Mirror Image Technique

My husband told me (and I quote) "This is the best card you've ever made!" (he really liked the color combination - I usually opt for more vibrant colors)

Brayer technique for the background, then some masked sponging & finally stamping the image.

So I Just Remembered...

...that I forgot to post the pictures of the cards we made at our last stamp club meeting!!!

It was so much fun getting together with this bunch of ladies and cutting up (in more ways than one) - if you know what I mean!

This one was like the Christmas ornaments we made last year - we used the scallop punch to make the ladybug's wings three dimensional.

We got to build a brad on this one. Plus the bird is embossed and we did some tearing along the edge to add "visual interest" - not to mention the Versamark flowers on the inside page and the ribbon.

This one is my first attempt at paper piercing. Not sure if I'm crazy about this technique or not. If I wind up doing more of this, I will be very tempted to bust out my sewing machine to do the job.

And here's my "Circle of Friendship" card We layered the circular greeting stamped in two different colors and placed them on the omnipresent scallop.

Stamp Club

Just a little break from the Expo saga to share some cards made with my own two hands. Our SU stamp club is drawing to a close. {sniff}


The lemonade glass is vellum with sponged yellow ink to represent the refreshing beverage along with some dazzling diamonds along the top of the glass. The "B cuz" card is done with the "kissing technique" (that's when you ink up the main stamp with the lighter color and ink up a background stamp with another darker color, "kiss" the two stamps together before stamping to the card stock - nice effect).

And the last little card is a gift card holder (it's for my hubby for Father's Day, so ssshhhh don't anyone tell him).

Stamp Club

Here are the latest installments from the SU stamp club: popping pastels; criss-cross box; and the double-sided sticky letter with glitter.

I was really a spazz and wound up wearing most of what we worked with - luckily my sweater was a nice neutral gray so it went with all the chalk, ink & glitter we used for these projects.

Samples from Stamp Club

I was hoping that tonight's club meeting would serve as a creative kick-start for me...I've been feeling a little out of it since Christmas and haven't really sat down and finished any projects - I've gotten close on a few, but this ain't horseshoes, so it don't count.

So, at club tonight we learned a couple of techniques - Fading (to create the illusion of movement) with faux tile - we also got to use the new star punches, which I really should have ordered because the more I look at them the more design ideas I have - oh well, there's always next month.
Then there was the diamond dust technique along with a two-step image. This is a valentine's card for my knight in shining armor husband (he never checks my blog because he gets to see most of my stuff in real life).

Finally, we made a mega-sized matchbook with a chocolate heart inside...and yes the candy is still inside (for now at least). See I have a picture to prove it!

Luckily, my very clever, former Boy Scout husband stocked up on AA batteries during the holidays - because when I tried to fire up my trusty digital camera, the batteries were kaput. I use rechargeable batteries and keep a spare set of them on hand (for just such emergencies), but since I experienced a near fatal case of brain-drain from the holidays, I'd forgotten to recharge the spares. So, even though my hubby is working out of town, he saved the day! That is why he is my KISA (knight in shining armor).

It's a Card & an Ornament

The snowflake comes off and can be hung by the elastic which is holding it on this card.

Can you tell I'm starting to get into the Christmas spirit?

I'm playing with making 3D Stars for decorations next!

Christmas Ornaments

Using the SU Scallop punch - you can make them in various fullness.

the first one has three pieces, the next six and the final one is nine strong.

Confession: I messed up my first attempted at the double pouch purse, so I brought home the designer paper which should have become a cute gift-card holding thing of beauty and got busy with my square punch and used the same idea to make diamond shaped ornaments.

How's it done??? Punch out a bunch of shapes, fold them in half, use mono adhesive to attach them and BEFORE you affix the last two together, get a piece of yarn or decorative elastic for the hanger cut to the desired length. Cut a piece of the super sticky tape and place it close to the fold on one side of the soon-to-be ornament. Peel off the red plastic part (that will most likely want to stay on your fingers due to the heightened state of static electricity created in your home during these colder winter months) and lay the cut ends of your string in the sticky stuff. Now you can attache the last two pieces and "fluff" your new creation.

Poppin' Pastels

Along the same lines as the Pulled Pastels, except use the VersaMark inked image first, then "pop" the chalk with the fingertip spongy things {sorry for the technical terms}


Tip on getting a flat & pretty knot: be sure to keep the ribbon from twisting when you are tying it.

Pulled Pastels Technique

We used chalk on a black piece of CS & then inked up the wheel with VersaMark & drug it across the CS. The VersaMark pulls the chalk off. This picture really doesn't do it justice, but it is really a neat effect.

Oh, yeah, here's some altered ribbon - it started out as white & black - but after a little brush marker therapy, it matches the color scheme of the orange CS. {one word of advice: make sure to give the ribbon time to dry or you will wind up with what my son called "Cheetos fingers"}

Festive Thanksgiving Card

Technique = Color blocking

Got to use the Cropodile (I LOOOVE that thing!)

I'm not a huge fan of ribbon {gasp} but using it with the little buckle really appeals to me.

Inside sentiment: "at this time of counting blessings, you always come to mind."

I flubbed up the inside greeting and stamped it the wrong direction - oh well, cover in card stock and "make it work"

He Liked It!

But I'm not supposed to tell anyone we know... so, do me a favor... don't tell him I told you - - after all, what he doesn't know won't hurt us. {If you are wondering what I'm ranting about please refer to my earlier post about stamp club.}

Anyway, we had a blast and it was great to create some cool cards and a cute little "thank you" bag for some treats.

Stamp Club

I've always enjoyed crafting, but there is something about getting a roomful of people together and learning new techniques that is just so....exhilarating.

Tonight is our SU club and it's my turn to be hostess (yay me!)

PLUS...............{pause for dramatic effect}..............tonight I will have a guest with me...............{are you filled with anticipation yet, or do you just have the urge to slap me?!?}.............this evening I will be joined by my son, Josh.

I wasn't sure that he would be interested, so I sent him this link http://www.stampinkub.com/about/ This kid does fabulous work and then doesn't just photograph the end result, he stages the picture to enhance the cards. Josh seemed somewhat interested, but then, I broke out the catty. I'm thinking we have a new convert. The stamps he is interested in are marked with yellow sticky notes, mine are in pink. I'll let you know how things turn out...

Punch Template

An ingenious idea (not mine, wish I could claim it) - a laminated sample of the SU punches. You can position it over the images in the catalog to see if they will work together. I scanned it with a blue sheet of paper behind it to make the image show up better.

Altered CD Case

I covered up the name on the front, so in the event that my gift recipient reads my blog on a daily basis, they won't be spoiling the surprise. I just couldn't wait to post these pictures. Complicated but fun project. I plan on making more of these.

Coaster Photo Book

This is one of the three projects we did with our SU demonstrator last night.

Quick & easy project - got to use a Crop-a-dile for the first time - I must have one!

I waited until I got home and selected the pictures before attaching the photo mounting corners.