28 Feb 2011

New Sympathy Stamp Set

Linda used the new sympathy set found in the Occasions Mini Catalogue, titled Thanks for Caring. This is a versatile set with four sentiments plus two images.

By using the 2 3/8" scallop punch and the 2 1/2" circle punch Linda has added emphasis to the sentiment. 


Texture is added with the Elegant Bouquet Embossing Folder, layering the cardstock, and silver brads. Thanks for another beautiful card Linda!

26 Feb 2011

Sympathy Card using Hostess Set

You can create a beautiful sympathy card even if you don't have a specific sympathy stamp set. Sandi did just that with our last swap. She used the Level One Hostess set Because I Care to create this special card:



Even though we could only use Black, Silver, and White, this card is full of interest with textures, sparkle, and quiet elegance. Thanks for showing us how to do it Sandi!

20 Feb 2011

Team Swap: Sympathy

 The theme for our Atlantic Stampers Ink monthly card swap is Sympathy using Black, White, and Silver. Several of our clients have requested classes to create a collection of sympathy cards so we thought this would be a good way to get ideas.

I'm sharing my card today, and it is very quick and easy to make:


The card base is Basic Black, the top layer is Whisper White, and the ink is Basic Gray - my interpretation of 'silver'.

The stamp sets used as Thoughts and Prayers for the sentiment, and Vintage Vogue for the scroll design.

I've even tucked in a few of our diamonds to give it extra interest. The punch used is the Pinking Hearts Border and it 'makes' this card. It's a design I found on Patty Bennett's blog when the punch first came out. Hope you like it.

18 Feb 2011

This Really "Suits" Him

Dean is one of my sons-in-law. He is very smart, talented, and works long hours in an office setting. And he looks classy in his suits. So I thought this card would be appropriate for him on his birthday this month:
Happy Birthday Dean!

17 Feb 2011

Gatefold Wish

The final card in the set is made using the Gate Fold, and tied with a ribbon:


 And inside is my favourite saying in the Create a Cupcake  stamp set:


I love this card set and I want to thank Chat for her wonderful designs!

16 Feb 2011

One for You, and Two for Me...

Three cupcakes all in a row, but there's a little surprise too...
When you open it up...

There's a peek-a-boo window.

You can open it again to reveal your own special secret message written inside where no one can see ..

Isn't that cute!

15 Feb 2011

Stamp and Punch, it's so much fun!

When you have a co-ordinating stamp set and punch like these two, it's hard to stop stamping and punching! Here is another card in those beautiful colours of Peach Parfait, Poppy Parade, Crumb Cake, and Whisper White:
I had a hard time with this card at first. Not because the directions weren't clear, but because I couldn't get 'out of the box' when I was thinking how a card should be made. In my mind a card should open from a side fold or a top fold. But this card wasn't behaving - until I realized my mistake. It has a bottom fold and opens like this:
Kind of different and really interesting! The bottom slips under the cupcake (hiding the "Happy Birthday" sentiment until opened). The ribbon holds it secure.

Next time I will show you still another fold, and more cupcakes!

14 Feb 2011

Cupcake Mania

Who doesn't love cupcakes! And these ones are especially super because they have no calories!!!
I found the neatest card set tutorial designed by Chat Wszelaki, each card has a different fold, and all are unique.

Here is the first one:

I just love the colours - and there isn't a pink or green in sight! The colours are Peach Parfait, Poppy Parade (which is very addicting!), Crumb Cake, and Whisper White. The DSP is Peach Parfait.

As beautiful as it is right now, it gets even better.... Untie the ribbon and lift the panel....


  Oh... what's under there?


A secret pocket for a gift card or cash - what a treat!

Tomorrow I'll show you another one..........

Happy Stamping!

13 Feb 2011

New and Easy Technique - But OH! So Impressive!

This is one of the latest techniques making the rounds and it's so wonderfully quick and easy. But the best part is that it doesn't look that way!!

Here is a sample that we're doing at my Technique/Hostess Club:

See the flower at the bottom - it looks like it's part of the DSP but it's not. It's done with Inlaid Embossing.
You can use any image, simply stamp it, cut it out, and glue it to the DSP or card stock. Then run the whole thing through the Big Shot using the Square Lattice Embossing Folder. And it's done! So easy! So beautiful - especially when you can actually see it in real life.

Happy Stamping!

12 Feb 2011

That Adorable 'Wee' Gift Book is now a class in March!

Yes - if you would like to make this to give as a gift to your Mom or sister or aunt or grandmother or daughter or yourself, sign up by March 3rd by emailing me or click on the paypal button below the post. The class will be held on March 30th in my Stamping Studio in Truro.


It's filled with eleven inspirational quotes and a place for you to write your own message to the recipient. The book measures 2 5/8 x 2 5/8 inches (6.6 x 6.5 cm) and is perfect to tuck in a pocket or purse. It might just be the perfect thing for that hard to buy for "someone special".

If you would like to make one in a more masculine or childlike theme just let me know when you register. The quotes are suitable for all.

Fee: $20.00





10 Feb 2011

Introducing..........

The brand new, free, downloadable, updated monthly on-line,
It includes all of the MDS software artwork (contained in the boxed-version) and downloads from the October 2009 launch through January 2011! The catalog gives a snapshot of the entire product line with artwork thumbnails followed by product details. Because MDS is regularly coming out with new artwork, the catalog will be updated every month and available to you on MyDigitalStudio.net in the just-added Resources section. 

And if you haven't visited the My Digital Studio website lately, you're in for a treat. There are lots of samples, tutorials, ideas, and opportunities to have your questions answered on-line.

Enjoy!

Doggie Love

You just can't beat it, kitty love too, for that matter.

Today's Valentine card was made by Sandi for our swap, and I love her design:


The DSP is from Love Impressions in the Occasions Mini, and the stamp set is Friends Fur-Ever, and the Hugs & Kisses are from the Stamp set XOXO, also in the mini. Those hits of glitter hearts and the 'ruby' dog collar are cut from the Glimmer Paper found in the mini.

And she also brought us a sweet treat in an adorable decorated box made from the Sizzix Box #2 die.
Too Cute!! Thanks Sandi!

7 Feb 2011

Card Swap - I (Heart) Hearts

Hello!

It's a week until Valentine's and I thought I would share with you the team swaps for this month - the theme...what else!... is Valentines.

This is Maree's card made with the I (Heart) Hearts Stamp set. Its charm is in its simplicity.

And the little bitty clothespins just add that extra special touch.

While I'm in the 'Maree' scene, I've got a real treat for you. She has recently released a tutorial that is totally adorable. Now I'm planning to hold a class with it in March, but if you can't make it to class or can't wait until March, this is what I'm talking about:

Isn't it sweeeeet!! What a super little gift for Mother's Day, or for sisters, daughters, friends, anyone! It can be tucked in a pocket or purse, it's small enough to mail. And... there's still time to make it before Valentines - because, believe it or not, it's easy to make! You could make one for everybody!!

Inside are inspirational verses, but you could use whatever you like with stamps, photocopies of verses, computer printed verses. Anyway - you get the idea!


And now you can get the tutorial on Maree's Blog: Inky Moose 
(It's got to be special if I'm sending you away from my blog!!!)

See you next time!

6 Feb 2011

Scrapbooking Week: The Many Benefits of Scrapbooking

by Carole DeJarnatt

The scrapbooking hobby has been around for a long time and people do it for a variety of reasons. If you are an outsider to the world of scrapbooking, then you will not understand until you experience the craft the many reasons a person invests so much time and energy into a scrapbook page.

When I was first introduced to scrapbooking via my church family, I told them I had neither time nor energy to invest in creating pages of photos matched up with paper and cute little embellishments. I thought those people were crazy staying up all hours of the evening, dragging around tons of supplies, just to sit and create scrapbook pages. One evening I was invited to a scrapbook night and I agreed to come with the intent of visiting and watching. No scrapbooking for me. I was a business professional who could not imagine investing time or energy into something I felt was for stay-at-home moms or those who had nothing better to do.

Little did I know I was about to change my mind and attitude…during the evening of socializing and viewing all the pages of creation, something changed in me. One person in particular needed help with color coordinating and matting her photos. I started working with her and ended up finishing her page for her. The scrapbooking bug bit me and it bit hard! The very next day I was out buying all the essential tools to create my very own pages of photos.

What is it about scrapbooking that captures so many people's devotion and attention?
  1. Focus--You lose your focus on everything except for the scrapbook page you are working on. You forget the world exist for a few moments and you focus on nothing but what is in front of you.
  2. Creativity--All it takes is a sheet of paper and a few ideas to get your creative juices going. Whether the ideas are from a magazine, your surroundings, or the scrapbook paper held in your hand; the end result is pure enjoyment.
  3. History--When I think of a scrapbook, to me it is the history of the day, moment, or event. The page was created for future generations to learn of their family.
  4. Expressing myself--The scrapbook is made by someone and that in itself is a source of pride and joy. The feeling you get from completing, giving, or sharing your scrapbooks is indescribable.
  5. Giving--When working on a scrapbook layout, you are giving your thoughts, feelings, and memories to an event to share with others. The joy you feel when others express pleasure and enjoyment from your work is worth all the time and energy.
Scrapbooking has become so sophisticated you do not even need to leave the comfort of your home to get started. If you are experienced with computer programs such as Photoshop Elements, your tools are at the tips of your hands. If you prefer traditional scrapbooking, you still have the ability to order supplies and tools at the comfort of your home and within days you will be completing your own scrapbook.

People today have a variety of reasons for making their own scrapbooks and/or creating creations of beauty with their supplies. The majority of my experience has been to create something to share with future generations. People want to be remembered and through a scrapbook their lives are shared.


About the Author
Carole DeJarnatt began her love with paper but now also designs digitally for the future generations of her family. Visit
Bestscrapbookingresources.com for ideas, supplies, and learning guides. From beginner to expert, traditional scrapbooker to digital, the resources are available at http://www.bestscrapbookingresources.com to find what you need to create your own scrapbook or gifts for your friends and family

4 Feb 2011

Scrapbooking Week: My Digital Studio

Have you wondered what Stampin' Up!'s My Digital Studio is all about? 

 My Digital Studio (#118108) is software that both traditional and digital papercrafters can enjoy. How is this possible? Well, if you like to save time, enjoy convenience, and desire to have a whole host of creative possibilities when you create, then you need to give My Digital Studio a look. Here’s why:

It Saves You Time and Money
-  You can create a project once and then just print however many you need.
-  My Digital Studio has photo-editing capabilities, so you can edit your photos as you create your layouts in MDS.
-  You’ll save on materials because My Digital Studio allows you to design “virtually” and once you have your design just right, you can create your project with paper and stamps or just print out as many as you need.

It’s Convenient
-  You can easily add more images, digital accessories, and templates instantly by purchasing My Digital Studio digital downloads. You will “virtually” have what you need, when you need it - just download it, and it’s ready to use. This allows you to create when time allows and creativity strikes - at all hours of day and night.
-  You can scrapbook your digital photos without having to print them out first.
-  When you have finished designing your project, you can choose the convenience of printing at home or you have the option to get high-quality color coordination at affordable prices using our professional print service.

It Inspires
-  You can get started right away because the software is intuitively designed. Whether you are a beginner or a digital expert, My Digital Studio won’t stand in the way of your creative process.
-  The possibilities are endless! You can create an assortment of printed and multimedia products ... from cards to scrapbooks to calendars to DVDs.


So imagine creating recipe cards for a cookie exchange, Valentine cards for your child’s classmates, a scrapbook of your trip to Ireland while on your flight back home ... all with the click of a mouse. Quick, easy, and convenient - even portable! And you can still add texture and dimension with ribbon and other accessories if you want to add that final touch. If this has your creative juices flowing or you just want to learn more, contact me to get started with My Digital Studio today!



3 Feb 2011

Valentine Shoe Box Swap

Welcome back!

As promised, this is the project that Linda shared in her Shoe box swap at our ASI meeting:


It's done in Cherry Cobbler and Pretty in Pink. Although it's rather hard to see in the photo the background is embossed with our Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder. The stamp is Be My Valentine found at the back of the Occasions Mini. This is one of the single stamps and it is beautiful plain, embossed, with glitter, popping up the sentiment, and on this card!



Because.......... It pops up!


If you pull the card at the thumb pull, it shows a special message and brings up the back of the card - so cute!. I'm not sure what happened to the colour between the first photo and the second (about 10 seconds!) but this one does not show the true colours.

Thanks Linda (Shoreline Stampers), I'm going to use this technique for my granddaughters Valentines!

2 Feb 2011

Shoebox Swaps = Fun projects!

Every time our Atlantic Stampers Ink team gets together each one of us brings a Shoebox Swap. It's just like Christmas morning! We can't wait to see what each person has in their box, and when it's opened there are oohs and ahs all round!

For those readers who aren't familiar with this term it simply means a completed project to show, with enough supplies for everyone else to make their own project. The 'shoebox' part of it was chosen because at first people used shoe boxes to transport the supplies. Now the shoe boxes can be bags, plastic cases, photo holders, or still in many cases a box that originally housed shoes!

Today I'm going to show you the project that Maree (Inky Moose) brought to share.

First of all I love the colours - Baja Breeze, Night of Navy, and Whisper White.

 Isn't this adorable?!!

The basket is made using the Two Tags die, the blossom stamp for the Easter Blossoms stamp set, Baja Breeze 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon, and Springtime Vintage DSP, all from the Occasions Mini:
We coloured in the blossoms with white Gel Pens.


Maree demonstrated how to use the Framed Tulips Embossing Folder to make different sized borders (this card is 4x4).

My ladies will be learning how to do this at their next Hostess/Technique Club.
Tomorrow I will show you Linda's Shoe Box Swap project!