Front Range Stampers Swap Cards (March 2015)

These are the creations from my talented demonstrator buddies -- exchanged at our last Front Range Stampers meeting.  The theme was "2015 Occasions Mini and Sale-a-Bration." 

Hope you get some great inspiration here.  I know I did!

Cath  ;D

(Click on any image for a closer look.)




Angie Zaba Swap Card (Open)



Angie Zaba Swap Card (Closed)



Ann Lohmeyer Make & Take



Ann Lohmeyer Swap Card



Barbara Anderson Swap Card



Cathe Valdez Swap Card

Cathy Hansen Make & Take



Cathy Hansen Swap Card



Cyndi Roddey Swap Card



Debby Blair Swap Card (Open)



Debby Blair Swap Card (Closed)

Herma Hughes Swap Card (Open)

Herma Hughes Swap Card (Closed)

Jayne Fuller Swap Card

Joyce Coffey Swap Card

Joyce Munro Swap Card

Julie Blanchet Swap Card

Linda Anderson Swap Card

Sharon Winter Swap Card

Tambie Gilmore Swap Card

Paint Strip Bookmarks

Click on image for a closer look.

These quick and easy bookmarks cost 25 cents or less to make and are SO CUTE!!!!  These are the little gifties I made for each of my customers who placed an order in March.

Materials:

Stamp Set:
* Pleasant Poppies

Paper:
* Vellum card stock (about 1-1/2" x 2")

Ink:
* Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad
*  Classic Stampin' Pads: various colors to match paint strips

Accessories and Tools:
* Clear Embossing Powder
* Heat Tool
* Big Shot Die Cutting Machine
* Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder
* Scallop Tag Topper Punch
* Project Life Corner Punch
* Elegant Butterfly Punch
* Bitty Butterfly Punch
* Stampin' Sponge
* White Organza Ribbon (about 4")
* White Baker's Twine (about 6")
* Adhesive:  Multipurpose Liquid Glue

Miscellaneous Items:
* 9" x 2" paint sample strips (this particular size is available for free at Walmart)
* Retired Stampin' Up! punch for vellum butterfly bodies

Instructions:

1. Use Memento Ink to stamp poppies (I set two paint strips side-by-side and was able to stamp two at a time with this big background stamp).  Cover image with clear embossing powder and tap off excess; heat with heat tool.  (NOTE:  I didn't discover until the next day that the Memento Ink wasn't drying on the paint portion of the strips, and that's why I ended up using embossing powder -- basically to keep the ink from smearing.  But I liked the look so well I ended up doing the same thing for all of the bookmarks.  I haven't tested any other ink to see if it dries without embossing.)

2. Cut off top edge of paint strip making it 8" x 2" (don't throw away the excess piece -- you'll use it later in Step 4).  Trim top edge of the 8" x 2" strip with the Scallop Tag Topper punch; trim bottom corners with the Corner punch.

3. Thread Organza ribbon through hole in top of bookmark and fold ends up; wrap a piece of Baker's Twine around both thicknesses of Organza ribbon and pull tight, then tie in a bow.  (If you're not interested in tying bows, a simple knot will work just as well.)

4. Punch Bitty Butterfly out of the excess piece of paint strip from Step 2 above. Also cut a small piece to use as the body of the vellum butterfly.  Punch Elegant Butterfly from Vellum card stock; emboss butterfly with Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.  Use 1/4 wedge of Stampin' Sponge to apply coordinating color of ink to edges of butterfly.

5. Use Liquid Glue to adhere butterflies to bookmark as shown; also use Liquid Glue to adhere center piece to vellum butterfly.  (Optional: use a Sharpie or other permanent marker to draw butterfly antennae on the bookmark.)

Fun, huh?!  And quick!  I made 20+ of these cute bookmarks in under an hour.

Cath  ;D


Happy Easter Card (March Class Project)

Click on image for closer look

I love this little guy!  As soon as I spotted him in the Stampin' Up! Occasions catalog, I knew he would be dancing on one our class cards wishing everyone a Happy Easter!  Also featured on this card are the Ornate Tag Topper Punch and the Spring Flowers Textured Impressions Embossing Folder offered in the Occasions catalog.  (Items in the Occasions catalog are available through June 2.)

Materials:

Stamp Set:
* Happy Easter Bunny (2015 Occasions Catalog)

Paper:
* Pear Pizzazz card stock (8-1/2" x 5-1/2")
* Whisper White card stock (5-1/4" x 4"; about 4-1/2" x 3-1/2" for oval)
* So Saffron card stock (5" x 3-3/4")
* Wisteria Wonder card stock (5-1/2" x 2")

Ink:
* Baked Brown Sugar Classic Stampin Pad
* Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad
* Stampin' Write Markers: Baked Brown Sugar, Pear Pizzazz, So Saffron, Wisteria Wonder

Accessories and Tools:
* Big Shot Die Cutting Machine
* Ovals Collection Framelits Dies
* Spring Flowers Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (2015 Occasions Catalog)
* Ornate Tag Topper Punch (2015 Occasions Catalog)
* Stampin' Sponge
* Adhesives:  SNAIL Adhesive; Stampin' Dimensionals

Instructions:
(SNAIL Adhesive used throughout except as indicated.)

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

2. Use Memento Ink to stamp Bunny on Whisper White card stock and cut out with third from largest oval in the Ovals Collection Framelits Dies set.  Color image using the Stampin' Write Markers.

3. Use Ornate Tag Topper punch to trim both short edges of 5-1/2" x 2" Wisteria Wonder card stock.

4. Use Big Shot and Embossing Folder to add texture to 5" x 3-3/4" So Saffron card stock.

4. Use Stampin' Sponge (I cut mine in fourths and use the wedges) to apply Baked Brown Sugar ink around edges of all pieces -- including the card front.

5. Adhere Whisper White card stock to front of card; adhere So Saffron card stock over Whisper White.  Adhere Bunny Oval to Wisteria Wonder double-edged tag; use Stampin' Dimensionals to adhere tag to front of card.

That's it!  A fun card Easter card for adults and kids alike!

Cath  ;D

Lotus Blossom Thank You Card (March Sale-a-Bration Project)

Click on images for a closer look.



Inside

This card is made using two Sale-a-Bration freebies:  the Lotus Blossom stamp set and the Sheer Perfection Designer Series Vellum Pack.  Through March 31, 2015, each of these items is free with a $50 Stampin' Up! catalog order.

Materials:

Stamp Set:
* Lotus Blossom (free Sale-a-Bration item available through March 31)

Paper:
* Basic Gray card stock (8-1/2" x 5-1/2")
* Whisper White card stock (5-1/4" x 4"; 4-1/4" x 2"; inside: 5-1/4" x 4")
* Blush Blossom card stock (5-1/8" x 3-7/8")
* Painted Petals Designer Series Paper ("DSP) (5" x 2") (2015 Occasions Catalog available through June 2)
* Sheer Perfection Vellum Paper Stack (6" x 1-1/2")

Ink:
* Basic Gray Classic Stampin' Pad
* Blush Blossom Classic Stampin' Pad
* Crisp Cantaloupe Classic Stampin' Pad (2013-2015 In Color - retiring June 2, 2015)
* Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Pad
* Pear Pizzazz Classic Stampin' Pad
* Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad

Accessories and Tools:
* Scallop Tag Topper Punch
* Project Life Corner Punch
* Stampin' Sponge
* Pear Pizzazz 1/4" Cotton Ribbon (about 6")
* Adhesives: SNAIL Adhesive; Stampin' Dimensionals; Glue Dots

Instructions:
(Unless otherwise indicated, use SNAIL Adhesive to assemble card.)

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

2. Use Scallop Tag Topper punch to trim one short edge of 4-1/4" x 2" Whisper White card stock; use Corner punch to trim corners on opposite edge.

3. Use Stampin' Sponge (I cut mine into 4 pieces and use just 1/4 of the sponge at a time) to sponge Basic Gray ink around edges of all pieces of card stock, including the front of the card and the tag, as well as the DSP and the Vellum.

4. Adhere Whisper White 5-1/4" x 4" card stock to front of card.  Adhere DSP near left edge of Blush Blossom card stock; apply adhesive to back side of short edges of Vellum -- wrap around Blush Blossom card stock over DSP and adhere on back of card stock.  Adhere Blush Blossom to front of card over Whisper White card stock.

5.  Using the Lotus Blossom stamps, use Blush Blossom ink to stamp base of flower (Stamp 3) on tag; use Crisp Cantaloupe to stamp next layer (Stamp 2) over base image; use Calypso Coral to add final layer of flower (Stamp 1).  Use Pear Pizzazz to stamp solid base stem; use Garden Green to add "stipples" to stem.  Use Basic Gray to stamp "thank you" in lower left corner of tag.  Make a small bow and adhere to top of tag with a Glue Dot.

6.  Inside:  Use Stampin' Sponge to sponge Basic Gray around outside edges of 5-1/4" x 4" Whisper White card stock.  Use Blush Blossom and Stamp 3 to stamp a few images of the flower to inside of card.  Use Basic Gray to stamp sentiment.  Adhere to inside of card.

What a lovely way to say thank you!

Cath  ;D

Micro Fine Glitter and Alcohol Marker Technique (March Class Project)

Click on image for closer look

This is a technique that I had promised some of my people I would do in a class before I knew that the Stampin' Up! alcohol markers would be pulled from stock.  Since so many people were looking forward to learning the technique and I didn't want to disappoint them, I went ahead with the class even though the Blendabilities are no longer available from Stampin' Up!  (There are comparable products readily available at any craft or scrapbooking store.)

Before you begin this project, please follow this link to view a video showing what materials you need and instructions for how to make the Microfine Glitter and Alcohol Ink piece:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6Fp7GgH0L4.

Materials:

Paper:
* Typeset Designer Series Paper (about 6" x 8")
* Basic Black card stock (5-1/8" x 3-1/2"; 3-3/4" x 2"; 3-1/8" x 2"; about 1-1/2" x 4" for dies)
* Very Vanilla card stock (4-7/8" x 3-3/8"; 3-3/4" x 1-7/8"; 1-3/4" x 1-3/4")

Accessories and Tools:
* Big Shot Die Cutting Machine
* Mini Treat Bag Thinlits Dies (2015 Occasions Catalog - available thru June 2, 2015)
* Scallop Tag Topper Punch
* Project Life Corner punch
* Transfer Adhesive Sheets
* Daffodil Delight 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon (about 4-5")
* Adhesives: SNAIL, Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Stampin' Dimensionals

Instructions:

Bag:

1. Cut and assemble Mini Treat Bag from Typeset DSP.  Use Sticky Strip or Liquid Glue to adhere 3-3/4" x 2" Basic Black card stock to front of bag as shown.  Use dots die to cut a row of small circles across one long edge of 3-3/4" x 1-7/8" Very Vanilla card stock; adhere over Basic Black card stock.  Cut "for you" from Basic Black card stock and use Liquid Glue to adhere in upper left-hand corner of Very Vanilla card stock.

2. Use Scallop Tag Topper punch to trim one short edge of 3-1/8" x 2" Basic Black card stock; use Corner punch to trim corners at opposite end.  Thread ribbon through hole at top of tag and tie in a knot.  Use Stampin' Dimensionals to adhere the tag to the front of the bag.

3. NOTE:  This is the step that is not so much Stampin' Up!-ish.  For the glitter piece, use a sticker that is about 1-5/8" x 1-5/8".  After making this piece using the silk microfine glitter and alcohol marker technique (see link above), cut around the edges of the design and adhere design to the 1-3/4" x 1-3/4" Very Vanilla card stock, which you will then adhere to the Basic Black tag.  (SNAIL adhesive works fine for this.)

Inside Card:

4.  Use dots die to cut a row of small circles across one short edge of the 4-7/8" x 3-3/8" Very Vanilla card stock.  Use SNAIL Adhesive and/or Liquid Glue to adhere to 5-1/8" x 3-1/2" Basic Black card stock.

5.  Cut "enjoy" from Basic Black card stock and adhere to Very Vanilla card stock above small circles as shown.

That's it!  You're finished and ready to give someone a sweet note card along with a gift card or a Ghirardelli chocolate square or other small gift!

Hope you enjoy this project!

Cathy  ;D

March 2015 Class Projects

I love the springtime!  Ok, maybe it's not quite spring yet, but definitely not too early to make spring cards!  These are the cards we'll be making in my classes on Saturday, March 14.

It's not too late to join the fun.  The 1 p.m. class is full, but there are still a few seats available in the 9 a.m. class.  Cost is $10 for materials (waived with a minimum $25 catalog order).  Contact me at cathy_hansen@q.com for details.


These projects feature products from the 2015 Stampin' Up! Occasions catalog and/or the Sale-a-Bration brochure and flyer.  For more information about these products, see my Stampin' Up! website:  http://cathyhansen.stampinup.net.

Cath  ;D