Candy Cane Fun....

I bought the Stocking Accents from the Holiday Mini and have had so much fun playing with it. Here is a cute candy cane card I made using the die.  We made this card in class and my customers thought it was a bit of work, but you can make these while you watch TV one evening.

Let's talk about the background on this one.  One day when friend Judy and I were stamping, we used some non-Stampin' Up! paper to "try" this card.  I had this designer paper on hand and used it.  But for class I wanted to use Stampin' Up! paper.  So for this card, first I stamped the little red images on Baja Breeze paper from the Subtles Patterns DSP Stack using the French Foliage set.  Then I ran it though the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder and then I sanded it with a sanding block.  Look closely at these two cards.  Doesn't the "created" paper give the same effect as the original designer paper?

Here is a close-up of the sentiment from the Teeny Tiny Wishes set.

Now here is the candy cane.  For it, you need to cut both a red and a white one using the die and Big Shot.  Then cut off every one white one and glue it onto the red one.  That's what I meant about doing this while you watch TV or some other activity.  I tied a Baja Breeze seam tape ribbon around it.

Some might not think the Baja Breeze is a "traditional" Christmas color, but I like this card!! 

Well, more later.  Have a great day and come back soon!!  Smiles, Laura

Stockings, stockings.....

I know you've seen the new Stocking Builder Punch!  Well, I have found it's so much fun to play with.  No, I didn't get the coordinating stamp set, but have had fun using designer paper and card stock to make my own stockings.  Here is a card we made this month in class.  We punched two stockings from designer paper and one from Cherry Cobbler cardstock.  I used the Cobbler marker and my Uni-Ball white gel pen to "stitch" the stocking tops, toes and heels.  I used the mat pack to punch holes around the white cardstock so I could "stitch" with the cobbler marker.

Here is a close up of the top of the card.  I put linen thread at the corner of each stocking and "hung" them using silver brads.  And Merry Christmas is from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set. 

This card would be fun to write kids or family member names on the tops of each stocking (or even pets).  Oh, my, I've already bought some Christmas gifts and am beginning to get in the Christmas spirit!!

Come back again, OK? 

Smiles, Laura

Sailing Away on the same layout....

I shared this layout with you the other day--even in the same colors and paper, but formatted in landscape with the On the Grow scooter on it.  This is what I made with the left-over triangles of the checked paper.  (See my earlier entry for colors and papers used.)  I decided I wanted to try the layout in a portrait format and put the sail boat from Sail Away on it.  Here is what I came up with:

 I love this boat.  It is punched with our 3" Circle Die carried over from the Occasions mini.  I layered it with another circle I cut with a die.

 The sentiment on this one is from Teeny Tiny Wishes.  (Don't I use that set OFTEN!!  Love it!!)  But the shape of this one is a new one for me.  I punched out white cardstock using the Decorative Label punch.  Then I  put it back in to the long side of the punch and punched it again, so that I got a "skinny" Decorative Label punch.  I love how it layers onto the Large Oval!

This is just one more way to use our neat punches.  The hardest thing about this one is getting it straight, so that you have even, same-sized curves on both sides.

OK, I'm loving this one!!  I hope you do, too.  How about trying a sample yourself using this layout and show me what you've made!!  I'll feature you as my guest artist, if you send me what you've made!

Have a wonderful day!!
Smiles, Laura

On the Grow Scooter...

I saw this layout used by several stampers and while I could not find the sketch itself online, I could figure it out and wanted to make my own card.  I decided to use the On the Grow scooter stamp for my card.

My card is Poppy Parade, layered with  Tempting Turquoise cardstock.  The inside layer is designer paper from the Build-a-Bear Workshop Pawsitively Prints II series, also layered on Poppy Parade. 

For the two outside triangles with checked paper, I cut the checked paper (also from the same series) into 4"x 4" squares.  I cut those in half and then each of those halves in half.  So you get 2 cards from one 4"x4" square of designer series paper.  You'll see the card I made with my other two pieces in a later entry.  I layered those triangles onto Poppy Parade also. 

 Here is a close-up of my sentiment.  The sentiment is from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stampset.  I punched a circle from Poppy Parade, a Designer Label tag from Turquoise, and used the Decorative Label punch (one end) to punch the white cardstock.

 Here is a close-up of the scooter!

This is a fun set to use--although some coloring is required.

So I hope this layout has inspired you.  I will certainly be using it again myself!

Thanks for visiting my blog today!!
Smiles, Laura

St. Patrick Day card....

Today I wanted to share with you another St. Patrick's Day card I made recently.  The card itself is Wild Wasabi green with a layer of Certainly Celery on that.  This one uses the mug from the Cheers to You stamp set and the shamrock from the So Happy for You Sale-a-bration set, stamped in Wasabi on the Celery cardstock.   I colored the mugs with my So Saffrom marker, so look like "beer" in the glass.  I  colored the "foam" on top with my white gel pen. 

For the tag, I punched with the Decoration Label Punch from Wasabi, from Celery using the Curly Label punch, from So Saffron using the 1-3/8" circle punch, and finally from white with the lLarge Oval Punch.  I stamped the Happy St. Patrick's Day using Wasabi ink.  The ribbon is Certainly Celery. 

His one will go to my son, whose middle name is Patrick!   Have a great day and don't party too hardy!!
Smiles, Laura

Folded Tree....

Here is a card I sent to some of our friends.  (I make several card designs each year because I get bored making 140 ro 150 cards just alike.)  Anyway, I decided early on that I was going to make alot of this one, so I started them in August.

The card itself is Wild Wasabi (yes, I do use that green alot) and it is layered with the Patterns DSP Stack in the dots.  he tree is cut using the Scalloped Circle die from the Patterns DSP Stack stripe sheet.  I cut the circle in half and then folded it 4 times to form the tree. 

The sentiment is from the Teeny Tiny Wishes set.

I put Pearls Jewels on the tree. They really dress the tree up.  These stand out a lot so I tried not to mail many of these, but to use them on cards I can hand-deliver. 

I hope the receipents liked this one!   Smiles, Laura

Top Note Sleigh....

At the Stampin' Up! Regional Seminar in Columbia, SC, someone shared with SU a card with a sleigh on it made from theTop Note die.  I never saw the artist's name to give her credit.  But I could tell she had used the Top Note die to make the sleigh and when I got home, I made one myself.  I think it turned out cute.

The card is Old Olive and the sleigh is Real Red.  I layered Crumb Cake on the Olive card.  The "gifts" are cut from Jolly Holiday designer series paper.  I cut the runners from Brushed Silver CS, using the Swirls Scribbles Die and the Big Shot machine.  I had a little Holly punch so I punched some holly leaves to go on the side of the sleigh.  I didn't have any Tinsel Trim SU makes, so used a glittery pipe cleaner I had on hand to edge the sleigh and make it "pop".

Merry Christmas stamped on the card is from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set.  I want to put some bows on my packages and just haven't gotten to it yet.

Thanks for visiting my blog today!! Leave a note; I love hearing from you!!   Smiles, Laura

More Tropical Party....

Here is another card made using the Tropical Party stamp set. I made it a month ago, but waited t share it until I had my late June classes as they were making this one. For this one, I cut the oval using the Ovals die. I used two brayers to add color to it for the background. I used Tempting Turquoise for the "sky". Start by rolling your brayer back and forth across your grid paper and slowly move it forward onto your oval. You want to add subtle color. Make alot of passed over the oval to add more color. Same with the Creamy Caramel at the bottom.

I colored the palm trees using the Soft Suede and Old Olive markers. Stamp it once and then without inking them again, stamp again to get the lighter tree. Then ink the tree up again and stamp the other dark tree.

To get the pumpkin pie(PP) background shape, I used the Top Note die. I marked my die with a white gel pen like this, so I can tell where the middle is, going in each direction.Then, I cut the PP in the top note shape.Next, I turned the cut out note 90 degrees and put one edge up against the side of the die. Note that I did not turn the Top Note die at all. Use the white lines to make sure you line it up straight.Pass it through the Big Shot and it will cut off two sides like this.Then put the uncut side against the other side of the Big Shot--do not turn it at all--and run it through again.You will be a cut like this. This gives you the perfectly centered cut--if you are just careful how you line it up. It takes just a bit of practice but once you get the hang of it, it's fairly easy. And it gives you a totally different shape. You can make this as narrow as you want--just move the original top note more to the left and right.Here is another sample made similarly to the other , but on this one, I didn't put the three large flowers under the oval. I punched out R E L A X using the Naturally Serif alphabet die in various colors. I also stamped three smaller flowers and the coconut with the umbrella in it and cut those out.

I hope the samples today have inspired you to try this new cut. Thanks for visitng my blog. Smiles, Laura