Stampin' Up's Color & Contour

 Today I'm using a set that has been around for awhile but will be going away in June. So I thought I would show some samples and use it to demonstrate a card for you.

First let's look at this set. The stamps are two step stamping so you have outline stamps and shading stamps for the flowers. It also has a leaf stamp and a splatter stamp. The sentiments are especially meaningful...

Here for you now (outside)

and in better days ahead (inside),

You're absolutely amazing

So very happy for you

Thank you for everything!

And while the stamps are great, the stars of the show are the dies! The five background dies can be used individually or layered, and the scallop die creates a beautiful border. The flower dies, of course, coordinate with the stamp set. 

Here are some samples using the stamps and the dies.

 This card uses the largest die as a background. The 3 flowers are stamped in Starry Sky, Tahitian Tide and Parakeet Party. The cardbase is Tahitian Tide.

This card has the new Country Gingham Designer Series Paper on the front and a Mint Macaron base. I used the scallop die to create the card front. The 3 flowers are Mint Macaron, Fresh Fresia, and Bermuda Bay.

This card is mounted on a Sweet Sorbet cardbase. Soft Succulent and Basic White are the two diecut layers. The flower stem is stamped in Soft Succulent then the shading stamp is Sweet Sorbet. Soft Succulent ribbon is tied around the top layer. "And in better days ahead" is stamped on the inside on Basic White cut with the largest die.

These last three are the same design but using different color combos.The first one is Calypso Coral and Mossy Meadow. The second is Pale Papaya and Soft Succulent, The third is Sweet Sorbet and Granny Apple Green. Which do you like best?

You can see the YouTube video demonstrating the last design in the Calypso Coral and Mossy Meadow.

Thank you for visiting my blog. Please 'FOLLOW' if you haven't already!  I'd love to know which color combo of the last 3 cards you like the best!

Pinwheel Tower Card

   

Here are the photos of the Pinwheel  Tower card that I demonstrated on my Facebook Live this morning. The video is also be available on YouTube.

The measurements for the Pinwheel Tower Card are:

    Cardstock for base  6 1/4 x 4 1/4,  score along the 6 1/4 side   2 3/4, 3 3/4, 4 3/4, 5 3/4

    Same color cardstock  2 3/4 x 4 1/4 (cut 3)

    DSP  2 5/8 x 4 1/8  (cut 4)

    Coordinatng DSP   1 5/8 x 4 1/8  (cut 4)

    Extra Basic White cardstock

You'll also need some image stamps and/or diecuts and 2-3 word or sentiment stamps, bone folder, liquid glue.

Written directions are just too difficult to understand so you will be much better off watching the tutorial. It makes it all so much easier when you actually see it.

If you have any questions, leave a comment...I check back frequently.

Enjoy! And I'd love to see a photo of your card. You can either post it in the comments section here or go to Stampindede's Doin's and Designs and post it in the Pinwheel Tower Card album.

Also, please click FOLLOW on the left side so you'll receive notifications of new posts!

5 in 1 Blow! Or 5 cards from 1 piece of cardstock!

 I related on my video (you'll have to bear through the first couple of minutes while I have the camera pointed the wrong direction!) on my Stampin Thursday Facebook Live this morning that I used to read a Walt Disney book to my son called The Brave Little Tailor. He became famous for '7 in one blow'. He actually killed 7 flies in one blow but somehow he became known for killing 7 giants in one blow!

Anyway, we will learn how to get 5 cards out of one piece of cardstock and one piece of designer series paper. Follow the cutting directions shown below to cut your cardstock. You will end up with five             4 3/4 x 3 1/2 pieces of cardstock. If you cut your 12x12 patterned paper into 3x3 squares, you'll have 16 pieces of patterned paper to work with. 

 

Here is the template for cutting your 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock into 5 rectangles to then use as card fronts for 5 cards.

Using card bases that coordinate with your designer series paper,  the 3 x 3" squares from the designer series paper you have chosen, and just a few embellishments, you can create a set of cards to use as a gift or to send out to others.

I used Just Jade cardstock and True Love Designer Series Paper to create the card samples below. Get creative and turn the 3x3 square different directions or cut it in half and use the reverse side on one of the halves. There are so many possibilities!

 

The card I made on the video is a remake of the one above with a few little changes. 

So give this cutting template a try and make a batch of cards! I'm giving the five Just Jade cards above as a Thank You gift to a friend!

Fall is Here!!

I absolutely love Fall. It's my favorite season of the year. I have received pictures from friends who are visiting in the NE and the Fall colors are stunning! 

So I'm hoping that we will see some here in North Texas before too long!!

The beautiful colors of Fall inspired my upcoming Stampin Up Workshop. The ladies attending will get to use the products listed at the end to make 8 beautiful Fall color-inspired cards (2 of each of 4 designs). Below are two of those cards - just to whet your appetite to get busy and make Fall cards. Instructions will follow after the Workshop next Saturday.

Sheltering Tree Stamp Set (blowing tree)
A Big Thank You
Rooted in Nature   (owl)
Corrugated Embossing Folder  (owl)

I'll post the other two after the Workshop  with their coordinating stamp sets!
If you'd like to order any of these products, I'd love to help you with that. You can shop here.
Just list Deanna Blackmon as your demonstrator or e-mail me at suzyzoo@verizon.net with any questions.

Christmas in September

Another workshop is done and the participants went home with 8 beautiful Christmas cards and several new techniques with embossing folders. These are the cards that they made (2 of each design).
The products used for these cards are listed below.

The ribbon on Deck the Halls is the silver metallic edge ribbon, which is whisper white, colored with the Stampin Up Cherry Cobbler Stampin Blend. It's so wonderful that you can color the ribbon to match whatever cardstock you are using.

 The poinsettia petals are the smaller leave from the Rooted in Nature bundle. After using the die to cut them out, I used a stylus and a foam mat to roll out the center. Use the same die for the leaves but they should be left flat. The sentiment is embossed with copper embossing powder.

I am thankful to the artists on Pinterest who inspired these cards.

Rooted in Nature bundle                                           
Beautiful Baubles bundle
Softly Falling Textured Impressions Folder
Swirls and Curls Textured Impressions Folder
Climbing Vine Textured Impressions Folder 
Detailed Trio Punch  
Silver Metallic Edge Ribbon
Whisper White Polka Dot Tulle Ribbon
Night of Navy Medium Bakers Twine
Silver & Pool Party Bakers Twine
Basic Black Solid Bakers Twine
All is Bright Paper Clips
Whisper White Cardstock
Very Vanilla Cardstock
Pool Party Cardstock
Cherry Cobbler Cardstock
Basic Black Cardstock
Old Olive Cardstock
Joyous Noel DSP
Copper Embossing Powder
Gold Metallic Pearls
Stampin Blends - Cherry Cobbler, Real Red, Pool Party Dark & Light, Old Olive Dark & Light
 Ink - Bermuda Bay, Cherry Cobbler, Basic Gray & Daffodil Delight

If you are interested in purchasing any of these Stampin Up products, I'd love to help you do that! Just comment below or e-mail me at suzyzoo@verizon.net.
 
                          
                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                

Animal Outing Workshop Is Over...Christmas in September is Coming!

The Animal Outing Workshop went great! The ladies made 8 cute cards...

2 each of 4 designs

They all turned out so cute! Then I gave each lady the gift below which holds a bag of animal crackers!

 

NOW IT'S TIME FOR CHRISTMAS IN SEPTEMBER

Saturday, September  22 at 10 am

We'll be making 8 beautiful Christmas cards - 2 each of 4 designs

Workshop is $25 or free with an order of $30 or more! 

RSVP must be in by Sept. 15. E-mail  suzyzoo@verizon.net

CAS Mix Up Entry #2

While I have my watercolors out, I decided to do one more CAS Mix Up card. Again, I used distress ink to watercolor the background, and I stamped both the sentiment and the penguins. I colored the penguins with Copic markers and used a die to cut them out. Then I added a touch of Wink of Stella to the bow ties and glossy accents to the eyes. I attached the penguins with mounting tape. I sprayed the whole piece with a light spray of Shimmer Spritz just to give it a little bit of sparkle. And that's it! So now I'm ready to add my 2nd entry to the CAS Mix Up March Challenge. 

CAS Mix Up Card Challenge

I can't believe it's been almost a year since I've posted to my blog. It's been a crazy year but really I have no excuses because I've certainly done a ton of cards, scrapbooking, and craft projects.  So this new challenge has motivated me to get busy and post my entry. I have fallen in love with water-coloring on my cards and am always looking for tutorials on new techniques. This water color resist technique was featured on StampTV. 
I used distress inks instead of markers and a little different stamping technique, but still incorporated the embossing, water-coloring, splattering ideas. It was so fun to do. Now I am ready to try it with some different images!!
I am entering this CAS card (Clean and Simple)  into the CAS Mix Up March Challenge using the required water-coloring and stamping techniques as well as the embossing and splattering. Thanks for looking!

Another House Mouse Challenge Entry!

I decided to do another House Mouse card since I needed a birthday card! I used Poppin Good Birthday and this card will be an Anything Goes entry on House-Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge (HMFMC190).

I wanted to try a background technique using Distress Inks that I had seen on UTube. I love how it turned out. I colored the image with Copic Markers and added a little Glossy Accents to the eyes, nose, and candle flames, then attached the image to the Distress Ink background with mounting squares. I tied coordinating floss onto the background piece. I stamped the sentiment from a set of Fiskars sentiment stamps. I stamped the white cardbase with the same Distress Inks using Stampin Up Gorgeous Grunge.  Last I mounted the distress ink background piece onto the cardstock base with mounting squares and added some sequin stars as a finishing touch.

Also entered in Simon Says Anything Goes Challenge

FALL is in the Air!!

I love Fall...don't you? The weather is cooler, the leaves are changing colors, Fall mums are blooming everywhere, pumpkin patches appear out of nowhere, and it is a season of thankfulness. In a world that is going crazy, I'm thankful that my part of the world is relatively safe and free, whereas people in other parts of the world are being jailed, persecuted, and even murdered because of what they believe. So I am thankful for my freedom.

Fall colors are so beautiful and I receive inspiration from them. Here is a sample of some of the Fall colors I'm inspired by.

And here are some of the cards I've recently made inspired by this beautiful season of the year!!

STRETCH YOUR STAMPS ON-LINE CLASSES

I took Kristina Werner and Jennifer McGuire's Stretch Your Stamps 2 on-line class...my first experience with an on-line card-making class. I experienced so many new techniques that I probably would not have otherwise tried. Some I was more successful with than others...some I enjoyed more than others...some I will probably use more than others...but what fun it was!! So here is my 'Show and Tell'!!

Days 1 & 2 we worked with background stamps. I loved these techniques...different ways to use your background stamps. Here are the cards I made as I followed their lead!

 Days 3&4 we used alpha and word stamps in different ways than normal. Here are my samples!

Days 5 &6 we worked with outline stamps. This is one that I felt the least successful with, but enjoyed it and will give this a try at another time when I am able to purchase stamps that will work better with these techniques.

Days 7 & 8 we worked with basic graphic stamps...just a single graphic stamp pulled from any stamp set. I tried several different stamps. I was really pleased with the way several turned out.

                    

The last two regular class days (9 & 10) were focused on floral and floral builder stamps. Since I didn't have the style stamps they used, I had to combine pieces from about 7 different stamp sets but I thought it turned out really well, considering!! I also didn't have the right kind of ink for a couple of them so again I improvised. I love floral stamps!!

We also had a couple of extra classes thrown in...a Color Me day and a Play Day. The Color Me day focused on different techniques to use the fun little stamps that scream "color me"!! One technique showed us how to used the reverse of the image so that's the one I have a sample of.

 

And last but not least we played with embossing powder to create the look of a metal plate. I loved doing this but it was very time-consuming for me...mainly because I kept messing up! I think some of my embossing powders were either old or the wrong brand!! Here is the card I ended up with.

That's it!! I highly recommend these classes so click this link for more information!