Women's Conference Cards

I had the pleasure of co-leading a creative card workshop at my church's women's conference this weekend. My partner in crime for the conference was Mandi Johnson of www.makingniceinthemidwest.com. We each brought the makings of 3 different cards for our workshop attendees to pick from. They picked 3 of the 6 cards to make. We were so busy I didn't get a chance to take pictures of the cards or all the fun. Here's my one picture of my three cards (after I got home). I hope Mandi posts her cards on her blog - they were super cute!

From the left - card #1 features Stampin' Up!'s Four Feathers stamp set and matching framelits in Crisp Cantaloupe and Night of Navy. Card #2 That's the Bird Builder Punch and some retired Designer Series Paper, the cage was a die I found online. (The decorations for the conference were bird cages.) Card #3 is the Choose Happiness stamp set in Marina Mist and Whisper White. This card was cased from my friend Laura.

Happy Stamping!
Barb

Stampin' Up! Convention 2012

I'm back from the Stampin' Up! 2012 Convention. I had a great time and came back feeling refreshed and inspired. These wonderful ladies were my travel companions and roomies. We had so much fun together!

Laura, me, Ann and Lisa took a tour of the offices and warehouse in Riverton, UT. I love going out there to see the place. It is the cleanest warehouse I've ever seen and the offices just make you want to work there! All the employees are super nice, too.

 

Here is the first swap card I made. I was inspired by all the yellow and gray I've been seeing lately. Even the cute convention bags they gave us were Daffodil Delight, Whisper White and Basic Gray!

Stamps set: Love & Laughter 125475 (wood); 125477 (clear mount)

Ink: Basic Gray 126981 and Daffodil Delight 126944

Cardstock: Whisper White 100730, Basic Gray 121044, Daffodil Delight 119683

Accessories: 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain ribbon in Daffodil Delight 126872, Pearls (basic)119247, Perfect Polka Dots Folder 117335, Big Shot 113439



Here's another one of my swaps. I had alot of Pretty in Pink cardstock and all the larger pearls leftover from the wedding cards so this is what I came up with...a cute baby card. I mounted the feet and words on one large clear block so I could get them straight and I could stamp the whole thing at once. The little flowers are Pink Pirouette cardstock stamped with Pretty in Pink ink and attched with glue dots.

Stamp set: Baby Prints 125470 (wood) 125472 (clear mount), Itty Bitty Bits 117056 (wood) 120060 (clear mount)
Ink: Pretty in Pink 126955
Cardstock: Sahara Sand 121043, Pretty in Pink 100459, Pink Pirouette 111351 (flowers), Whisper White 100730
Accessories: Pearls (basic) 119247, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack 118309, Stripes Folder 123128, Labels Collection Framelets 125598, Big Shot! 113439, Glue Dots 103683, clear block E 118484

I was only going to take two different card fronts to swap but I had a make 'n take prepared for an event at church the Saturday before I left and had a bunch of pieces left over. Here's the make 'n take. I dressed up note cards with embossed white on white and a quick little embellishment.

Stamp sets: Papillon Potpourri 123757 (wood) 123759 (clear mount), A Reason to Smile - this set is only available through the end of July 2012 for $5 with an order of $50 or more. See the promotions page on my Stampin' Up! website for details.

Ink: Early Espresso 126974

Cardstock: Whisper White 100730, Early Espresso 119686, Pretty in Pink 100459, Pool Party 122924, Certainly Celery 105125, Wisteria Wonder 122922.

Accessories: Big Shot! 113439, Embossing folders - Argyle 127750, Perfect Polka Dot 117335, Elegant Lines 119277, Square Lattice 119976, Punches - 1 3/8" circle 119860, 1 3/4" scallop circle 119854, 2 3/8" scallop circle 118874, Stampin' Dimensionals 104430

So, I took the left overs from the note cards and turned them into this! I used Whisper White cardstock behind the embossed layer instead of the note card and added a layer of Early Espresso behind that. I also dressed up the butterfly a bit using the basic perals. Can you tell I love those pearls!



Happy Stamping!

Shop my Stampin' Up! website 24/7

Clearance Rack Blitz!

Stampin' Up! is having a great Clearance Sale December 15, 2011 - January 5, 2012. Check out the savings...up to 80% and the selection! Shop early as many items have already sold out! (Hint: once you get to the clearance rack change the number of items shown on each page to ALL. Then you won't have to flip back and forth from page to page and can view all the items just by scrolling up and down.)


Click here to start shopping!

There are some great deals on the old style punches, retired Designer Series Papers, ribbons, buttons, Simply Sent card kits and lots more.
Happy Stamping!



Christmas Card Ideas

Every year I think I'll have my Christmas cards made and in the mail by now but, I never seem to make that December 1st deadline. So, I'm working on them...but I'll keep them a surprise for now. In the meantime here are some great ideas for Christmas cards that are quick and easy but nice. Some were CASE'd from other cards that I've seen on Stampin' Connection and some I've done at workshops or my Christmas Card Stamp-a-Stack.

This is one of my favorite Christmas cards this year. It was inspired by several similar cards that I saw on Stampin' Connection (the place for Stampin' Up! demonstrators to share their ideas...love it!)

This card was copied from fellow demonstrator Kathy Kalthoff. I colored the pearls with a red permanent marker. So, quick and easy to add a WOW! to your card.

This cute card was CASE'd (copy and share everything) from Sandi MacIver. I left off a second layer of punched lace and added some color on the berries for my version. It's all done in Soft Suede. The berries are watercolored in Real Red.

I've done this card several times and I still like it! Sponged in Bashful Blue and dressed up with Rhinestones.

This card was shamelessly copied from Lyssa Zwolanek. Made with the Stitched Stockings stamp set and the new stocking punch that coordinates with the stamp set.

I've seen several versions of this card go by. I think Debra Currier made the original. I went with a nice clean look.Whisper White and Cherry Cobbler seem to be my go-to Christmas colors this year. The wreath is made with a stamp from Delicate Doilies with the center punched out. I colored the Rhinestones with a permanent marker (just like the pearls) before adding them to the wreath.

One last idea. This one was inspired by a fall card that my downline, Shelly D. gave me that used Rich Razzelberry and fall leaves. I changed the colors and the stamp set and came up with this Christmas version done in Cherry Cobbler with Early Espresso accents.

Enjoy! and Happy Stamping!

Gently Falling

I just love this card designed by Pat Conry that I received in a swap (on the left). I decided it would make a great workshop project. I added some Spice Cake Designer Series Paper and left off the sentiment. My version is on the right. Love the textured look added to the leaves with the Lattice Square Impressions Embossing folder. Inside there's more leaves! Thanks for the great idea, Pat!

More Gently Falling leaves and Spice Cake Designer Series Paper...this time with a Pool Party card base. This was my first version of this card. Later I decided to add a button and some linen thread. I used the 1" square punch to punch out the stamped leaves.

Blessings,



Summer Mini Sneak Peek

There's only three more days to order from the Ocassions Mini catalog! Don't miss some great stamp sets and accessories! That said...here is a sneak peek of what's coming up in the Summer Mini catalog. Both of these cards I made for swaps. I guess I was really into butterflies for some reason.

The first card uses the new Beyond the Garden Designer Series Paper and the words from the Fabulous Florets stamp set. The second card uses the new Flower Garden Textured Impressions Embossing Folder and Happy Greeting stamp set. All will be available May 1.

Bridal Shower Invitations and Favors

I love creating special cards and invitations for friends! When my friend, Risa asked if I would help her with her daughter's bridal shower invitations and favors- I was on it! Here we are having our shower invitation work day. Angie and Risa are busy taping and punching. While I worked on the dresses.

I gave the Very Vanilla cardstock to Risa before hand and she printed the inside of the invitations before I cut the card bases. The dresses are made from Very Vanilla cardstock cut out with the Scallop Circle die then embossed with the Elegant Lines embossing folder. They're dressed up with Whisper White Organza Ribbon, Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper (from the Occasions Mini Catalog), and Basic Pearls. The edge of the invitation is punched with the Scallop Edge Border punch and the word stamp is from the Sincere Salutations stamp set and stamped in Baja Breeze ink. We finished all 80 invitations in one afternoon!

I forgot to take pictures of the shower favor work day. We had a little more help and managed to put together 80 cute little favors. This is a little custom made box that fits a pack of gum. I used Daffodil Delight for the box. Angie choose Elegant Soiree Designer Series Paper for the front and we tied it in with the shower invitations with more Whisper White Organza Ribbon and a Pearl. The box is held together with Sticky Strip -love that stuff! - and the top is held closed with a glue dot.

Happy Stamping!