Cardmaking for Kids, Part 4

Ah, the last of the cards from my kids' cardmaking class last week.  This one was a bit more involved, but since I cut and scored all the pieces ahead of time, my lovely group of girls did a great job making this Joy Fold card.  I've listed the measurements for the card here, in case you'd like to give it a try.

This Designer Series Paper was a SAB selection a few years ago, and I absolutely loved it.  I still have a full pack left.  Not that I'm a hoarder or anything.  All of these papers look great together, so it was the perfect choice for a card that required three different prints!  I love that the heart from the coordinating stamp set matches the paper perfectly!

Stamps:  Polka Dot Punches (retired), Thank You Kindly (retired)
Ink:  Sahara Sand, VersaMark
Paper:  Bliss Blue (retired) and Certainly Celery (retired) card stock, Delicate Dots DSP (retired)
Accessories:  Full Heart Punch, Heat Tool, White Embossing Powder

Cardmaking for Kids, Part 3

This card is a variation on this one created by Elizabeth Price that I saw a few weeks ago.  Um, mine has a bit more going on...notice how the title of hers is "LIGHT Layers"!!!!!  Not exactly the case here!

I pulled out all kinds of retired colors for this card, but again, the possibilities are endless with this design.  I've actually done a version in oranges, and I love it.  This card is so easy to make, and really, there's no need to pull out the Stamp-a-ma-jig...it's not difficult to line up the skid mark stamp that is behind the butterflies, but there is no need to line those up perfectly anyway!  Super easy, super cute!

Supplies

Stamps:  Gorgeous Grunge
Ink:  Smokey Slate, So Saffron, Pretty in Pink (retired), Pale Plum (retired), and Blush Blossom (retired)
Paper:  Pretty in Pink (retired), Pale Plum (retired), and Blush Blossom (retired), and Whisper White card stock
Accessories:  Elegant Butterfly Punch, Bitty Butterfly Punch, Glue Dots

Cardmaking for Kids, Part 2

Here's the second card we'll be making at today's class.  It's a little tricky knowing how to design cards for kids...there's a decent age range, so I need to try to appeal to everyone.  This one is a little more grown up looking, but will hopefully be a hit because of the monogram.  I used the French Script background stamp (which retired years ago) and then proceeded to stamp it upside down.  But I'm working with a limited paper supply, so I just went with it.  They are kids, after all, and will find great delight in knowing that I made a mistake!

The card base is River Rock, and the flowered Designer Series Paper at the bottom is Paisley Petals.  I used some Baja Breeze seam binding for the ruffled strip.  I have a feeling the girls will all like that part of this card, too!

Tips & Tricks

• Always stamp images right side up...ha!
• simple layout + monogram = perfect gift!  A set of these would be the perfect gift to give as a bridal shower or housewarming gift.  The combination of papers, colors, and ribbons is endless, and is a great way to use up odds and ends of Designer Series Paper...you could make a set of these that aren't all exactly the same, but coordinate.

Supplies

Stamps:  Lovely Letters (retired, although any medium sized alphabet set would work!)
Ink:  River Rock
Paper:  River Rock (retired), Baja Breeze (retired), and Whisper White card stock, Paisley Petals DSP (retired)
Accessories:  1-3/8" Circle Punch, 1-3/4" Scallop Circle Punch, Sticky Strip, Baja Breeze seam Binding Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals

Cardmaking for Kids, Part 1

Tomorrow I'm holding a cardmaking class for kids.  I've already done one this summer, and it was a lot of fun.  Of course having great kids attend is probably what made it so much fun for me. This time I'll have twice the number, so things should be interesting!  But my own kiddos have promised to be my helpers, so what could possibly go wrong? (ahem)

Anyway, I thought I'd show off the cards we'll be making together.  I have three goals when doing a class with kids: (1) make it fun, (2) keep it simple, and (3) use up as much retired product as possible!  So while many of the projects I'll be showing are made with retired goodies, they can easily be reproduced using current items and colors.

This card uses Gorgeous Grunge, one of my new favorites.  Since my class is full of tween girls, I knew I couldn't go wrong with rainbows.  This one is super simple, as it's the same stamp in six different colors.  I dug out one of my favorite retired sentiment sets, Simple Sayings II (I don't have Simple Sayings I...I wonder why?  I must not have liked that one!)  Honestly, it took me longer to pick the colors than it did to actually make this one. 

Supplies
Stamps:  Gorgeous Grunge, Simple Sayings II
Ink:  Read Red, Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun (retired), Wild Wasabi, Brilliant Blue (retired...sniff!), and Lovely Lilac (retired)
Paper:  Whisper White and Lovely Lilac (retired) card stock

Truly Grateful Joy Fold Card

I've been wanting to do a Joy Fold Card at club for a long time.  I've had the instructions printed out and sitting on my desk for probably a year.  And when I sat down and thought about what to make this month, I realized that Truly Grateful was the perfect set for such a card. 

I like making cards with unusual folds...it keeps the recipient on their toes.  And it's always good to try new things, simply for the challenge of doing something new and different.  I've said before how I love Sweater Weather and Truly Grateful together, because they both just scream fall to me.  But since it's only August, I didn't want to make this card be too fall-ish...it's still summer, after all!  So the lighter tones in this particular plaid were perfect for this card.  I would never have thought to pair Crushed Curry and Soft Sky together on my own, but I LOVE how they look together!  See, another new thing for me to try!

In case you aren't familiar with Joy Fold cards, here's how they look when opened:

The layers unfold to create a really interesting card.  The little wood slice on the front is adhered with a Stampin' Dimensional, so that the smaller flap can be tucked in behind it to keep it secure.

Tips & Tricks

• Use a Stamp-a-ma-jig!  That's how I was able to line up the woodgrain image...it's not big enough on it's own and needs to be stamped twice.  I'm pretty good at eye-balling, but this one requires the SAMJ! 
• Stamping Chocolate Chip ink on watercolor paper or Naturals White card stock allows you to watercolor without additional ink!  Just use an Aquapainter and pull ink from the image you've stamped.  It's OK for the image to bleed this time!

Measurements

• Chocolate Chip (card base) ~ 4 1/4" x 8 1/2"; score at 5 1/2"
• Soft Sky ~ 3" x 8"; score at 4"
• Crushed Curry DSP ~ 4" x 5 1/4"
• Plaid DSP ~ 4" x 2 3/4"
• Chocolate Chip (top layer) ~ 3 3/4" x 2 3/4"

Supplies

• Stamps:  Truly Grateful
• Ink:  Chocolate Chip
• Paper:  Chocolate Chip, Soft Sky, and Naturals White card stock, Sweater Weather Designer Series Paper 
• Accessories:  Aquapainter, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Simply Scored Tool, Decorative Label Punch, Linen Thread, Sponge
  

Birthday Shaker Card

As you may (or may not) know, Stampin' Up! recently held it's annual convention in Salt Lake City.  This is always a big exciting event that demonstrators look forward to, but this year was supposed to be bigger and more exciting than normal, because it's Stampin' Up!'s 25th anniversary.  Once upon a time, we had planned to take a family vacation to Utah that coincided with Convention, and it really would have been amazing.  But you know how life is, sometimes throwing surprises at us that change our plans, and we didn't go.  But because Stampin' Up! is a fabulous company, they streamed both the opening and closing sessions live so all the sad demonstrators like myself could watch from home. 

One of the gems that I took away from watching these sessions was a really cool shaker card that was demonstrated.  I loved the idea of using washi tape this way, so I had to give it a try, and this card is my take on it. 

The Gingham Garden Designer Washi Tape is my favorite, although I will most definitely be getting the Christmas tape from the Holiday Catalog!  Simply cut a piece of Window Sheet the same size as a piece of Whisper White card stock, then use your favorite washi tape to adhere them to one another.  I put most of the tape on the front with just a tiny bit folded over to the back.  But only do three sides...you'll need one side open so you can add in your shaker pieces.  I just punched some circles using the Itty Bitty Punch Pack.  Once your shaker pieces are in, you can go ahead and seal the top. 

After that, it's all embellishing.  As you can see, I used the Create a Cupcake stamp set and Cupcake Builder Punch, then added a little banner from the two other Gingham Garden Designer Washi Tape patterns (I did adhere them to Whisper White card stock and snipped the ends.)  This is one of those cards that's not difficult to make, but really wows the recipient!  Plus it's fun to play with!

Stamps:  Create a Cupcake
Ink:  Daffodil Delight and Melon Mambo
Paper:  Melon Mambo, Pear Pizzazz, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Night of Navy, and Island Indigo card stock, Silver Glimmer Paper
Accessories:  Window Sheets, Gingham Garden Designer Washi Tape, Itty Bitty Punch Pack, Cupcake Builder Punch, 2-3/8" Scallop Circle Punch

Gorgeous Grunge

Oops...I though that I had everything set so that this card would post while I was away on vacation, but somehow I messed up!  Oh well, I'll share it now instead!

This was my second attempt at a card using Gorgeous Grunge and Yippee-Skippee together.  I think I may have gone a bit overboard with the splatter stamps, but I just love them, and couldn't help myself!  This card uses two of the splatters in the set.  One of my most used stamp sets of all time is Itty Bitty Backgrounds, and the splatter was definitely my favorite.  But I think this set is going to be a better replacement, since the splatters are big, not itty bitty!  I used them on the background and on the butterflies, just to give the punched card stock a little bit of interest.  I then popped the butterflies up a bit using glue dots.  It's a great way to make an image stand out a bit more subtly than it would when using Stampin' Dimensionals.

Stamps:  Gorgeous Grunge and Yippee-Skippee
Ink:  Calypso Coral, Tangerine Tango, Crisp Cantaloupe, So Saffron, and Going Gray
Paper:  Calypso Coral, Tangerine Tango, Crisp Cantaloupe, and Naturals White
Accessories:  Elegant Butterfly punch, Bitty Butterfly punch, glue dots

Under the Stars

I realize that this card uses a retired set, but it's one that I will never get rid of.  I love camping sets, which Under the Stars is, but the bear in this set is also really fun.  (Although I hope I never see a bear when I'm camping.)  A little paper piecing is what really makes this bear pop.  And speaking of popping, his head is attached with a Stampin' Dimensional, which not only makes his head pop up, but allows the linen thread to appear as though it's hanging around his shoulders.  

But wait, this card has another fun technique!  I adhered the polka dots to the Pumpkin Pie card stock, then ran the whole thing through my Big Shot and the Square Lattice embossing folder.  It kind of embeds the dots into the background and gives it a really cool look.  And those eyelets...don't you miss those?  I wish they were still around.  I think I used those more than any other embellishment ever.  Sigh....

Stamps:  Under the Stars

Ink:  Pacific Point and Basic Black Classic Ink

Paper:  Pacific Point, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, and Whisper White card stock

Accessories:  Big Shot, Square Lattice embossing folder, 1/2" circle punch, linen thread, eyelets (retired)

Truly Grateful

Ah, fall colors, plaid, and woodgrains (OK, plus linen thread)...three (four) of my favorite things.  This may be a simple card, but there are several textures and patterns going on.  The plaid comes from the Sweater Weather Designer Series Paper, which is available in the Holiday Catalog.  (Let me know if you need a copy!)  And check out the wood slice image stamped across the Cajun Craze stripe.  It goes beautifully with the woodgrain texture embossed on the Early Espresso Core'dinations card stock.  This card just makes me think of fall, my favorite time of year.  Although I'm not quite ready for it yet!

Stamps:  Truly Grateful
Ink:  Early Espresso
Paper:  Early Espresso Core'dinations, Cajun Craze,  and Sahara Sand card stock, Sweater Weather DSP
Accessories:  Big Shot, Woodgrain Embossing Folder, Bitty Banners Framelits, Linen Thread, Simply Pressed Clay, Buttons & Blossoms Simply Pressed Clay Molds, Sanding Block

Happy, Happy, Happy

If you're a fan of Duck Dynasty, this card doesn't really need any explanation.  And if you aren't, well, you're just missing out.  Watch it.

As soon as I ordered Gorgeous Grunge, this idea popped into my head.  And then I had to wait over a week for the set to come.  When it did, I had convinced myself that I wasn't going to be able to pull off the camouflage look, but I was beside myself with giddiness when it really did work.  Just one splatter, randomly stamped with different colors really does look like camouflage.  To get the happy, happy, happy sentiment, I simply inked my stamp with markers instead of an ink pad, then only stamped the word happy the second and third time.  My trusty Stamp-a-ma-jig helped me to line it up perfectly.  To finish it off, I snipped a couple of card stock feathers, and added the woodgrain embossed Core'dinations card stock strip.  I'm thinking this is the perfect birthday card for my brother who is both a hunter and Duck Dynasty fan.  I just have to remember that in a couple of months when it's time to send it.

Stamps:  Gorgeous Grunge, Yippee-Skippee
Ink:  Always Artichoke, Soft Suede, Early Espresso
Paper:  Always Artichoke, Sahara Sand, Soft Suede, and Early Espresso card stock
Accessories:  Big Shot, Woodgrain embossing folder, sanding block, linen thread, paper snips

What's New?

Lots of things!  There are all kinds of new products available today!  And first up is the Holiday Catalog. (Yes, I realize it's still summer, but you're going to want to get started on those Christmas cards, especially when you see the new snowflake bundle!)

Click here or on the image to the right to see the pdf version of this catalog.  Just to give you some warning...this catalog is different from any catalogs you've ever seen from Stampin' Up!  The best part is that it's loaded with lots of great new stamps, Framelits, and bundles, fun accessories, and GORGEOUS Designer Series Papers!  Really, those papers are beautiful!!  But in addition to all that, the catalog layout is different this time.  The first half is page after page of projects and samples for you to look at.  The second half is full of all the fabulous new products that you'll want.  It may take some getting used to, but who looks at a Stampin' Up! catalog just once anyway?!?

Next up today are the brand new Thinlits Card Dies.  I am so excited to get these and am having a hard time deciding which set to get.  Both, right?  Check out the flyer below to see what comes with each one.

And last, there's a new "Best Of" set out today...Best of Halloween.  And don't forget that all the "Best Of" sets are still available!