Simple Cards Class - aka Embossing is awesome!

I saw a card made by Ilina Crouse and had to make one of my own! I changed the colours, but that's about it. We'll be making this card (and three others) in my Simple Cards Class this weekend. I used the dotty stamp from Dotty Angles (this is in the running for my most used stamp from the new catalogue) and four colours of embossing powder (Crushed Curry, Calypso Coral, Wild Wasabi & Pool Party) on Basic Grey card stock. The ribbon at the top is the soft and yummy Island Indigo 1/4" Cotton Ribbon. The sentiment is from a Hostess Set (Hello There).

August Scrapbook Class Layout

This is one of the three scrapbook layouts we'll be making this weekend at my Scrapbook Class! It features the Be the Star stamp set (and co-ordinating Star Framelits), Confetti Celebration patterned paper, Little Letters Thinlits (my current favourite for titles and sentiments) and the Star mask.

One of the other layouts will feature Project Life and the Happiness Is card collection! I'll share later this month...

Be the Star Partial Cut Z-Fold Card

We made this card in my June Big Shot Class... I used the Star Framelits to partially cut the card base, then finished it with stamps (Be the Star) and patterned paper (Moonlight). A few rhinestones finish it off!

July Simple Cards Class - Hang in There

This is one of the cards we're making in my Simple Cards Class this weekend (check out my Event Calendar for class times).

The design is based on a card I saw by Kimberly VanDiepen, but I simplified it (since it's in the Simple Cards Class). The Nuts for You stamp set is a hostess set, only available to hostesses, hostess club members or if you place a $200.00 order. I also used the Woodgrain embossing folder, the Party Pennants Big Shot die and Coastal Cabana Thick Baker's Twine. The sentiment is punched with the Petite Curly Label punch. Colours are Crumb Cake, Baked Brown Sugar, Mossy Meadow and Basic Grey.

thanks for looking!

Blendabilities Basics Class & Colour Chart

I'm so excited about my Blendabilities Basics Class... this class is perfect if you've never used alcohol based markers (or tried them but aren't sure about them). You will complete a colour chart, practice colouring the same image with different techniques to see what feels (and looks) best for you, and make two cards. This is the colour chart you'll be making (the rest of my colours arrive Thursday, so I'll complete my chart then)!

I also included a box for the Stampin' Write Marker in each colour for easy reference...

The class fee is $50.00 which includes one colour set of Blendabilities (your choice of Coastal Cabana, Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie or Rich Razzleberry), the Blended Bloom stamp and a Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad. If you'd prefer, you can get two packs of Blendabilities and no Blended Bloom stamp instead. If you purchased Blendabilities from me (or are part of my downline and have your own set), you can pay a $10.00 class fee instead. You will need your own set of Blendabilities at the class.

The class is Monday, July 21st @ 7:00pm, and I hope you'll join me! The deadline to register (and pay) is this Sunday, July 13th!

I've included a blank template that I created for my class. It prints on a sheet of Whisper White card stock. I used an ink jet printer (draft setting) but avoided colouring over the lines. A laser printer would be better. If you click the thumbnail, it should be the correct size. Let me know if you find this useful!

Deco Label Concertina Card (feat. Backyard Basics)

I saw a card similar to this by Belinda Neil, and had to make one for this month's Big Shot Class!

The Hardwood Background stamp from the Occasions Catalogue just might be my favourite (and is definitely well used--I think I've used it in every class since January!) and with some post-it notes, I was able to stamp the whole card base with it... this is Smoky Slate card stock stamped with Smoky Slate ink. You could use any Framelits that nest inside each other for this type of card, and I decided to use the Deco Labels. To get these half cuts, the key is Cutting Plate placement. You centre the Framelit over your score line. You have your Cutting Plate as the bottom layer (just like normal), but you place the top Cutting Plate on one side of the score line so it only cuts half of the Framelit shape. Repeat with every other score line, using the smaller Framelits as you go.

We'll be making this card in my Big Shot Class this weekend, and there's still time to sign up!

I had seen this card made with the Scallop Tag Topper Punch a few places (great video by Stamping T! to show you how) and when I saw one like this by Laura Mackie on Pinterest, I knew I had to make it for this month's Stepped Up Cards Class. The card isn't very hard once you know how to make it, and this one has a little window and features the Happy Watercolor stamp set. I used Baked Brown Sugar and Crisp Cantaloupe ink. A bit of Very Vanilla Seam Binding ribbon ties it closed. I took a few gold sequins off the trim to glue onto the card.

Happy Watercolor

This was my favourite card from my January Simple Cards Class...

It features the Happy Watercolor stamps from the Occasions Catalogue, and I also used the Travel Journal wheel (I took it off the wheel and mounted it on Cling Foam because I find it easier to use that way. I used a Clear Block and markers (Soft Sky, So Saffron and Wisteria Wonder) to create the coloured stripe behind the flower. I just scribbled the marker on, spritzed with water so the colours blended a little, and stamped it on the Whisper White card stock. I used the Heat Tool to speed up the drying and stamped the Travel Journal with Sahara Sand. The flower and sentiment are stamped with Jet Black StazOn. I've been liking the white on white layering lately, and for this card, I embossed the middle white layer with the Beautifully Baroque embossing folder.

Thanks for visiting!

Chalk Talk Pocket Window Card

I loved Monica Gale's card so much I just had to make my own... I changed up the Washi Tape (Retro Fresh from the Occasions Catalogue) and so I also changed up the colours (Baked Brown Sugar, Tangerine Tango, Coastal Cabana and some Gumball Green).

The Coastal Cabana peeking out the top of the pocket pulls right out. The sentiment is popping through a window in the pocket. The stamps are from Chalk Talk (I used the co-ordinating Framelits to cut out the sentiment pieces) and Gorgeous Grunge, the punched leaves are done with the Bird Punch, the large flower was cut with the Floral Fusion Sizzlit and the Big Shot and the small flowers were made with the flower punch in the Itty Bitty Shapes punch pack. You can make this card this weekend in my Stepped Up Cards Class if you sign up soon!

Too Kind Double Label Flip Card

As soon as I saw this type of card on Glenda Calkin's blog, I knew I had to try it! I love the Label and Circle card Thinlits, and I love that there are so many variations to the type of card you can make with them! They make it so easy to make a WOW card.

We'll be making this card in my Big Shot class this weekend (spots still available if you want to make one too). I used Blushing Bride and Calypso Coral as my main colours on this card, with a little Wild Wasabi for the stems. The patterned paper (Watercolor Wonder) is from the new Occasions Catalogue. The stamps are all from the Too Kind stamp set.

Hexagon Hive Hello Card

There are a lot of fun new products in the Occasions Catalogue, and I'm featuring some of them in my classes this weekend! This card showcases the Hexagon Hive Thinlit, the Banner Framelits and the Simply Celebrate stamp set.

We're making this card in my Simple Cards Class this weekend. I stamped the white card stock (behind the die cut) with the swirl from Everything Eleanor and three of the flowers from the Flower Shop stamp set. I stamped the flowers on a scrap of white card stock, then punched them out with the Pansy Punch. The Hello is from Simply Celebrate and I stamped it on Pool Party Core'dinations card stock and cut it out with one of the Banner Framelits. The stamped white card stock is glued to the card base, and I popped up the Hexagon Hive die cut with Dimensionals. I added the banner and flowers, and the card is done!

Stamps: Flower Shop, Everything Eleanor, Simply Celebrate
Card stock: Garden Green, Whisper White, Basic Black, Pool Party Core'dinations
Inks: Pool Party, Garden Green, Island Indigo, Rose Red, StazOn Jet Black
Other: Pansy Punch, Banner Framelit, Hexagon Hive Thinlit

Joyful Christmas Monochromatic Card

This card is simply beautiful...thanks so much to Natasha Zandbergen for sharing on her blog! I thought it was perfect for new (or time-limited) stampers and perfect for my Christmas Stamp-a-Stack later this month! At my Stamp-a-Stack, you'll make four of this card and four of four other designs, for a total of 20 cards! This card would also be a good one to make if you don't have a lot of supplies on hand, and have to buy supplies for your cards this year.

It uses only five items (other than adhesive):

Smoky Slate card stock
Whisper White card stock
Joyful Christmas stamp set
Smoky Slate ink pad
1/8" Silver Ribbon

You can order these items in my online store and they'll ship right to you!

Endless Wishes + Chalk Talk = Cute & Fun!

This is one of the cards we're making in my Simple Holiday Cards Class this weekend (eight cards - 2 each of four designs) and I hope that Endless Wishes is available again (so popular Stampin' Up! sold out of their supply in about a week). I love these colours together (Bermuda Bay, Raspberry Ripple and Crumb Cake) and I love the way this card turned out... The snowflakes from the set are stamped onto a Chalk Talk tag and I added a thin strip of Silver Glimmer paper too. A knot of Raspberry Ripple stitched ribbon and a couple Rhinestones finish the card off! There is still room in the classes if you want to make this card!

Merry Poinsettia CASE

This is one of the cards we're making this weekend in my Stepped Up Cards Class. I created my version of the card in the Holiday Catalogue (pg. 20). I embossed the Poinsettia from Joyful Christmas with Gold embossing powder and fussy cut it with scissors. The Frosted Finishes embellishment also go the gold treatment (pressed it into the VersaMark pad, dipped it in the Gold embossing powder and heated it). The background was embossed with the Pretty Print embossing folder and then the Gold Encore ink pad was pressed onto the centre section. The Expressions Thinlit (Merry) was cut from the Gold Foil card stock. If you'd like to come to my class and make this card, there are a few spots left!

Regarding Dahlias Emboss Resist

I think Regarding Dahlias is my favourite stamp set right now... I have to stop myself from using it in every class I'm prepping for and I'm not always successful... it just sneaks in! We made this card in my July Stepped Up Cards class, and I love the way it turned out. I really like this colour combo (Pear Pizzazz, Soft Sky, Smoky Slate).

1. I stamped the Dictionary background stamp with Soft Sky ink on Whisper White card stock and let it dry. I also rubbed it with the Embossing Buddy.
2. I stamped the dahlia stamp from Regarding Dahlias with VersaMark ink and covered it with White Stampin' Emboss powder. Tap off the excess and heat with the Heat Tool.
3. I masked (covered up) the Dahlia with post it notes, then stamped the leaves (from Summer Silhouettes) with Pear Pizzazz ink. 
4. I removed the mask and coloured in the striped areas of the embossed dahlia with a Soft Sky Stampin' Write Marker.
5. I sponged over the whole flower with Pear Pizzazz ink. I also sponged around the edges of the card stock with Pear Pizzazz.
6. I embossed a strip of Pear Pizzazz card stock with the Delicate Designs embossing folder and added a few Basic Pearls to embellish. 
7. I punched a piece of Smoky Slate card stock with the Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch and put that behind the Pear Pizzazz card stock.
8. I stamped the sentiment and punched it with the circle punch, then layered that with the Artisan Label.
9. All that was left was to attach the Whisper White card stock to a card base!

I'll be back tomorrow with a card from this month's Stepped Up Cards Class...

September Scrapbook Class

This is one of the layouts we'll be making in this weekend's Scrapbook Class:

It features papers from the Brights Paper Stack, Natural Composition specialty paper, burlap ribbon, heart and button embosslits and Polka Dot Parade paper. I'm planning on adding back to school pictures to this layout...

September Simple Cards Class

 Starting this month, I'm offering two options in my Simple Cards Class:

All Occasion Cards like this

or Holiday Cards like this!

You'll still make eight cards (2 each of four designs) but you can choose to make All Occasion Cards or Holiday Cards. This is a great way to get a head start on the Holiday Season, plus these are great cards to make more of at home on your own. I have three class times over the weekend (Friday evening, Sunday afternoon and Sunday evening), and have spaces available in all time slots. You can check out the details or sign up for a class right on my website (Click Here)

The All Occasion card shown was inspired by JanTink and features the Regarding Dahlias stamp set and Emboss Resist technique. The Holiday Card was CASE'd from Lyssa Zwolonek and features the Calm Christmas (Holiday Catalogue) and World Map stamp sets.

Painter's Tape + Lovely as a Tree

I think this was my favourite card from my August Simple Cards Class... I love the colours, and I love how easy the Painter's Tape background technique is, and how much it adds to the card.

If you haven't seen the Painter's Tape Technique yet, you have to try it! I found it works best with the newer Firm Foam pads, but it does work with the older felt/fabric top pads too. You just lay a strip of painter's tape on the ink pad (sticky side down), rub in little circles to transfer ink to the tape, then lift the tape and stick it onto your card stock. Rub the back of the tape again (transferring ink to the card stock), and carefully peel it back off. If you're not happy with your first application, you can repeat to add a little more ink (or extend your strips of colour). Then repeat with a new piece of tape and another ink colour... continue until your background is the way you want it and stamp any image and sentiment of your choice over top. I used a tree from Lovely As a Tree (stamped with Early Espresso) and the sentiment from So Sorry (Soft Suede and Early Espresso. The colours I used for the background are Pistachio Pudding, Crumb Cake & Soft Sky. I also added a small piece of Burlap Ribbon (Holiday Catalogue) and paper pierced corners.

Thanks for stopping by!

Epic Day Washi Layout

I created this layout a few months ago for my Scrapbook Class. It features the Epic Day patterned papers and Washi Tape, the Everything Eleanor stamp set, the Typeset Alphabet Bigz dies (for the Big Shot) and some Vellum Card stock.

Acetate & StazOn Butterfly Card

This is a card from my August Stepped Up Cards Class, and it might be my favourite this month. While I was making it however, I wasn't happy with my prototype and couldn't come up with something that featured the stamped acetate (White StazOn stamped butterflies from Papaya Collage, Backyard Basics and Papillion Potpourri) yet didn't look too plain. I added the black glittered butterfly (thanks to my Heat & Stick powder and new black glitter from the Holiday Catalogue) and the Modern Medley patterned paper. It still needed something (I was thinking a black ribbon around the top--but I didn't have any) so I added the thin strips of Basic Black card stock, and the sentiment (embossed with White Stampin' Emboss Powder) from the Label Love stamp set. I love the way the card turned out, and I'm so happy I kept trying. Thanks to Pauline who gave me a few ideas to help me figure this card out!

I love butterflies, so Papillion Potpourri was a must have when I saw it in last year's catalogue. I love that we also have the co-ordinating punches for both sizes of butterflies. If you don't have the stamp set and Bitty Butterfly punch yet, now is the time! Until September 30th, you'll save 15% when you buy the Butterfly Bundle (#135311 - $33.92 for Clear Mount and #135312 - $38.17 for Wood Mount). If you look back at the last couple cards I've posted, you can see the stamp set and punch in use!