Sunday, September 29, 2013

October Class Project Preview . . .

My October classes will feature some fall and Thanksgiving stamp sets, as well as the Sweater Weather Designer Paper, all featured in the Holiday Catalog.  We'll also learn how to use the new Envelope Punch Board to make the cute file folder card shown below.

And, of course, it's calendar time!  This year my design uses the medium size calendar pads and features the Stampin' Up! Top Notes Bigz Die.

For class dates, see my Upcoming Events page.











Looking forward to seeing you soon.

Cath  ;D

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Halloween Happiness! (September Class Project)

Click on photo for closer view.
Here's another card we made in my September classes.  I borrowed a technique from my friend Sharon Winter who used it on her swap card for our August Front Range Stampers meeting.  Very fun!

Materials:

Stamp Set:
* Halloween Happiness (Holiday Catalog)

Paper:
* Basic Black card stock (8-1/2" x 5-1/2"; 3-7/8" x 2-5/8")
* Whisper White card stock (5-1/4" x 4"; 3-3/4" x 2-1/2")
* Pumpkin Pie card stock (5-1/8" x 3-7/8")

Ink:
* Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad
* Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad
* Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad
* VersaMark Pad

Accessories and Tools:
* Big Shot Die Cutting Machine
* Pretty Print Embossing Folder (Holiday Catalog)
* Black Embossing Powder
* Heat Tool
* Washi Tape (See note below)
* Rhinestone Basic Jewels
* Adhesives: SNAIL or Multipurpose Glue; Stampin' Dimensionals
(Note:  Masking tape can be used in place of Washi tape.)

Instructions:

1. Score 8-1/2" x 5-1/2" Basic Black card stock at 4-1/4"; fold away from score line to create card.  Adhere 5-1/4" x 4" Whisper White card stock to front of card.

2. Use Big Shot and embossing folder to texture Pumpkin Pie card stock; adhere to front of card over Whisper White card stock.

3. Tear off a length of Washi tape about 5" long; lay it across the Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad sticky side down, and lightly touch the top of it.  (Note: You don't want to cover the tape completely with ink, just create a dappled effect.)  Pull the tape off the stampin' pad and lay it across the 3-3/4" x 2-1/2" Whisper White card stock about 1/2" from bottom -- again lightly touch the tape to adhere the ink to the card stock.  Remove tape.  Repeat with Crushed Curry and Daffodil Delight ink to create dappled stripes of ink as shown on sample.  Allow to dry completely before moving to Step 4.

4. Stamp image over stripes with VersaMark pad.  Cover image with Black embossing powder, lightly tap back to remove excess powder, and heat with Heat Tool until embossing powder is shiny.  Adhere Whisper White card stock to 3-7/8" x 2-5/8" Basic Black card stock.  Adhere to front of card with Stampin' Dimensionals.

5. Add six small self-adhesive Rhinetones Basic Jewels to 3-3/4" x 2-1/2" Whisper White card stock -- three near upper left-hand corner and three near bottom right edge.

Halloween Happiness to all!

Cath  ;D

Thursday, September 5, 2013

You Made My Day (September Class Project)

Click on photo for closer view.
This was another card from my September classes.  How much fun this one was!  And a little out of the ordinary.

Materials:

Stamp Set:
* A Dozen Thoughts

Paper:
* Early Espresso card stock (8-1/2" x 5-1/2"; scrap for leaves)
* Summer Starfruit card stock (small amount for flower)
* Very Vanilla card stock (ripped piece about 2-1/2" x 1/2" to 3/4")
* Soho Subway Designer Series Paper ("DSP") (5-1/4" x 4" Island Indigo grid design; 5" x 3-3/4" letters and numbers design)

Ink:
* Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad
* Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad

Accessories and Tools:
* Big Shot Die Cutting Machine
* Little Leaves Sizzlits Die
* Pansy Punch
* Very Vintage Designer Buttons
* Stampin' Sponge
* Adhesives: SNAIL or Multipurpose Liquid Glue; Glue Dots

Instructions:

1. Score 8-1/2" x 5-1/2" Early Espresso card stock at 4-1/4"; fold away from score line to create card.

2. Use Pansy Punch to punch two flower shapes out of numbers and letters DSP; discard one flower. Punch one more Pansy from Summer Starfruit card stock.

3. Use Stampin' Sponge to apply Soft Suede ink around edges of all pieces.  For flowers, crumple them up and then straighten them back out before applying ink.

4. Adhere Island Indigo DSP to front of card; adhere numbers and letters DSP over Island Indigo.

5. Use Big Shot and Sizzlits die to cut little leaves from Early Espresso card stock.  Adhere to front of card toward left side as shown.

6. Adhere DSP Pansy over Little Leaves; adhere Summer Starfruit Pansy over DSP Pansy.  Use Stampin' Sponge to apply Early Espresso ink to button.  Adhere to center of Pansy with Glue Dots.

7. Use Early Espresso to stamp sentiment on 2-1/2" ripped Very Vanilla card stock; adhere to front of card below flower.


Hope you enjoy this one!
 
Cathy  ;D

Halloween Circle Flip Card (September Class Project)

I know many of you have been anxiously awaiting the instructions for the Halloween card we made in my September classes using the new Stampin' UP! Thinlits Circle Flip Card Die.  Well, they're finally here.  I hope you have fun making this great card!

Note:  This card was inspired by Mary Brown.  To view Mary's original card and instructions, follow this link:  http://stampercamper.com/?p=2525

Click on images for a closer view.


 
Materials:
 
Stamp Sets:
* Toil and Trouble (Holiday Catalog)
* Tags 4 You (Holiday Catalog)
 
Paper:
* Basic Black card stock (8-1/2" x 5-1/2"; scrap for Label Bracket punch)
* Very Vanilla card stock (5-1/4" x 2-3/8"; 5-1/4" x 2-3/4"; scraps for 2-1/2" Circle punch and Label Bracket punch)
* Summer Starfruit card stock (scraps for 2-1/2" Circle punch and 1-3/4" Circle punch)
* Pumpkin Pie card stock (scrap for 2-3/8" Scallop Circle punch)
* Witches' Brew Designer Series Paper ("DSP) (5-1/2" x 2-1/2"; 5-1/2" x 1-3/4"; 5-1/4" x 3/16"; 5-1/2" x 1/2")
 
Ink:
* Smoky Slate Classic Stampin' Pad
* Jet Black StazOn Ink Pad
* Summer Starfruit Stampin' Write Marker
 
Tools and Accessories:
* Big Shot Die Cutting Machine
* Thinlits Circle Flip Card die
* 2-1/2" Circle punch
* 2-3/8" Scallop Circle punch
* 1-3/4" Circle punch
* Label Bracket punch (Holiday Catalog)
* Scallop Edge punch
* Summer Starfruit Stitched Satin Ribbon
* Adhesives
 
Instructions:
 
1. Cut a sliver off long edge of 8-1/2" x 5-1/2" Basic Black card stock (less than 1/16").  This will allow the paper to slide easily into Thinlits die.
 
2. Follow this link to watch Dawn Griffith's video providing instructions to cut and fold card base:  http://dawnsstampingthoughts.typepad.com/dawns_stampin_studio/2013/08/thinlits-label-card-extended-video.html  (Watching the video is much easier than trying to follow my written instructions).  Pay particular attention to how Dawn cuts the inside pieces so they line up with the shape.  (Note: Dawn's video uses the Label Flip Card die, but the Circle die works exactly the same.)  Once you've cut and folded the card base, continue with my instructions below. 
 
3. Starting at the right end of the card and working back to the left side, adhere 5-1/2" x 2-1/2" DSP to outside of back flap (this is the side of the flap that will fold forward and show on the front when the card is closed; the black design on my sample card).  Cut a small slit in the fold and thread Summer Starfruit ribbon through from inside to outside; tie in a knot on DSP side.
 
4. For inside of flap, use Smokey Slate Stampin' Pad to stamp largest image on 5-1/4" x 2-3/8" Very Vanilla card stock.  Use Black StazOn ink to stamp skeleton next lower bottom over Smokey Slate image.  Adhere to inside of flap, covering ribbon.
 
5. Cut the 5-1/4" x 2-3/4" Very Vanilla card stock as shown in Dawn's video.  Adhere to inside middle panel.
 
6. Punch a 2-1/2" Circle from Very Vanilla card stock; punch a 1-3/4" Circle from Summer Starfruit card stock.  Use Black StazOn ink to stamp raven image on larger circle; stamp just the head and shoulders of the raven image.  Line up and adhere the smaller circle over the larger circle so the raven is a complete image; adhere to inside circle.
 
7. Cut a 1/4" strip from left edge of card.  Use Scallop Edge punch to trim edge of 5-1/2" x 1/2" DSP (this is the striped piece on my sample card); close card and line up with a ruler or grid paper.  Glue scalloped DSP strip to left edge of card, making sure the closed card, including the scallop, equals 4-1/4".  Cut the 5-1/2" x 1-3/4" DSP as shown on Dawn's video; line up and adhere over striped strip on front panel (this is the piece with printing and bats on my sample).  Adhere 5-1/2" x 3/16" strip of DSP near left edge covering the seam (this is the Summer Starfruit DSP on my sample).
 
8. Punch a 2-1/2" Circle from Summer Starfruit card stock and adhere to circle area on front of card.  Punch a 2-3/8" Scallop Circle from Pumpkin Pie card stock and adhere over Summer Starfruit.  Stamp Trick or Treat image on Very Vanilla card stock; cut out image with the Bracket Label punch; use Summer Starfruit Stampin' Write Marker to color in area outside of outline.  Punch a second Label Bracket shape from Basic Black card stock.  Turn the Basic Black shape 1/4 to the left; line up and adhere behind the Very Vanilla shape so the points appear between the brackets on the Very Vanilla shape (see photo).  Adhere to center of Pumpkin Pie Scallop Circle.
 
Taking this card step-by-step, it's actually not nearly as difficult to make as it appears at first glance!
 
Cath  ;D