Saturday, December 31, 2016

Another Great Year!

#stampinup    #faithfulinkspirations   #paperpumpkin   As 2016 draws to a close, I'd like to thank YOU for reading my blog, for leaving comments, for pinning my creations, for encouraging me as an artist, and for supporting me as my customer.  I appreciate every, single one of you!  Just like Stampin' Up's statement of the heart--it is a joy for me to love what I do and to share what I love.

I'm closing out the year with the December 2016 Paper Pumpkin kit, "Another Great Year."  If you're not a Paper Pumpkin subscriber--you should get on the bandwagon!  If you're busy and think you have no time to craft and don't want to set aside a whole closet room floor in your house for the supplies you need, Paper Pumpkin is your answer.  You can create wonderful cards and projects in about an hour.  Everything you need comes in one box.  I love receiving my kit each month.  I love the surprise and I love the quick projects.  Paper Pumpkin truly is "creativity in a box."

Here's a video to show you everything you get in the December 2016 kit.  After you watch the video, if you're kicking yourself because you didn't get this kit, let me know and I can hook you up!!  And keep reading because I'm also showing you alternate uses for the kit's supplies after the video!



I made six great cards using the supplies in this kit!  Look!

Yes, I can count.  I know there are only five cards in the picture.  I gave one card to my hairdresser as a New Year's card.   Here's card number five (with a "friend).

I added Thick Whisper White Card Stock card bases and a 3-7/8" by 5-1/4" Crushed Curry mat to each card.  I cut down the journal pages to 3-3/4" by 5" and adhered these to the Crushed Curry mats.  I adhered this assembly to the card base using Stampin' Dimensionals.  I adhered the printed window sheets to the cards with the striped Crush Curry Washi Tape that comes in the kit.  Super easy!

If you'd like to subscribe to Paper Pumpkin you can click on the link to the left of this blog post.  It costs only $19.95 (including shipping) per month for an hour of creativity.  However, if you purchase a 3- or 6- or 12-month prepaid subscription, you'll save money.  You'll save $1/month on a 6-month subscription. And you'll save $2/month on a 12-month subscription PLUS you'll qualify for Stampin’ Rewards (FREE stuff!).  And if you subscribe to a 3-, 6-, or 12-month subscription during Sale-a-Bration (January 4 through March 31, 2017) you'll qualify for FREE Sale-a-Bration items!  

What a deal! What are you waiting for?!  Contact me today to get started!

Friday, December 30, 2016

Birthday Cone

#stampinup   #faithfulinkspirations   Today is the second-to-last day of 2016 and my last post of the year.  The year has brought sadness and struggles.  I've been heartbroken over the deaths of some giants in show business, science, and a few people I hold near and dear to my heart.  I've been saddened by tragedies locally (my hometown, Ellicott City, suffered devastating flooding) and in our country (floods elsewhere and fires that took the homes of people I love) and in the world (the heartbreaking tragedies of war).

But through the sadness and struggles I saw people whose faith carried them through and who passed that faithful strength and resilience onto those of us who were fortunate enough to be spared from tragedy.  I hope I can be a faithful example when my time comes to face struggles in life.

As I look back over the year, I choose to think about the good things and to count my blessing--my twins are finishing high school and looking forward to heading off to college in the fall of 2017.  My family is healthy and happy.  My church is strong and faithful and full of people who minister to our community.  I have a job I love and people I love to work with.  And I have a hobby that makes me happy and allows me to share happiness with others.

Last year, I followed Shannon West's lead to bring back birthdays. #imbringingbirthdaysback  And I sent many more birthday cards in 2016 than I'd sent the previous year.  I'm still bringing birthdays back in 2017.  If you would like a birthday card in the mail, send me your birthday and address and I'll put you on my list.  My contact information is above. I'd love to DOUBLE the number of cards I send out in 2017!!

Here's a really pretty birthday card made (again) with the Cool Treats Bundle (145182, page 32 in the Occasions catalog).  I started by stamping the sentiment from the "Cool Treats" stamp set on a 2-3/4" by 3-3/4" Whisper White panel, once in Crumb Cake and twice in Watermelon Wonder. 

Next, I embossed a 4" x 5-1/4" Watermelon Wonder panel with the Lucky Stars Embossing Folder. I adhered that to a Crumb Cake card base.  I added the stamped panel to the card with Stampin' Dimensionals.

To build the ice cream cone element, I cut a Crumb Cake scalloped oval and a Whisper White oval from the Layering Ovals Framelits.  I cut a Watermelon Wonder ice cream scoop and the Crumb Cake cone and waffle element with the Frozen Treats Framelits.  I adhered the waffling to the cone using the Fine-Tip Glue Pen and adhered the cone directly to the oval element.  I used Stampin' Dimensionals to adhere the ice cream scoop.  I tousled some Gold Metallic Thread and adhered it to the back of the oval element before adhering it to the card using Stampin' Dimensionals.
To add some more sparkle to the card, I colored the ice cream scoop with Clear Wink of Stella and added three gold stars from the Metallics Sequins Assortment. 

I hope you have a wonderful New Year.  Remember to count your blessings!


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Glue Dots
[103683]
$5.25

Thursday, December 29, 2016

Cherry Sundae

#stampinup   #faithfulinkspirations   I really love it when a stamp set comes with coordinating framelits dies.  I especially love it when Stampin' Up offers the stamp set and framelits in a bundle because I can save 10% by purchasing the bundle!

The Cool Treats Bundle (item 145181, page 32 Occasions catalog) comes with both the "Cool Treats" photopolymer stamp set and the Frozen Treats Framelits Dies.  I really put those products to use when I made my display board samples.

For today's sweet card, I started with a 4" by 5-1/4" panel of Crumb Cake Card Stock and cut the center out using the Layering Circles Framelits.  Then I embossed the Crumb Cake mat using the Large Polka Dot Embossing Folder.   Next, I stamped the sentiment from the "Cool Treats" stamp set in Watermelon Wonder in the center of a Thick Whisper White Card Stock card base.  PRO TIP: I used the Crumb Cake piece to position the sentiment.

Next, I stamped a cherry in Real Red and Garden Green ink and cut it out with a Frozen Treats Framelit.  I adhered this to the Whisper White Card Stock, near the stamped sentiment.  I cut out several more cherries from Real Red and Watermelon Wonder scraps to use as the elements in the shaker piece.  I also cut a few spoons from a Silver Foil Sheet to use in the shaker.

Using Glue Dots, I adhered a piece of Window Sheet behind the opening in the Crumb Cake mat and then added an Adhesive Strip around the opening.  I dropped in my cherries and spoons and then adhered the Crumb Cake mat to the card base using additional Stampin' Dimensionals.

Finally, I used the Frozen Treats Framelits to make a sundae to add as an element to the front of the card.  I cut the dish from a Silver Foil Sheet, a Chocolate Chip, a Very Vanilla, and a Watermelon Wonder ice cream scoop, and  an Early Espresso chocolate sauce element.  I adhered these to the bowl using Stampin' Dimensionals.

This card is so cute (if I do say so myself--and I do)!!



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Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Peekaboo Peach Sorbet

#stampinup   #faithfulinkspirations   I've just become brave enough to use Stampin' Up's ombre ink pads.  I've got to say, I felt a little daunted at first and I watched the how-to videos several times before I actually inked up a stamp.  I'm always a little nervous to try something new.  If you're feeling a little challenged, here's Stampin' Up's video.




Now that I've gotten the hang of it, I love the soft, ombre effect!  For today's card, I've used the NEW Peekaboo Peach Ombre Ink Pad that will be available on January 4th when the new Occasions catalog launches.

I started with a 4" by 5-1/4" Whisper White panel.  I stamped the sorbet treat from the "Cool Treats" stamp set in Peekaboo Peach Ombre Ink and added a Crumb Cake stick.  I love the way this looks like a creamsicle.  I can almost taste it!!  I stamped the sentiment in "regular" Peekaboo Peach Ink. 

Next, I wrapped a length of Peekaboo Peach Ruched Ribbon around the card before adhering it to a Peekaboo Peach card base.  For a finishing touch, I used my Fine-Tip Glue Pen to adhere three Whisper White stars from the Metallics Sequin Assortment.

Another quick and easy card--perfect for stamping a stack of cool birthday cards for young or old!



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Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Rich Razzleberry Sorbet

#stampinup   #faithfulinkspirations   Today I'm continuing with the cards I made for the Stampin' Up OnStage event display boards.  And I'm using the new "Cool Treats" stamp set once again!  This time the design is clean and simple--along with a few strategically place embellishments to jazz it up a bit.

I started with a 5" by 4" panel of Whisper White card stock.  I stamped the sentiment with Rich Razzleberry Ombre ink.  I also stamped the sorbet in Rich Razzleberry Ombre.  The stick is stamped in Crumb Cake ink.  

I added a 1/4" strip of  Blooms and Bliss Designer Series Paper along the side and tucked a bit of a Delicate White Doily behind the panel before adhering it to a Rich Razzleberry card base.

To finish my design, I added three Rich Razzleberry Enamel Shapes.

This card is quick and easy.  You could stamp a stack of these in no time!



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