possible. Repeat with the other 7 flowers, squishing each toward the center.

5. This is the tightly crumpled bud you should end up with.

6. Simply spread out the bud until it looks like you want - a beautiful paper rose.

Scaredy Cat Spectacular and Flower Fest swap

I'll be hosting a Scaredy Cat Spectacular on September 18. Participants will get the stamp set, 5 make and takes, enjoy a card contest with prizes, swapping, door prizes and a full lunch! Details are on under Classes on the tab above.

Frankie made this cheery Flower Fest swap using the Eyelet Border and Modern Label punches, as well as an Itty Bitty punch and a pearl.

I've started my Classes to Go with the Button Buddies stamp set. Click on the tab above to see the details. It's the first time I've offered something like this, so go easy on me. I'm open to suggestions! I just want to provide you with a handful of ideas for a single stamp set at a time.

Also, I may add a class this month. Right now, I'm keeping my calendar open so I can work on many projects for the Kitsap Arts & Crafts Festival at the end of the month in Kingston. Have a great day!

Flower Fest card and American Ink gathering

I expected low numbers at my American Ink team gathering Saturday, so I moved our get-together to a Mexican restaurant. This time of year, there are many people on vacation and who have family obligations. Still, we ended up with eight of us. It was fun! Kim brought the Flower Fest/Pennant Parade swap above.

 

For Kim's card, we inked up the flower stamps in Wisteria Wonder, then used a sponge dauber to wipe off the ink around the outside of each flower and sponged on Island Indigo (both are new In Colors). Notice the bitty flower and brad in the middle of each flower? The designer paper is free with hostess benefits - Cheery Treat.

If you'd like to attend an American Ink gathering to see what demonstrators do when they're together, we meet the second Saturday of every month. Just contact me and I'll hook you up! Don't forget - there's never been a better time to join Stampin' Up!. The starter kit is only $99 plus sales tax.

Flower-topped Blossom Box

I couldn't wait to try out the new Blossom Box die for the Big Shot. The instructions are clear (I was able to assemble the box correctly the first time through!) and it's a really cute favor. I used Cheerful Treat dsp (a hostess freebie with a qualifying $150 order) and tied on a tag (using a Tiny Tags stamp with the Medium Jewelry Punch) with White Baker's Twine.

To make the flower: Punch 8 Fancy Flowers, spritz with water and crumple up tightly. Unfold the flowers and pile them on top of each other. Poke a hole in the middle and insert a silver brad (it's a tight fit, but you'll be able to open the legs a little bit). Starting with the top flower, squish it all toward the middle as tightly as possible. Repeat with the other seven flowers. Then spread out the layers as much as you like!

Delicate Doilies with Swirls & Curls Verses

This card uses new Delicate Doilies stamps, along with In Colors Wisteria Wonder and Lucky Limeade, and Tangerine Tango. I CASE'd a card by Christy Fulk, changing the focal point. The rhinestones add bling. You can see the new Lace Ribbon Border punch - it's big, and very pretty! The sentiment is from the Summer Mini hostess set, Swirls & Curls Verses. 

Fancy Fan Letterpress Plate with Love & Care

I changed the colors from a card created by Tiffany Bauer, and used the new Fancy Fan Letterpress Plate with Daffodil Delight Craft ink, along with the Love and Care hostess set in the Summer Mini (with Real Red and Old Olive colors). I ran scraps of Real Red card stock through the Big Shot on the Tasteful Trim die to get the big scallop border, then added a Teeny, Tiny Wishes sentiment with White Baker's Twine and a few pearls. I added "flower dust" with the Color Spritzer. It's a fun tool, if you haven't used it for awhile.

A merry Pennant Parade Christmas card

I had to pull out the Stamp-a-ma-Jig for this Pennant Parade card, but I think it was worth it! The card is Crumb Cake, with layers of Early Espresso, textured Cherry Cobbler, and Always Artichoke. I CASE'd this card from Deb Currier.

Merry Winter brings Christmas in July for Monkey Challenge 64

It's Christmas in July at A La Card Monkey, and I'm feeling it! I just received this Merry Winter stamp set, Letters to Santa dsp, and Cherry Cobbler scallop dots ribbon, so I had to play with all of it!

 

It's never too early to create holiday cards. I hope you'll take a look at the challenge below and create your own Christmas in July card, then upload it to http://alacardmonkey.blogspot.com/. I'm providing blog candy for the winner!

Just Believe embossed butterflies card

I enjoy making cards that may be used for many occasions, and I think this one fits the bill. I can see giving it to someone for her birthday, or bridal shower or wedding card, as a get well card, or a thank-you card.

I'd love to take credit, but that goes to Mary Brown, whom I CASE'd. I used Pink Pirouette card stock and Whisper White that was run through the Finial Press embossing folder. The butterflies are from an embosslit, with a single pearl on each for embellishments. The stamps are from the Just Believe set, one of my favorites.

Friends Never Fade Amazing Folding Card

I love the colors of this Amazing Folding Card, as it was called on the SU! Alaskan cruise, though on the cruise we used Sweets for the Sweet stamps and different colors. Yes, mine uses Greenhouse Gala dsp, which is now retired, but the Friends Never Fade and You're a Gem stamp sets are still current.

To make this card, cut a piece of card stock 8" x 8" and score at 4" on two sides. Then score from one corner to the opposite (only one diagonal line). Use a bone folder to crease the folds really well because the easier your card stock folds, the easier you'll find getting the corners into place.

From there simply cut smaller squares (3-3/4" square and 3-1/2" square) for the inside panels - or you may use photos for a really unique card! I cut my ribbon at 27 inches and position it so it ties at the side.

This Amazing Folding card is actually one-third of an Accordian Scrapbook, aka Squash Book. It works with 12" x 12" card stock (for 6" squares) too. So try one and have fun with it!

Pennant Parade and Sweets for the Sweet cards

Tonight was my Stampin' Dessert Party. Women showed up, enjoyed delicious blueberry angel food cake, stamped seven cards (two are shown below), and went home with one of my retired stamp sets. It was a lot of fun!

I CASE'd this bright card from Natasha Zandbergen. It uses Pennant Parade, Just Eat Cake dsp, and Word Play.

I CASE'd this card from Dawn Olchefske. It uses the Sweets for the Sweet stamp set, two embossing folders (Perfect Polka Dots and Square Lattice), Pacific Point and Chocolate Chip ink, and the new mini silver brads.

I just received a visit from the UPS man tonight, so I'll be cracking into my box tomorrow! Check back for more cards, and have a great day.

Just Add Cake pinwheel card for Monkey Challenge 63

Today is officially the first day of the new Stampin' Up! 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog, and I'm glad! It's great cracking open a new pack of Just Add Cake dsp, and stamping new words from Sweets for the Sweet stamp set. Of course I have many more fun new products coming this way, as I put in my order this morning. Hooray!

So here's my Poppy Parade card for the A La Card Monkey Challenge 63 - Summer Fun + Sketch, complete with a pinwheel! Summer always makes me think of parades and little kids running amuck, lots of water splashing everywhere and laughter, and yes, pinwheels. To find out how to make a pinwheel click on my Tutorials tab above.

Isn't this monkey the cutest? Now it's your turn. Create a card that says "Summer Fun" to you and/or use the sketch above, then link it to A La Card Monkey. Good luck!

New catalog, new $99 starter kit special! Join my team today!!!

$99 Starter Kit and Free Project Kit Promotion

Stampin' Up! is kicking off a new year with a $99 Starter Kit for the month of July. This is a terrific time to enjoy high quality crafting products at a 20 percent discount!

And to make the deal even sweeter, you'll get a Christmas Keepsake project kit FREE - a $40 value! This exclusive kit contains everything you need to create a beautiful Christmas Keepsake Box to hold your most treasured Christmas memories.

So what's in the $99 Starter Kit?

The kit contains more than $180 in products and business supplies - including new products from the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog! All items below are recommended, but a new demonstrator can substitute a similar item of equal or lesser value.

Easy Events Clear-Mount Set*
Pennant Parade Wood-Mount Set*
Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad
Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad
Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad
Brights 8-1/2" x 11" Assorted Card Stock
Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad
Whisper White Note Cards (20)
Just Add Cake Designer Series Paper*
Chocolate Chip 1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon*

Blender Pen (1)

Clear-Mount Block C

SNAIL Adhesive

(*) means New to the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog!

  

Business Supplies: 

  

•Getting Started DVD

•Getting Started Guide

•Guest Invitation Postcards (100)

•2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog (8)

•2011 Summer Mini Catalog (8)

•Stampin' Up! logo vinyl

•Décor Elements applicator

•To My Hostess Envelopes (10)

•My Digital Studio Marketing DVD

•Recruit Folders (5)

•Recruit Brochures (20)

•Customer Order Forms (50)

Christmas Keepsake Box Project Kit

• Each new recruit will receive a project kit.

• The exclusive kit is part of the Shelli Signature Collection.

• The box included in the kit is limited to this kit.

• New recruits who earn a kit will be able to order it with their first demonstrator order beginning August 1. Demonstrators and new recruits will have until September 30 to redeem their free Christmas Keepsake project kit.

You can buy the Starter Kit and get started with your first order right away! Just visit my SU! website at http://therubberroom.stampinup.net/. My recruiter password is: Terry Blais.

Happy July!

24-7 with Pretty Postage notes

This looks like a Shelli card, doesn't it? She showed us this Pretty Postage note - along with many others - on the cruise to Alaska. I love the layering on this note, along with using the Postage Stamp Punch to make the dsp strip into a flag.