Easel Calendar Card

I know many of you have been anxiously awaiting the instructions for this card. So . . . here we go! (The materials listed are for the card pictured above -- the one we made at Stamp Camp West on Saturday, 11/20/10; of course, you can use any Designer Series Paper, punches, and stamps to make yours.)

Materials:

Stamp Set: Teeny Tiny Wishes (Happy New Year)
Ink: Basic Gray Classic Stampin' Pad
Paper: Soft Suede card stock (8-1/2" x 4-1/4"; 2-7/8" x 2-1/4"; scrap for punch); Crumb Cake card stock (4" x 1-7/8" - cut 2; 3-3/4" x 1"); Baja Breeze card stock (2-5/8" x 2"; scraps for punches); Very Vanilla card stock (4" x 4"; scraps for punches); Elegant Soiree Designer Series Paper ("DSP") (3-3/4" x 1-5/8"; 3-1/2" x 3/4")
Stampin' Up! Accessories: Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine; Elegant Lines Embossing Folder; Modern Label Punch; Word Window Punch; 1-3/4" x 7/8" Oval Punch; Scallop Oval Punch; Very Vanilla 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon (5"); SNAIL Adhesive; Stampin' Dimensionals
Other Supplies: 2-3/8" x 1-11/16" Mini Calendar Pad*

Instructions: (Note: Unless otherwise indicated, SNAIL Adhesive was used throughout this project.)
1. Score 8-1/2" x 4-1/4" cardstock at 2-1/8" and 4-1/4"; fold away from 4-1/4" scoreline to create card; fold toward inside at 2-1/8" scoreline (this is the front of the card).
2. Adhere 4" x 4" Very Vanilla card stock to inside of card; adhere 3-1/2" x 3/4" DSP to 3-3/4" x 1" Crumb Cake card stock. Use Stampin' Dimensionals to adhere this piece about 1/8" from bottom edge of Very Vanilla card stock. Punch Scallop Oval from Baja Breeze card stock; adhere to center of DSP. Punch 1-3/4" x 7/8" Oval from Very Vanilla card stock; adhere to Scallop Oval. (Note: I used my printer to print "2011" on the card stock and then punched it out. I think the font I used was Papyrus, 26 point, but I didn't save the file, so I'm not positive of the font size.) Optional step for inside -- stamp seasonal greeting with Basic Gray ink.
3. Adhere 3-3/4" x 1-5/8" DSP to 4" x 1-7/8" Crumb Cake card stock; adhere to bottom section of card front.
4. Use Big Shot and embossing folder to emboss design on second piece of 4" x 1-7/8" Crumb Cake card stock. Wrap ribbon from front to back of card stock about 1/2" from top edge; adhere ends of ribbon to back of card stock. Adhere embossed card stock to top section of card front. Stamp "happy new year" on Very Vanilla card stock and punch out with Word Window Punch; punch Modern Label from Baja Breeze card stock; punch 1-3/4" x 7/8" Oval from Soft Suede card stock. Layer Very Vanilla over Baja Breeze; layer Baja Breeze over Soft Suede. Adhere over ribbon with Stampin' Dimensionals.
5. Apply adhesive to bottom half of 2-7/8" x 2-1/4" cardstock; adhere to bottom section of card about 1/2" from bottom edge of DSP; adhere 2-5/8" x 2" Baja Breeze card stock over Soft Suede; adhere calendar to Baja Breeze.

That's it! The card is complete. To display as a desk calendar, fold bottom section of card downward and prop up against the "2011" strip at inside bottom edge of card.

Mailing Hint: To keep 4-1/4" square cards from moving around in an A2 envelope, cut a piece of card stock 4-1/4" x 1"; apply Sticky Strip to both sides of card stock and adhere to inside of envelope up against one edge. This leaves about 4-1/2" open inside envelope -- the perfect size for your 4-1/4" card! (I've probably not explained this very well, but trust me . . . it works!)

* Calendar Pads purchased from http://www.skybluepink.com. I also have these calendar pads available for sale, as well as 3" x 2-1/4" and 1-3/4" x 1-1/2" calendar pads. I bought a bunch of them from skybluepink, and I'm selling them individually at my cost. (Contact me at cathy_hansen@q.com if you're interested.)

Hope you enjoy this calendar card!

Cath ;D

Snowman Card

This cute little snowman card is based on a card by Heidi Van Loar as seen in Papercrafts Holiday Cards & More (Volume 5, 2010). It was really fun to make . . . and quick!

Materials:

Stamp Sets: Many Merry Messages (sentiment); Short & Sweet (snowflake on inside and envelope)
Ink: Basic Gray Classic Stampin' Pad
Card Stock: Basic Black, Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie; Naturals White
Accessories: Big Shot Die Cutting Machine; Clear Circle Bigz Die; Circles #2 Originals Die; Sweetest Stem Embosslit Die; Pumpkin Faces Sizzlits Die; 1-1/4" Circle Punch; 1-5/8" x 3/8" Oval Punch; Crop-a-Dile; Candy Cane Christmas Designer Fabric*; Stampin' Sponge; Crystal Effects, Stampin Dimensionals; Tombow Multi-Purpose Liquid Glue; Two-Way Glue Pen

Instructions:
1. Score 8-1/2" x 11" Naturals White cardstock at 4-1/4"; fold away from scoreline. Place folded edge about 1/4" in from one side of circle on Clear Circle Bigz Die and roll through Big Shot to create card base.
2. Stamp greeting and snowflakes on inside of card; stamp snowflakes on envelope.
3. Using Big Shot and Circles #2 Originals Die, cut one large and one second-to-smallest circle from Naturals White card stock.
4. Using Stampin' Sponge and Basic Gray ink, apply to color to outer edge of all circle shapes5. Use Crop-a-Dile to punch circles in smallest circle (large size for eyes; small size for mouth); punch circles in medium sized circle for buttons (large size).
5. Punch one 1-1/4" circle from Basic Black card stock and adhere to back of small circle so black shows through holes punched for eyes and mouth. Punch an oval from Basic Black card stock and cut in half; adhere one piece to back of medium size circle so black shows through button holes.
6. Use Stampin' Dimensionals to adhere medium circle to card (largest circle), and smallest circle to medium circle (see photo for placement).
7. Using Big Shot and Sweetest Stems Sizzlit Die, cut one Sweetest Stem shape. Cut off bottom two branches; use Two-Way Glue Pen to adhere to card sliding edges under middle circle.
8. Cut 1/2" to 3/4" strip of fabric about 5" long. Tie fabric in knot and fray edges. Apply Tombow Glue to back of knot and tuck under smallest circle (head), adhering to middle circle.
9. Fill in black circles with Crystal Effects. Set aside to dry (about 30 minutes).
10. Using Big Shot and Pumpkin Faces, cut a carrot nose from Pumpkin Pie card stock. Adhere to face with a small piece of Stampin' Dimensionals.

Now . . . let it snow!!!!

Cath ;D
* 2010 Holiday Mini Catalog

Autumn Leaves Card

This card is based on a beautiful card made by my Stampin' Up! demonstrator friend Jill Shover. She went a little crazy with soda cans and made lots of wonderful things, but this is the one I decided to copy for the 11/13/10 workshops.

Materials:

Stamp Set: Lovely As A Tree
Ink: Cajun Craze and Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pads, Cajun Craze refill ink
Card Stock: Cajun Craze (8-1/2" x 5-1/2"), Early Espresso (5-1/4" x 4"); So Saffron (5" x 3-3/4")
Stampin' Up Accessories: Big Shot Die Cutting Machine, Leaves #2 Originals Die, Stylus, Mat from Mat Pack (or other flexible surface), Early Espresso Stampin' Write Marker, Crystal Effects, 2-3/8" Scallop Circle Extra Large Punch, 2-1/2" Circle Extra Large Punch* (or Circle Scissors Plus), Stampin' Sponges, 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon (Early Espresso); Mini Glue Dots; SNAIL Adhesive; Stampin' Dimensionals
Non-Stampin' Up! Supplies: Aluminum soda can and an old pair of scissors

Instructions:
1. Score Cajun Craze card stock at 4-1/4" and fold away from scoreline to create card.
2. Cut 2-1/2" circle in So Saffron cardstock about 1/4" in from top and left edges.
3. Using Early Espresso ink pad and oak leaves image, stamp on scratch paper once, and then without reinking, stamp oak leaves on So Saffron card stock. Repeat, stamping ramdomly until you have as many leaves as you like.
4. Using Stampin' Sponge and Cajun Craze ink pad, apply ink to So Saffron card stock over and around leaf images.
5. Wrap ribbon around bottom of So Saffron card stock and adhere to back with SNAIL Adhesive; adhere So Saffron card stock to Early Espresso card stock.
4. Line up 2-3/8" scallop circle punch inside of 2-1/2" circle and punch to create border inside circle.
6. Use an old pair of scissors to cut top and bottom off of soda can. Flatten out aluminum and use Big Shot and Leaves #2 to cut out leaf. Cut second leaf from 2-1/2" circle cut out of So Saffron card stock.
7. Place aluminum leaf on mat and "draw" veins with stylus. Draw veins on So Saffron leaf with Early Espresso marker.
8. Mix a drop or two of refill ink with Crystal Effects. Drop about 1/2 tsp. of mixture into center of aluminum leaf and spread out to edges with a toothpick. Set aside to dry -- maybe 30 minutes.
9. Once leaf is completely dry, line up Early Espresso card stock on front of card to determine placement of leaf, and attach to Cajun Craze card stock with Mini Glue Dots. Use Stampin' Dimensionals to adhere Early Espresso card stock to front of card so leaf shows through window.
10. Use Stampin' Sponge to apply Cajun Craze ink around edges of So Saffron leaf and adhere to front of card as shown with Stampin' Dimensionals.
11. Cut about 3" of ribbon and tie in a single knot around ribbon at bottom of card.
12. Optional step: Adhere a piece of Very Vanilla card stock (5" x 3-3/4") to inside of card and stamp a greeting.

Hope you enjoy this card!

* Note: I used the Circle Scissors Plus to cut the 2-1/2" circles from So Saffron card stock; Stampin' Up! anticipates that the 2-1/2" circle punch will be available with the next mini catalog.

Cath ;D

Ceramic Coasters and Note Holders

It's been a crazy month, but I've finally found some time this morning to sit down and catch up on instructions for my projects.

So . . . let's get started with something REALLY EASY -- ceramic tile coasters and memo holders. (NOTE: You can purchase 2" and 4" square ceramic tiles at any hardware store . . . generally the 2" tiles come in sheets of 36; but I've also found out that the tile stores carry them in sheets of 72. The 4" tiles used to come in sheets of 9, but I'm also now seeing them in stacked bundles. They're not very expensive -- ranging anywhere from $3 to $5 or $6 per sheet/package.)



2" Ceramic Memo Holder (Can also be used for photo holder or placecard holder)

Stampin' Up! Supplies:
* Craft Ink
* Small Rubber Stamp (for these samples I used Season of Joy for the poinsettia image and Sparkly & Bright for the tree image)
* Clear or Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder
* Heat Tool

Other Supplies:
* 2" square ceramic tiles
* Small (1 3/4") wooden clothespins
* Hot Glue & Glue Gun

Instructions:
1. Stamp design with craft ink.
2. Emboss with clear or iridescent ice embossing powder. IMPORTANT NOTE: Because the tiles are ceramic, they're usually very cool to the touch -- as a result, the embossing powder will take quite a bit longer to heat up and melt than when you're embossing on paper. Please be patient -- it will eventually get there. By the time the embossing powder melts, the entire tile will be VERY HOT, so be sure to let it cool down before touching it.
3. When the tile is cool, apply hot glue to the back of the tile and attach your clothespin. Be sure to attach it so that the end that opens lines up with the top of the tile; it should be slightly higher than the bottom edge. If you line it up with the bottom edge of the tile it will keep falling forward because of the weight of the tile.

That's it! You're finished!



4" Ceramic Coaster

Stampin' Up! Supplies:
* Classic Ink
* Stamps (for the sample I used Serene Snowflakes)
* Stampin' Sponge
* (Optional) Ticket or Round Corner Punch

Other Supplies:
* 4" square ceramic tiles
* Matte or Glossy Acrylic Spray
* Felt or other protective "feet"
* 3 1/2" square post-it note

Instructions:

1. Trim corners of post-it note with Ticket or Corner Rounder Punch (optional step).
2. Place post-it note in center of ceramic tile; use Stampin' Sponge to apply color around edges of ceramic tile.
3. Remove post-it note and stamp design.
4. Spray with acrylic coating and allow to dry.
5. Attach "feet" to bottom of coaster.

That's it! How much easier could this be?!

I hope you enjoy these projects.

Cath ;D

Final Project for 11/13/10 Workshops

Based on a swap card I received from Jill Shover, a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator from my Front Range Stampers group, this card features a very cool autumn leaf made from a pop can, a Big Shot die, some Crystal Effects, and a few drops of refill ink.

Cath ;D

More Projects for 11/13/10 Workshops

Here are a couple more items we'll be making in Saturday's workshops. On the top, a 2" square tile made into a noteholder; on the bottom, a coaster made from a 4" square ceramic tile. Watch for complete details following the workshops.

Cath ;D