Watercolor Winter Never Ending Card

This is one of the cards we're making this weekend at my Stepped Up Cards Class. It features the Watercolor Winter stamp set and the Festival of Prints paper pack (my favourite Christmas papers this year). This type of card is interactive, and you keep flipping through the different layers until you're back at the beginning again. Lots of prep work (thanks Pauline), but not too difficult to make once you've assembled the base.

Be sure to check out the Clearance Rack in the Stampin' Up!store... they added over 300 items and there are some great deals! You can order online right from my store, and it will ship to you. These items are available while supplies last, so get them before they're gone!

Front of card:

 Flip open once:

 twice:

three times:

 

And then you'd be back at the front again!

Online Extravaganza!

SHOP NOW!

It's that time of year again... the Online Extravaganza is here! You can save 20% to 50% off select items and bundles until November 28th.You can order yourself online (click the link above) and have it shipped right to you, or you can contact me with your order, and I will place it with others (this will save you some shipping costs if your order is smaller. I have an order going in today, and another going in the 28th that you can add to if you'd like. 

 

Aviary Peekaboo Window Card

We made this card a few months ago in my Stepped Up Cards class. I saw it on another blog and wanted to try something similar.

I cut a 3" circle in the card front, and cut an insert for the inside of the card. I cut a thin slit about 3" long in the middle of the insert to hold the peekaboo piece in place. The peekaboo card stock is just under 3" wide to fit through the circle, and cut at one end with a label framelit. It is scored about 3/4" from the other end to secure it to the inside of the card. I stamped the birds and cages on the card stock strip, and added the punched and die cut leaves to keep it from going all the way through the circle when you open the card.

Floral Frames Tag/Ornament

We're making this tag/ornament in my Big Shot Class this weekend... this is another one I found on Pinterest and had to make myself.

 

I stamped the images from Floral Frames on Whisper White card stock with Gumball Green and Raspberry Ripple, then cut them with the Floral Frames Framelits. I heat embossed the sentiment (from Greetings of the Season) with black on the Brushed Gold card stock (I think you can see the shimmer in the picture... so pretty IRL). The Cherry Cobbler scalloped tulle is so pretty as the hanger for this tag.

Metallic French Foliage card

This is one of the cards we'll be making this weekend at my Stepped Up Cards class . I found a card on Pinterest made by Vicky Hayes a while ago, and finally got around to making it myself.

 

This card uses one stamp from French Foliage, and three embossing powders (clear, silver and gold). I rubbed the edges of the stamped layer with VersaMark, and dipped them in Silver Stampin' Emboss powder to get the edging on the top layer. I love the way this turned out!

Stamps: French Foliage, Pennant Parade
Inks: VersaMark, Early Espresso
Card stock: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso
Other: Stampin' Emboss powders (Clear, Silver, Gold), Sm Oval Punch, Linen Thread

The new Stampin' Trimmer

I have tried many (many) different trimmers, and the new Stampin' Trimmer has a lot of great features that I love! You can see many of the great features in the video above, and here are my favourite features:

• The cutting base is 6 1/4" (you don't have to flip out the arm to cut most cards), and the extended measuring arm is 14 1/2".
• The cutting track is longer than 12", so you can leave both the cutting and scoring blades in all the time... no more switching back and forth! Plus, the scoring blade doesn't cut through the paper like I've had happen with other trimmers.
• Straight cuts!!! Yes, this seems like it should be a given, but I've had many trimmers that I couldn't get straight cuts with.
• I love that all the ruler and grid marks on the base are covered in plastic... no way they will rub off over time like my last few trimmers.
• Non-skid feet to keep the trimmer in place while I'm cutting.
• A storage compartment under the base... perfect to hold a pencil and bone folder or scoring tool, extra blades and other small items that I always lose if they're out on my table.

Two pocket cards!

These cards were from my Simple Cards Class over the weekend (and we'll be making them at my Christmas Card class in Ridgetown this Saturday). I offer a Christmas version and an All Occasion version this time of year, and I wanted to show that by changing a stamp set and a few colours, you can use the same supplies to make these different cards. I saw this card on Julie's blog and had to make two for myself! It is a pocket card, and the insert shows through the window of the pocket.

 

I used Always Artichoke, Naturals White and Early Espresso card stock for both cards. I also used Garden Green and Early Espresso ink for both cards, cut a window using the same Apothecary Accent Framelit, and used the same design and sentiment stamp set (Sassy Salutations). For the birthday card (above) I used the French Foliage stamp set, and added some More Mustard and Cajun Craze inks. I tied the pocket closed with Linen Thread.

For the Christmas version, I used the Watercolor Winter stamp set and added Soft Suede ink to the mix. I tied the pocket closed with Early Espresso stitched grosgrain ribbon.

Fright Night

This is one of the layouts we'll be making in my Scrapbook Class this weekend. It features the Howlstooth and Scaringbone patterned papers, the Toxic Treats stamp set and 1/2" Striped Satin Ribbon.

 

I sponged the edges of all the patterned papers with Basic Black ink and embossed the top corner of the dotted paper with the Spider Web Textured Impressions Folder (and sponged over that with black ink too). I paper pierced the Window Frames die cut with the Holiday Frames piercing template, then used a black marker to create the faux stitching. I also heat embossed the fence with the bird with Black Stampin' Emboss powder.

Merry Snowflakes

This is one of the cards we'll be making this weekend in my Simple Cards Class. It features the Snowflake Soiree stamp set and Platinum Stampin' Emboss powder.

 

I created two masks with copy paper and the Labels Framelits, and sponged inside with two inks. I stamped the large snowflake and the sentiment with VersaMark so I could emboss them with Platinum Stampin' Emboss powder. I stamped more snowflakes with the same inks I sponged with, and added a piece of Midnight Muse Stitched Satin ribbon.

Stamps: Snowflake Soiree
Inks: VersaMark, Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze
Card stock: Baja Breeze, Whisper White
Other: Midnight Muse Stitched Satin ribbon, Platinum Stampin' Emboss powder, Labels Framelits

Free Digital Downloads!

To celebrate Digital Scrapbooking Day, Stampin' Up! has made three digital downloads FREE until midnight tonight! You can use these downloads in any digital scrapbooking programs (you don't need My Digital Studio, although if you haven't tried it yet, you can also download a 30 day trial of My Digital Studio 2 HERE). To see (and download) the three free downloads, click HERE. Get them before they're gone!!!

Ink-redible! Free ink pads!

Stampin' Up! just keeps giving and giving... from now until December 16th, if you join my Gold Stars, Ink. team by buying the Starter Kit ($155.00 in product of your choice for $125.00--no tax or shipping) you can choose a colour family of ink pads for free! Choose from the Brights, Subtles and Regals (over $80.00 if you ordered them normally). That means what you would normally pay over $270.00 for, you will get for $125.00!!! I love the new firm foam ink pads, and getting them for free is even better!

If you are just starting out, you can get all the essentials (the new awesome paper trimmer, card stock, stamps, adhesive and the ink pads for free) in your Starter Kit. This would also make a great Christmas present for yourself (I hope I'm not the only one who does this)... You choose all the things you want--Big Shot dies, stamps... anything in the catalogues! Joining my team also gives you early access to the new catalogues and pre-orders (The Spring Catalogue will be up for Demonstrators December 1st, and Sale-a-Bration is coming soon too), lots of great ideas from other demonstrators and my help to support you if you want to turn your hobby into a business!

If you have any questions, or are interested in taking advantage of this offer, please contact me!

15% off stamps - today only!

Wow!!! In my time as a demonstrator, Stampin' Up! has never had such an all inclusive sale on so many items! If you have a stamp set you've been thinking about, but haven't bought yet, if you have a crafty person on your Christmas list, if you're planning your Christmas cards and haven't got the stamps yet, today is the day to order!!! Save 15% off any Stampin' Up! stamps until midnight tonight. I will be placing a group order at 9:00pm tonight (with a surprise gift for everyone who orders through me) so call or e-mail me with your order before that if you want to get in on the sale. You can also order online through my store, and it will ship right to you! You can see all the sale prices by clicking HERE to go to the stamp section of my store.

More Single Stamps now available!!!

Stampin' Up! is offering a pilot program to see how much interest there is in purchasing single stamps from existing sets (and now a few never issued before). Until January 2nd, you can purchase select stamps indivually. You can see them all here in my online store. You can choose from the stamps in Word Play, Perfectly Penned and Seasonal Sayings as well as select stamps shown below! These are only available as clear mount stamps, and are packaged in a cello bag (You can also get clear stamp cases to store them in--item 119105).

And even better... these stamps (as well as all other Stampin' Up! stamps) will be 15% off on Monday, Oct. 29th ONLY! Let me know if you want to add to my order... it will go in at 9:00pm, and I am adding a surprise gift to all stamp orders I receive by Monday @ 9:00pm.

Hot Chocolate Holder

This is one of the projects we're making this weekend in my Big Shot Class. I saw this project in Andrea Walford's 12 Weeks of Christmas e-mail and had to make one for myself! It uses the Adorning Accents Edgelit and Embossing Folder as well as the Label Framelits and the Scentsational Season Bundle.

 

Stamps: Scentsational Season, Snowflake Soiree
Inks: Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip
Card stock: Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla
Big Shot: Labels Framelit, Adorning Accents Edgelit and Embossing Folder, Holiday Collection Framelit
Other: Large Oval Punch, Festive Paper Piercing Template, Basic Grey stitched grosgrain ribbon, Silver Dazzling Details, Merry Moments Simpy Scrapping Kit (grey patterned paper)

Embossed & Coloured Vellum Card

This is one of the cards we're making at my Stepped Up Card Class this weekend... I embossed the vellum with the Manhatten Floral embossing folder, then used a marker and a sponge to colour on the back of the vellum. This is a quick & easy way to make a beautiful, elegant card.

 

stamps: Bring on the Cake
Inks: Early Espresso, Rich Razzleberry, Pretty in Pink (Stampin' Write Marker)
Card stock: Vellum, Early Espresso
Other: Rich Razzleberry Stitched grosgrain ribbon, Metallic Brads

October Scrapbook Class - Corn Maze

This is one of the layouts we're making at this month's Scrapbook Class (this weekend... spots still available). It features the Orchard Harvest DSP (my favourite right now - from the Holiday Catalogue) and the Perfectly Preserved stamp set. I also used the Typeset Alphabet dies and the Woodgrain embossing folder for my title.

 

We went to the Belmont Corn Maze a couple weekends ago (perfect Fall weather and we couldn't let it go to waste) and I got some pretty good pictures with my iPhone. I had to scrapbook them right away!

stamps: Perfectly Preserved
card stock: Early Espresso Core'Dinations, Very Vanilla, More Mustard
inks: Stampin' Write Markers - Daffodil Delight, More Mustard, Lucky Limeade
big shot: Typeset Alphabet, Apothecary Accents Framelits, Cannery Framelits
other: Orchard Harvest dsp, Lucky Limeade ruffled ribbon, Brushed Bronze buttons

Christmas Gift Pack!

Until October 31st, get the Festive Paper Piercing Pack FREE when you purchase a the Ornament Keepsakes Stamp Set (or Ornament Keepsakes Bundle) AND the Candlelight Christmas patterned paper pack! Click HERE for more details...

 

 This is a card we made in my Simple Christmas Cards class last month (please ignore the ink smudge through the sentiment... that happened at the class). I used the Ornament Keepsakes stamp set and Ornament Framelits and the Greetings of the Season set from the Holiday Catalogue. I also used the Distressed Dots background stamp (my favourite) and some Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine.

Stamps: Ornament Keepsakes, Greetings of the Season, Distressed Dots
Inks: Primrose Petals, Lucky Limeade, Early Espresso
Card stock: Naturals White, Primrose Petals, Whisper White
Other: Ornament Framelits, 3/4" Circle Punch, Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine

Emboss Resist Brayered snowflakes

As promised, I'm sharing  better pictures and more details about the cards in my September Stepped Up Cards Class this week... this is the first one, which features the Snowflake Soiree stamp set, emboss resist technique with some brayer work.

 

I love this colour combination (Pool Party, Marina Mist & Elegant Eggplant)... I think the eggplant just adds something extra (normally I would do a card like this with all blues). The glossy white card stock really helps the brayered inks blend together.

Stamps: Snowflake Soiree
Inks: VersaMark, Elegant Eggplant, Pool Party, Marina Mist
Card stock: Glossy White, Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant, Pool Party
Other: Whisper White stitched grosgrain ribbon, Labels Framelit and Apothecary Accents framelit, White Stampin' Emboss powder, Dazzling Diamonds glitter (I mixed a little in with some white EP to add some sparkle), Basic Rhinestones

Reason to Smile - Never Ending Card

The Reason to Smile stamp set was only available for one month, but if you didn't get it, you could still make this card with another set... We made this card in my June Stepped Up Card Class. You can keep opening this card to reveal the different panels, and it keeps going and going! We'll be making a different Never Ending Card at Ila's & Joan's card class in October. You can what it looks like as you flip each panel below:

 

Stamps: Reason to Smile, So Sorry
Inks: Midnight Muse, Cajun Craze, StazOn Jet Black, Summer Starfruit
Card stock: Soft Suede, Very Vanilla
Other: Comfort Cafe DSP

September Stepped Up Cards Kit

This month, I showed the Gatefold Card (two versions), Dutch Door card and Front Panel Step Card. I also featured Framelits, Core'Dinations card stock, Illuminate Glimmer Ink, Heat Embossing/Emboss Resist and Brayer techniques.

I'll be showing these cards on my blog with more details over the next little bit... I have a few kits available. The fee is $15.00 or a $25.00 order plus any mailing costs if applicable. Please contact me for details!

Perfectly Preserved Standing Pop-Up Card

This card is from my August Stepped Up Cards Class. It features the Perfectly Preserved stamp set and Cannery Framelits as well as the Window Frames Framelits.

 

We'll be making a similar card at Ila's Fancy Fold Card Class in Florence, ON on Saturday, Oct. 13th @ 1:00pm. There is lots of room, and we'll also be making a Never Ending card and a Waterfall Card (watch my blog for samples coming soon). All are welcome! The class fee is $10.00 or a $25.00 order. Contact me for more details if you'd like to come!

Stamps: Perfectly Preserved
Inks: Raspberry Ripple, Certainly Celery, Lucky Limeade, Early Espresso
Card stock: Raspberry Ripple, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla
Other: Orchard Harvest DSP, Medium Oval punch, Island Indigo Ruffled ribbon, Cannery Framelits, Window Frames Framelit

Card Kits Available!

Starting this month, all of my classes will be available as a kit! You will receive all of the card stock and paper (pre-cut & embossed) and embellishments as well as instructions and pictures of the cards so you can make the projects in the comfort of your home with your own stamps and inks. Today I'm showing you the Christmas Card kit from my Simple Card Classes this weekend. You will receive the supplies to make two of each of the cards shown above. The cost of the kit is $15.00 (plus mailing costs if you can't pick up your kit) or a $25.00 order (mailing costs for the card kit are extra). You can order this kit until September 30th, and you'll get a thank you gift from me if you refer someone and they purchase the kit too. Please e-mail me (sidebar) if you are interested in this kit... anyone in Canada can order from me!

 If you are in London, and can't make it to a certain class night, you are also welcome to order a kit, and make it on my Stamp & Scrap night the next month (first Friday of every month) so you can use my stamps & inks to complete your projects exactly as shown in the photos. P

More swap cards...

I'm sharing the rest of the swap cards we made at my August Gold Stars, Ink. Stamp night...

 

Pauline's card features the Snow Swirled stamp set and Triple Step stamping. 

Sherri's card features the Merry Minis stamps. She also coloured the Silver Glimmer paper with re-inker so it co-ordinated with the card!

Susan's card features the Holiday Frame Textured Impression folder to make this wreath.

Yvonne also used the Triple Step stamp technique (like Pauline), but she used different colours and the Snowflake Soiree stamp set.

 

I just realized I don't have a picture of my swap card... I'll have to fix that and post again! Thanks for another wonderful swap ladies! To anyone who is interested, my next swap will be in October.

Gold Stars, Ink. August Swap Cards!

The last Monday of each month I get together with my team members for a stamp night. We alternate Shoebox Swaps & Product Showcase each month. August was a swap month, and I invite all of my stampy friends to join us, so I had several downline and some past or not-yet downline stampers too. Our theme this month was Holiday, and I'll be sharing the cards over two posts.

 

 Ila used the Merry Minis stamp set and punch pack to make this card for us.

 

 Lisa's card shows how well the new Frosty Friends stamp works with the old stand-by Lovely As a Tree.

 

Monique's card has beautiful embossed and die cut snowflakes. 

My daughter Morgan likes to stamp with us too, and she came up with this card featuring Beautiful Season. She wanted a snow bird, so we coloured the bird with White Craft ink with a Blender Pen.

Nancy's card features the new Champagne Glimmer paper and Seasonal Sayings.

 

I'll be back with more swap cards tomorrow!

Who doesn't love free ribbon???

I love ribbon, and free ribbon is even better! For the month of September, you can get a free roll of the 3/8" Stitched Satin ribbon in the In Colour of your choice free with a $50.00 order! Click HERE for all the details... you can order directly from my website, or by calling or e-mailing me with your order.

Want more great news? The two promotions from August have been carried over into September... the 31 Days of Digital has been extended until September 14th. Remember that you can try out MDS2 for free with the 30 day trial.

Get the Howl-o-Ween Printer tray project kit for free until September 16th when you purchase the Starter Kit... it's a $75.00 value, and a great opportunity to get your Holiday Card supplies at a great price!

Comfort Cafe Scrapbook Page

I haven't shared a scrapbook layout forever, but I have been scrapbooking... and here's proof:

This layout was for my June Scrapbook class, and it features the new Comfort Cafe patterned papers, the Broadsheet Alphabet stamps, the Blossom Punch (with the Modern Label punch for the inset colour on the petals) and the Four Frames and Mixed Bunch stamp sets. The card stock colours are Crumb Cake, Midnight Muse, Very Vanilla and Cajun Craze.

Spooktacular Project Kit offer!

If you would like to get this project kit ($75.00 value - includes everything you see here - even the stamp set) for free, you can join my team during August! It's a quick five step process to join my team... the hardest part is choosing the $155.00 in products you want (You pay $125.00 + tax, so it's a great deal even without this printer tray kit). Let me know if you are interested, and I'll give you all the info!

It's about time...

I updated this blog of mine! If anyone is still out there reading, I apologize for the lack of posts... a new schedule and the summer have really thrown me off. Today is the first day of the Holiday Catalogue, and I haven't even shared any of the cards I've made since the new catalogue started at the beginning of June! I have been doing lots of stamping, so I have a lot to share... just need to get the photos uploaded and edited and I'm ready to go.

Since it's the first day the Holiday Catalogue products are available to order, I'm going to share a card we made at my Holiday Sneak Peek on Monday evening. This is an event for my team but all are welcome, and I had 15 people crammed into my Stamping Studio... we were definitely at full capacity! I hope everyone enjoyed the evening even with the cramped quarters and liked the projects we made. I'll share the rest soon!

This card features a lot of products new to the Holiday Catalogue: The Early Espresso C'Ordinations card stock is definitely a favourite of mine (here I embossed it with the new Holiday Frame texture impressions folder, then sanded it to reveal the lighter core). I also used the Ornamental Keepsakes Bundle (stamp set and matching Framelits for 15% off the individual prices) for the ornament. I used Gumball Green and Primrose Pink (both new In Colours) and the Raspberry Ripple Stitched Satin Ribbon to complete the card. It's hard to tell in this picture, but there is a small sentiment tag as well (Tiny Tags & Tag punch) tied on with Linen Thread.

Here's hoping I'll be back soon with another post!

Annual Buy One, Get One Catalogue Kick-Off!

(scroll down for more Last Chance cards)

Each year, as a thank you to my customers, and to help make room for brand new products to play with, I hold a Buy One, Get One Kick-Off event. I have prizes, make & takes using new products and the highlight is that I give away tons of products! For every dollar you spend on products from the new catalogue, you get equal Liz Bucks to spend on my retired products (stamps, inks, punches, tools, Big Shot dies, etc.). This year, I have over $1500 dollars in my 'store' to give away, and I'm kicking off the catalogue in a big way this weekend! I have three times for you to come:

Friday, June 1st @ 7:00pm
Saturday, June 2nd @ 1:00pm
Sunday, June 3rd @ 1:00pm

It's not too late to come! Register by Thursday, May 31st. You'll also get extra Liz Bucks to spend for each new friend your bring with you... it will be a fun evening (or afternoon) out, and no previous stamping experience is necessary!

This is one of the cards we'll be making this weekend (new stamps, new colours, new framelits!):

Stamps: Make a Cake, Itty Bitty Banners

Inks: Midnight Muse, Primrose Petals, Summer Starfruit
Card stock: Summer Starfruit, Whisper White, Primrose Petals
Big Shot: Apothecary Accents & Bitty Banners Framelits
Other: Basic Pearls, Patio Party DSP

Last Day - Well Worn Father's Day

This card is from my May Simple Cards Class:

It features some of my favourite papers from the current catalogue - Well Worn. This is the last day to get them!

Stamps: Delightful Dozen
Inks: Not Quite Navy
Card stock: Crumb Cake, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White
Other: Well Worn DSP (R), Neutral Button

One Day Left - Simply Soft!

This card is from one of my technique classes @ Western. I do a class there each month on the last Monday. This technique is called Layered Colouring with Markers, and the Simply Soft Hostess set is perfect for it!

Basically, you layer on darker co-ordinating colours, but colour less and less with each darker colour. To add a little pop, I also used the Signo White gel pen at the centre of each of the darkest areas. For the pink flowers, I coloured the whole flower with Pink Pirouette, then coloured half of each petal with Blushing Bride, then coloured a quarter up with Regal Rose, then added just a touch of Melon Mambo at the centre. For the purple flowers, I used Wisteria Wonder, Perfect Plum and Concord Crush. I also outlined each of the images with a Sahara Sand marker to add some dimension.

Stamps: Pursuit of Happiness, Simply Soft (R - Hostess)
Inks: StazOn Jet Black, Cherry Cobbler
Card stock: Pink Pirouette, Cherry Cobbler, Wisteria Wonder, Whisper White
Stampin' Write Markers: Pink Pirouette, Blushing Bride (R), Regal Rose, Melon Mambo, Wisteria Wonder, Perfect Plum, Concord Crush (R), Certainly Celery, Pear Pizzazz (R), Old Olive, Sahara Sand
Other: Pretty in Pink 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Perfect Pennants Big Shot die, 1 3/4" Circle punch, Signo White Gel pen

Two Days Left - Clearly For You!

We made this Matchbook Card in my April Stepped Up Cards class...

It features the retiring Clearly For You stamps, the retiring Tickets & Tags Simply Scrappin' Kit, and the retiring Vintage Vogue stamps (stamped on the grid patterned paper). The Poppy Parade colour of the card base will also be gone after May 31st...

Stamps: Clearly For You (R), Vintage Vogue (R), Very Vintage jumbo wheel
Inks: Poppy Parade, Baja Breeze
Card stock: Poppy Parade, Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake
Other: Baja Breeze Seam Binding, Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval punch, Silver Brads (R), Adorning Accents Edgelit, Tickets & Tags SS kit