FEBRUARY STAMP CLASS PROJECTS

These are the projects I offered at my stamp class the other night. All the projects for this class have a Valentine's Day theme. Normally, I offer more cards than 3-D items, but can't help myself when it comes to Valentine's Day (and Halloween)! As you'll see, each project was either cased or inspired by other stampering artists, and links to their original artwork are provided. Also, three of the five projects use the stamp set Happy Heart Day. For more detailed information about how I prepare for my classes, see THIS PREVIOUS POST.

HAPPY HEART DAY ELEPHANT FRIENDSHIP CARD
This card is simply a version of THIS CARD that I made a few weeks ago for Featured Stamper #51, Pam Varnell ... just changed up the colors and designer paper (Cutie Pie). See Pam's original card HERE.RECIPE
Stamps: Happy Heart Day, Circle of Friendship
Paper: Cutie Pie DP, So Saffron, Bashful Blue, Rose Red, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Rose Red and Certainly Celery Marker, Jet Black Staz-On Ink Pad, White Gel Pen (for Elephant's nails)
Accessories: Certainly Celery 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon
Tools: Paper Piercing Tool/Mat/Template, Priceless Classy Brass Template for piercing on circle behind Circle of Friendship image, 1/2", 1", and 1 1/4" Circle Punches
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

ALTERED VALENTINE TARGET MAILBOXES
Class participants chose to alter one mailbox from the three designs. The mailboxes are from the Target $1 Spot, and the designs were completely inspired by the Target Mailboxes that Lorri Heiling designed a year ago for one of her classes.



RECIPE
Stamps: Little Pieces
Paper:
Pink Mailbox~Twitterpated Love Petals DP 7-5705 from s.e.i. (non-SU), Tempting Turquoise Prints DP, Chocolate Chip, Pretty In Pink, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White, and Real Red CS
Red Mailbox~Heidi Grace Designs Love Blossoms Jersey Stripe DP 12-70424 from Fiskars(non-SU), Black & White Polka Dot DP (non-SU, unknown manufacturer), Basic Black, Pretty In Pink, Whisper White, and Real Red CS
White Mailbox~Smitten: Posy Paisley and Heart Paisley DP PS07103 & PS07104 by Paper Salon (non-SU), Chocolate, Pretty In Pink, Whisper White, and Real Red CS
Ink: Real Red Classic Ink Pad
Accessories: Self-Adhesive Rhinestone Hearts (non-SU) by Hirschberg Schultz & Co. found at Michael’s wedding dept., Pink and White Tulle (non-SU), Ribbon: Basic Black, Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Chocolate Chip (retired), Real Red, and Pretty in Pink ¼” Grosgrain Ribbon, Light Pink and Red Gingham Ribbon
Tools: ½” and ¾” Circle Punches, Heart Punch (retired), Postage Stamp Scissors (non- SU), Stapler (non-SU)
Supplies: Sticky Strip, Stampin’ Dimensionals
Note: Mailbox from Target $1 Spot

VALENTINE LOLLIPOP HOLDER
This cute little Valentine's Day treat is cased from Dawn Griffith's original found HERE (along with a video tutorial) on her blog, Dawn's Stamping Thoughts. This is a fast and easy idea for large quantity, mass assembly treats, and I love that Dawn used Pixie Pink, a color I haven't used for a very long time!
RECIPE
Stamps: Happy Heart Day
Paper: Pixie Pink, Pretty In Pink and Whisper White CS
Ink: Basic Black and Pixie Pink Ink Pad, Pixie Pink, Blush Blossom, Pretty In Pink, and Real Red Markers, White Gel Pen
Accessories: White Brad (non-SU)
Tools: Slit Punch, Trio Flower Punch, Anywhere Hole Punch & Hammer with Mat Pack, 1/16” Handheld Circle Punch
Supplies: Mini Glue Dots, Jolly Rancher Lollipops
Notes: Pixie Pink CS measures 6 ½” x 3”, scored at 2 ¾” and 3 ¼”.

VALENTINE CUTTLEBUG CELLO BAG TOPPER
More super easy and fast Valentine's treats ... this one cased from Sharon Johnson, No Time To Stamp HERE. You may not be able to tell right away in the photograph, but the Whisper White CS has been dry embossed with the Hearts Cuttlebug embossing folder.
RECIPE
Stamps: Holidays & Wishes
Paper: Real Red or Regal Rose CS, Whisper White CS
Ink: Basic Black Ink Pad
Accessories: Real Red or Regal Rose 5/8” Grosgrain Ribbon
Tools: Stapler, Cuttlebug Machine and Dry Embossing Folder
Supplies: Medium Flat (4 x 6) Cellophane Bags

VALENTINE TAG TREAT
Cased from Nancy Morgan, Paper Smiles. See Nancy's original with details HERE. Nancy made her tag treat holder to hold Hershey's kisses ... mine hold Hershey's Nuggets. Yet another very quick and easy project!
RECIPE
Stamps: Happy Heart Day
Paper: Regal Rose, Real Red, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Basic Black Ink Pad, Regal Rose and Real Red Markers
Accessories: Real Red Striped Grosgrain Ribbon
Tools: Small Tag and Tag Punches, Crop-A-Dile, Scissors
Supplies: 2-Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter
Notes: Regal Rose CS measures 1 ½” x 4 ½”, scored at 1 ¾” and 2 ¾”.

SCS FEATURED STAMPER CHALLENGE FS51 PAM VARNELL

My dear friend, Pam Varnell is Featured Stamper #51 this week on SCS! HERE is Pam's SCS gallery (StampingPam), and HERE is Pam's blog, The Stamping Addict. Pam is so incredibly talented, you've GOT to see her work! She has knack with unusual, bright color combinations that always leaves me thinking, "wow, I would have never thought of putting those colors together, but she made is work so beautifully!". Not only do I find Pam's work inspiring, she is a super sweet person and wonderful friend. THIS is Pam's card I chose to case for the challenge, and of course, I HAD to create a card in true Pam fashion .... bright, unusual color combinations!

I used the colors from the new Stampin' Up! East Coast Prep dp .... More Mustard, Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, and Wild Wasabi. Things I changed from Pam's card: a) different papers and colors, b) paper pierced the bottom border instead of dry embossing with the Crop-A-Dile, c) reversed the sketch, d) the elephant's arm and ear are paper pieced a second time for depth, and e) omitted the butterfly image (what a PAIN to cut out! ... I tried!) and used the "Sending You My Love" image from Circle of Friendship. The More Mustard piece behind this image was paper pierced using the Priceless Classy Brass Template.

RECIPE
Stamps: Happy Heart Day, Circle of Friendship
Paper: East Coast Prep DP, Real Red Prints DP (Level One Hostess), Wild Wasabi, Tempting Turquoise, More Mustard, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Real Red Marker, Wild Wasabi Re-Inker with Blender Pen, Basic Black Classic Ink Pad, White Gel Pen (for Elephant's nails)
Embellishments: Real Red 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon
Tools: Paper Piercing Tool/Mat/Template, Priceless Classy Brass Template, 1/2", 1", and 1 1/4" Circle Punches
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

HAPPY HEART DAY VALENTINE

I did one more challenge card last night before I hit it hard preparing my class projects. This Valentine's card combines TWO challenges:

* Jen Del Muro's SKETCH FOR YOU TO TRY on her blog, iheart2stamp, and

* Chat Wszelaki's A CHALLENGE JUST FOR YOU #001 on her blog, Me, My Stamps, And I. Chat is also known as nitestamper on SCS.

Here are the guidelines for Chat's challenge:

Stamp: Use the Mouse from the Happy Heart Day Set.
Paper: Basic Black, Bashful Blue, Real Red, Whisper White
Embellishments: Black, Red Embellishments only.
Please try not to substitute above. That is the whole objective of the challenge.
Ink: Your choice of colors
Background Stamp: Any
Sentiment: Any
Tools: Any
Designer Paper: Optional

AND here is Jen's Sketch:

As you can see, I flipped the sketch. I learned long ago in scrapbooking that faces and heads in photographs should be pointed toward the center of the page, and I think that same rule applies to cardmaking. I think the mouse looks so much better facing the center of the card, versus the outside of the card (much more inviting!)... my only reason for flipping the sketch. So now you've learned something quirky about me today!

It's difficult to tell in the photograph, but the large background piece is the Bashful Blue Designer Paper with small white flowers from Cutie Pie. The Real Red CS piece was dry embossed with the Heart Blocks Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (non-SU).

RECIPE
Stamps: Happy Heart Day
Paper: Basic Black, Bashful Blue, Real Red, and Whisper White CS, Cutie Pie DP
Ink: Jet Black Staz-On, Basic Black Marker, Real Red, Bashful Blue, Sahara Sand
Embellishments: Black Brads, Real Red Brads, Red Gingham Ribbon
Tools: Aquapainter, Trio Flower Punch, Word Window Punch, 1/8" Handheld Circle Punch, Cuttlebug & Heart Block Embossing Folder (non-SU)
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals, Glue Dot
Notes: Card front measures 5 1/4" x 5 1/4".

BEATE'S WEEKEND SKETCH CHALLENGE #29

I've only been designing cards since June (and stamping for almost 6 years). I know when I see other stampers/bloggers post their creations, it "looks" as though they just "whipped" their designs up! KWIM? I suppose there are probably alot of stamping designers out there that work quickly, but let me tell you, I'm not one of them! Most of the cards I design are a result of hours of thought, experimenting, and tweaking (as much as I'd like to participate in every challenge I come across, this is why I can't!). Even after all of that, I'm never 100% confident in showing them to the masses on my blog and SCS. There's a certain reputation that a stamper/blogger is trying to establish. (I look at it as building a portfolio.) Each time I post a design I wonder if it's good enough to show, wonder if it looks too much like the cards I've seen on SCS and other blogs ... you know, all those self doubt questions come up! There are some cards I've created that you will never see too ... they all end up in the trash! If you've ever considered sharing your artwork on a blog or SCS but were hesitant, I just want to let you know that even some of us who have shared for quite some time can be unsure too! ... BUT, it's worth the risk when you receive unexpected comments about your work that get you pumped up to create again and again!

On to the card ... for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge #29. Here's Beate's Sketch:
The elephant was stamped twice in Jet Black Staz-On on Pretty In Pink CS. The entire body was cut out once, then the ear and arm cut out of the second image. The ear and arm are adhered with Stampin' Dimensionals.

There are three additional flowers to the left of the main image. In order to stamp these three additional flowers, I covered the first stamped image with post-it notes (masking) and used the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig to line them up.

The Certainly Celery piece in the upper right hand corner is from the Photo Corner Punch. A White Gel Pen was used to paint the elephants "toes" and "fingers". In case you can't tell in the photo, the card base is Whisper White CS.

For the medallion ... the flower/heart image was stamped on Rose Red CS and Tempting Turquoise CS, then cut out. The Whisper White CS is punched out with the 1" Circle Punch and the Pretty In Pink CS is punched out with the 1 1/4" Circle Punch. RECIPE
Stamps: Happy Heart Day
Paper: Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Rose Red, and Pretty In Pink CS, Tempting Turquoise Prints DP and Rose Red Prints DP
Ink: Jet Black Staz-On, Tempting Turquoise, Rose Red and Certainly Celery Stampin' Write Markers, White Gel Pen
Embellishments: Certainly Celery 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon
Tools: Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, Photo Corner Punch, Scissors, 1" and 1 1/4" Circle Punches
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

HAPPY HEART DAY

I know ... I can't believe it either! TWO cards in ONE day! It's been awhile since I've been able to sit down to just ENJOY the art of stamping and to be creative! This card combines two challenges ...

* Mary Jo Albright's Sketch Challenge in celebration of reaching 60,000 hits on her blog, Beauty Lies Within. You can see the sketch HERE.

* Sharon Johnnson's Stamp Simply Challenge #15 on her blog, No Time To Stamp. The challenge was to simply use something NEW. Easily done since I had just received my preview brochure order right before Christmas. This is the first chance I've had to play with my new rubber!

This adorable mouse and heart image is from the new stamp set, Happy Heart Day (found on pg. 65 of the NEW '08 Spring-Summer Idea Book & Catalog .. U.S.). The mouse and heart are paper pieced with the NEW Bali Breeze DP, Pretty In Pink and Tempting Turquoise CS.

The flower on the heart is punched with the Trio Flower Punch and Tempting Turquoise CS ... Pretty In Pink Brad through the center of the flower ... and adhered with a Stampin' Dimensional. The scallop border was created using the Slit Punch.
RECIPE
Stamps: Happy Heart Day
Paper: Bali Breeze DP, Whisper White, Regal Rose, Pretty In Pink, and Tempting Turquoise CS
Ink: Jet Black Staz-On
Embellishments: Pretty In Pink 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Pretty In Pink Brad
Tools: Trio Flower Punch, Slit Punch for scallops, 1/2", 1", and 1 1/4" Circle Punches, Scissors
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals
Technique: Paper Piecing
Note: Card measures 4 1/4" x 8 1/2", scored at 4 1/4"