It's not so bad being square..... and photo wallet

I'm really quite a linear person and often gravitate towards lines and squares. I found this wonderful card by Laurie http://inspireddesigns.typepad.com/inspired_designs/ who was following Jenn's sketch challenge. Well, I changed the stamp set, colours and added fauxstitching and rub-ons and fell in love. Casing is well known in the stamping world and it literally means "copy and share everything". It's nice to recognize the creator so don't forget to mention that person when posting your card. For this card I used chocolate chip, sage shadow, kiwi kiss, Bella rose DP, very vanilla as cardstock. I used "One of a kind" stamp set from Stampin'Up! (technique is thumping) and added the rub-on sentiment. The card size is 5 X 5 and it will fit nicely inside a 5 1/2 X 5 1/2 envelope. I will be sending this card to my husband's father who has a birthday in August. I know he will appreciate all that went into making this card.

My next project is a photo wallet. Perfect for photos, or even gift cards. I used tangerine tango textured card stock for the base and added some coin envelopes and covered them with kiwi kiss and my stamped image from "Heartfelt thanks" stamp set. For the inside tags, I used black and kiwi kiss stapled a ribbon and rounded the corners for a softer look. The wallet folds up nicely and is secured with a "belly band" of black and image from "One of a kind" using the thumping technique again. I'm lovin' it!! I used my scallop punch and punched out the image and added a nice rhinestone brad. Hope you like these. I have to give thanks to this site, so please visit it on your next journey on WWW:

http://www.ustamp4fun.com/ProjectGallery/photofolio.htm

Have a great evening and happy stamping...

Karen

Paper photo album

Have you ever needed a quick photo album for pictures that you're dying to show off but can't find one around the house. No fear, just make one. This one is so easy and quick that you'll never buy another album again. For the best instructions and tutorial, please visit Dawn's blog here:

http://dawnsstampingthoughts.typepad.com/dawns_stampin_studio/

This woman is wonderful. All her projects and tutorials are super straight forward to follow and you always end up with a perfect gift or card. Thank you so much Dawn. You are a terrific tutorial tutor!!

I used some of the new "In colours" namely pacific point and riding hood red (it's just not right to say it that way, but oh well...). The tutorial speaks for itself but I decided to decorate the front much like my previous project (CD/DVD case) because I wanted to use the "thumping" technique once again. Although I used pacific point as the base ink and then real red marker, you still see two colours but not so distinctly. I would suggest using a light colour as your base and a darker marker for the thumping. Practice makes perfect and hey, it's always a surprise anyways. The stamp set I used is One of a kind and I also did some piercing in all four corners of the large image. Hope you like it. Try one and send me a picture. I'd love to see your creation.

Bye for now.

Karen

CD/DVD cover Unbelievably easy

Thank you Dawn for your unbelievably easy tutorial on how to make your own custom CD/DVD covers. Now you can use vibrant colours to accompany your CD or DVD that you have just created or bought for someone. So perfect for Christmas gifts, pictures of the grandkids, wedding pictures, holidays, or just fun in the sun pictures. Please visit Dawn's website for many other tutorials as well. I'm sure you'll find something to spark your interest. Here it is:

http://dawnsstampingthoughts.typepad.com/dawns_stampin_studio/

As you can see the larger flower and the sentiment have two colours on them. I used the technique called "thumping" which involves inking your stamp thoroughly with your chosen ink colour and then taking a coordinating Stampin'Up! marker (in this case I used soft sky as my base ink and chocolate chip (yummy!) for my marker) and touching lightly in various areas on the stamp image. You'll want to "huff" on your stamp prior to stamping to re-moisten it. Then it's as easy as stamping your image on your card stock. The results are amazing and different each time. How can you not love soft sky and chocolate chip! My favs.

Happy stamping...

Karen

Criss cross box and you're tagged.....

Well the Stampin'Up! catalogue better come soon. I need more designer paper!!! Until then it seems that my new projects will be mostly Bella Rose DP. Oh well, I'll suffer. Someone has to. I'll take on that responsibility. Here is a great box for holding regular standard sized cards using of course none other than Bella rose DP and kraft paper. It is super simple and if you want to make one just go to this link:

http://cashcrafters.com/forum/smf_1-1-3_install/index.php?page=79

I finally made a tag card using you know what. It can further be divided into 3 bookmarks. This was alot of fun and I give credit to "yvette" for her inspiration. Here is here post that I cased.

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/884461?cat=500&ppuser=1365

Have a super day and remember not only to make something for someone (they will cherish it forever) but send it too. Until next time.....

Karen

Chance to win blog candy. Enter now

Well, I'm new to this so here goes. To enter into FREE blog candy I must mention a great blog site to qualify. And you won't be dissappointed. Check out this site. Very inspiring and exciting projects and cards. The blog speaks for itself as it just surpassed 20,000 hits this year alone. Congratulations and here goes....

http://cardsandchat.blogspot.com/

I'll be posting later this afternoon some projects I've completed. Stay tuned.....

More Bella Rose

I'm in love with the new Bella Rose designer paper. I made some more boxes and bags using the new "in colours" and new designer paper. I finally tried the double pocket bag tutorial from splitcoast. This was very easy and quick to do. Excellent as a little tote for some 3 X 3 notecards. As well, I made a lovely box for standard cards and envelopes. I can't remember who shared the tutorial but if it is you, thanks so much. Lastly I made a ghiradelli box but instead filled it with 3 toblerone chocolates. Again thanks to whoever came up with this idea. This would make a nice treat to give to someone. Or I might just eat the chocolate myself. Hope you try some of these projects out.

New In Colours and Bella Rose

Well, along with everyone, I received some preview goodies from the new catalogue. I am very impressed with the paper from Bella Rose and love the new "In Colours" tangerine tango and pink pirouette. Beautiful combination. I hope you like this set of 3 X 3 notecards and the matching purse box. Thank you to Rene for her tutorial on how to make the box. Please visit her blog:http://paperpleasing.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/01/mini-purse-tuto.htmlAnd thanks to flowerbugnd1 for her instructions on how to make the lid. Please see her link to her project here.http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/796228?cat=5124Thanks for looking. Happy stamping.

Stamps: One of a kind, simply said, spring solitude, priceless
Paper: tangerine tango, pink pirouette, whisper white, Bella Rose DP
Ink: black, tangerine tango, pink pirouette
Accessories: photo corner punch, dimensionals, eyelets, ribbon, crop-o-dile, designer punch, large oval punch, round tab punch, rhinestone

We be scrappin', we be scrappin'.....

Well, for our last stamp club class I've decided to jump in boots and all and have an all-nighter scrappin' class. Actually, I hope it doesn't take all night, hopefully only 3 hours. Tomorrow will tell..... I wanted to demonstrate different purposes for each 2 page layout i.e. summer fun, garden outdoors, elegant and finally uptown foxy. I also wanted to use a variety of colours and stamp sets and wanted to use as many punches as possible to ease embellishments. I think most of these pages can be adapted to suit any need by changing colours, stamps and positioning but at least this is a start. And if someone wants to complete an entire scrapbook using only one colour theme, then that is an easy transition too.

Supplies used are as follows:

(BTW this scrapbook is an 8X8)

Real Red pages - SUMMER FUN

Paper: real red, old olive, bashful blue, pumpkin pie, whisper white and summer picnic DP

Ink: none yet

Stamps: Little pieces

Accessories: large and small tag punch, stapler, ribbon, dimensionals, scallop punch, 1 1/4 circle punch, EE brads, 1 rub-on flower

Bashful Blue/Old Olive pages - GARDEN/OUTDOOR

Paper: bashful blue, old olive, whisper white

Ink: basic black, old olive, soft sky

Stamps: Live your dream

Accessories: fiskars circle cutter, large and small oval punches, dimensionals

Black/Sahara Sand/White pages - ELEGANT

Paper: basic black, sahara sand, whisper white

Ink: creamy caramel, craft white

Stamps: t0gether forever

Accessories: 1 1/4" circle punch, photo corner punch

Regal Rose/Black pages - UPTOWN FOXY

Paper: regal rose, basic black, whisper white

Ink: basic black, versamark

Stamps: level 2 hostess spring solitude (spring/summer 2008)

Accessories: rhinestone brad, spiral punch, dimensionals

I challenge each and everyone to sit down and start scrapbooking. If you start out small, it's not so frightening. And for all you seasoned scrapbookers, I know you're probably laughing hysterically. Don't forget you were once there too. Enjoy the rest of the day and happy stamping, oops I mean happy scrappin'.

Box in a Bag

Thanks to Diana Gibbs for her wonderful tutorial on making this fun box in a bag. This could be used for any occasion from treat bags to wedding favours or anything imaginable. Get out your sticky strip and get rolling...

Please visit Diana's website for complete instructions.

http://dianagibbs.typepad.com/stampin_with_di/2008/06/box-in-a-bag-tutorial.html?cid=119646038#comments

For this project I used retired Stampin' Up! designer paper (name escapes me) and for the first time I used my slit punch to make a scallop border for the bottom of the box. This project does not need alot of supplies to make and would be a great idea to add to a stamp club class highlighting designer paper and the use of punches to make scallop borders. Give it a try.