Mocha Memories

Glitter it Up

I have been enjoying some time with the kids this past week.  We are just coming off of another snow break.  They are saying that we have already passed our annual average snowfall.  The kids are loving it, but I keep reminding them that they will regret it when they are going to school into June.

Anyway, I am finally getting some time alone at the computer to share with you some of the projects that we made at my hostess clubs this month.

We are thinking about Valentine's Day this month.  A little early?  No way!  I need to give myself plenty of time to procrastinate. LOL  Seriously, I know there are some planners out there that like to create cards and crafts ahead of time.

This card is simple and is created with only one stamp set but has plenty of pizazz.  Notice the glitter?  This scallop circle was punched out of Stampin' Up!'s new Glimmer Paper.  All of the glitter and none of the mess!  I love glitter, but generally when I use it even the dogs have a special sparkle to them afterwards.

Next time, I will show you how to create a flower pot of love - or at least a two dimensional version.

Be Inspired by Life,

• Stamps: XOXO (121909-Wood, 121973-Clear)
• Ink: Real Red (103133), Basic Grey (109120)
• Cardstock: Basic Grey (121044), Whisper White (100730), Real Red (102482), Love Impressions DSP (121780), Glimmer Paper (121790)
• Accessories: Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Basic Black 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon (119962), 1 3/4" Scallop Circle Punch (119854), 1 3/8" Circle Punch (119860), Heart Punch (117193), Pinking Hearts Border Punch (117649)

The Last Sparkle of the Year

I can not believe that it is New Year's Eve.  Where has the year gone?  I will be getting the last of my goals and challenges set for the year.  With that said, I hope you join me tomorrow to see what is in store for all of my wonderful ladies for the coming year!  I have a couple of new items that I would love to offer all of you - long distance AND local.

I want to share with you a card inspired by a wonderful lady, Sharon P., who requested some ideas for New Year's Eve cards.  I wanted it to be something that you could create in a snap.  I simply used a ruler and my hobby knife to cut the glass out of the top Night of Navy layer to reveal the Brushed silver layer beneath it.

I thought I was finished but my youngest daughter convinced me that it needed SPARKLE!  I simply outlined the glass with Multipurpose Liquid Glue and sprinkled Dazzling Diamonds on top of that.

I again realized that I did not have a sentiment, but found the perfect one in the Seasonal Sentiments set (Today is the LAST day to order this set!).  If I owned the set, I could simply ink up and stamp only the 'Happy New Year' portion (Omission by Marker technique). 

I did not own the set in clear or wood mount, but I had already purchased it for my MDS.  I still needed to omit the top portion of the sentiment.  I added a square punch to the page, clicked on the sides of the square and pulled them until the square was large enough to cover the top of the sentiment.  I filled the punch with Whisper White and VOILA! - Omission by MDS.

Thank you everyone for an amazing year and I wish the same for you in the year to come.

• Card stock: Night of Navy (100867), Whisper White (100730), Brushed Silver (100712)
• Accessories: Big Shot (113439), Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder (117335), Hobby Blade (102449), Cutting Mat (101087), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), My Digital Studio (118108), Multipurpose Liquid Glue (110755), Dazzling Diamonds (102023), Glimmer Brads (121003)

Quick and Simple In Colors

While I was in the mood to use my window sheets, I decided that I better take the plunge and use my printed window sheets from the Occasions Mini catalog.  Luckily these made it into the new SU! catalog and I still had time to STOP HOARDING my supplies.

These made great quick and easy cards for my Open House.  I wish that I could take full credit for these, but they are a complete CASE from Elizabeth Kratzer (I just switched the colors).  A unique fold and the opportunity to play with the new In Colors - you could not ask for a better combination as an Open House Make'n'Take.

Speaking of the new In Colors - I was asked to describe them by an on-line customer recently.  This year Stampin' Up! went with very vibrant colors and rich undertones.  I guess you could say that they are a cross between the Bold Brights and Rich Regals.  I can't wait to see all of the color combinations that you guys dream up this year!

Be Inspired by Life,

• Stamps: NONE (How can that be?)
• Ink: NONE (She can't be serious!!!!)
• Cardstock: Soft Suede (115318), Whisper White (100730), Bermuda Bay (115317)
• Accessories: Crop-a-dile (108362), Bermuda Bay Polka-dot Grosgrain (115610), Clearly Thanks Window Sheets (115122), Scallop Edge Punch (112091)

Extra Note:  Thank you so much for all of the wonderful comments regarding my Clearly Christmas card on yesterday's post.  I am finding it difficult to explain how to create the frame, so I am attempting to create a video that will be much more useful.  Check back for more You Tube additions by this weekend!

Clearly Christmas

I was so excited when Stampin' Up! started carrying the acetate sheets again.  There is so much that you can do with it. 

I decided that my first Christmas card of the season needed to be created using some of the medium weight acetate and 'A Wish for Peace' stamp set was the perfect simple set to use.

To create the floating image, I stamped the dove onto the acetate with black StazOn.  I then flipped the acetate over and filled in the image with Tombow Multipurpose Adhesive and Dazzling Diamonds. 

Once the glue was dry, I then adhered the acetate to the Basic Gray and Basic Black framing and used Pop up Dots to then attach the whole thing to the card base.

You can easily take this card and translate it to something even simpler.  In fact, I used this card to inspire one of the cards that we will be completing during my 'Christmas in July' Stamp-a-Stack.  Want to join us and get ahead this holiday season?  Check out my calendar and email me to reserve your spot.

Be Inspired by Life,

Stamps: A Wish for Peace (111614) 

Ink: Versamark Marker (100901), Black Stazon (101406), Mellow Moss marker (100038), Going Gray marker (109216) 

Cardstock: Basic Black (102851), Whisper White (100730), Basic Gray (108692)  

Accessories: Window Sheets (114323), White Embossing Powder (109132), Mellow Moss Taffeta Ribbon (109069), Dazzling Diamonds (102023), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Tombow Multipurpose Adhesive (110755) 

'Origami Stars' and Stripes

I hope everyone had a wonderful Fourth of July!  We were able to cookout and play a little outside before the rain came.  I hate to report that it rained the rest of the day and it is still raining this morning.  So much for setting off our fireworks at home.

In celebration of this incredible holiday, I created a card with an origami star as the focal point. 

These origami stars are SOOO sturdy that I decided to create the card so that the star could be removed and used as a holiday accent by the recipient.  The star is attached to the card's frame by red gingham ribbon thread through holes punched in the acetate.

Want to know how I created the star?  Need to know how I used this as an accent piece for my celebration?

Check out my blog tomorrow for the video tutorial and more pictures.

Want to see this card up-close and live close to Lexington, Kentucky?  Come to my Open House, July 14th to enjoy some new product peeks, delightful desserts and marvelous make-n-takes.  Check out the specifics here and email or call me by July 9th. 

Be Inspired by Life,

• Stamps: Matchbox Messages (113800) 
• Ink: Versamark Marker (100901)
• Cardstock: Real Red Textured (108698), Whisper White (100730), Bashful Blue Designer Series Paper (112151)  
• Accessories: Window Sheets (114323), White Embossing Powder (109132), Red Gingham Ribbon (104827)

Only One More Week

Ladies.... I need to remind you that all of those great accessories that are retiring are available for only one more week.  Some of those accessories are even 25% or 50% off.  A few of those accessories are hard for me to let go.  First, I absolutely LOVED the Kiwi Kiss Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon.  I was shocked to see it at 25% off, but alas it has finally SOLD OUT!!

Another one of my favorites is the Taste of Textiles paper.  Luckily it has not sold out yet as I plan on getting a few more packs before it is gone.  Why?

If you have not been able to see this paper in person, you are really missing out.  It is great, neutral paper for any card that needs a little extra background pizazz.  Remember my card from yesterday?  It truly would not have been the same without the Kraft striped paper. 

Still not convinced?  Well, here is a very simple masculine card created with the bronze paper that is included in the Taste of Textiles pack.  When the bronze paper hits the light it looks extremely metallic AND masculine.  The paper looks so amazing by itself that it only takes a little black embossing powder to create a WOW card.

I will check back a little later for one more card created with some more paper from this pack.  I better take a break now and order a little more so that I have plenty to hoard later.  Ha! Ha!  

Be Inspired by Life,

 

Retiring items are noted in yellow (Entire List Here):

• Stamps: Lovely as a Tree, Holidays and Wishes
• Ink: Versamark
• Cardstock: Taste of Textiles, Basic Black
• Accessories: 5/8" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, Black Embossing Powder

It's All Quite Manly

Smell the testosterone in the air?  Yes, it is the day before Father's Day and we are all getting ready with our manly gifts and fired up grills (though I dare say more women grill than men now a days).  It is all perfect but .....do you have a card to go with that incredible gift? 

Here is a card that is easy and fun....

I used my circle scissors, my favorite stamp set and some great masculine colors to create this card. 

I created the thin brown circle out of some Close to Cocoa paper by cutting a 4" circle first and then adjusting my cutter to 4 1/4" for the second cut.  The brown arc piece at the top left hand corner of the card is simply one piece of my 4" circle that was cut into quarters.  (Don't waste is a big motto of mine!)

The focal image was stamped onto a 3 3/4" circle cut in half.  A little watercoloring and some paper piecing on his shirt creates the perfect little golfer.  Paper piecing is too time consuming you say?  I thought so too, but this was REALLY EASY!!!! 

Paper piecing in a snap - Stamp your image on the white cardstock and color like normal.  Stamp the image again on a piece of patterned cardstock (Bashful Blue Designer Print paper) and cut out the portion that you would like to highlight.  Now simply tape it over the corresponding part of the the original image.  Just give it a try and let me know if you need any help.

Love it?   Well, here is another quick card with the same set.....

I only used markers to color the lawn mower so this card was created in no time.  It looks like so much more by simply adding a few extra elements.  A textured background created with my Big Shot and Texture Plates #1 really makes a great contrast to the striped Kraft cardstock from the Taste of Textiles.  Stamping a sentiment directly onto the taffeta ribbon is an unexpected touch that finishes this masculine birthday card.

Inspired?  I hope so.  So create that one of a kind card for that special man in your life.

****ALSO.....Some of the items that I used are retiring and will no longer be available after June 30th.  So that you can easily identify these items, I have highlighted them in yellow below.  Some of them are even ON SALE but are only available until they sale out!!!!  Contact me by phone (859-539-8010) or by email to order them before they are gone.

Be Inspired by Life,

Father's Day Card

Stamps: And Many Mower

Cardstock: Whisper White, Close to Cocoa, Bashful Blue, Bashful Blue Designer Print Paper

Inks: Bashful Blue, Close to Cocoa, Blush Blossom and Kiwi Kiss Reinkers (sold out) and Black StazOn

Accessories: Kiwi Kiss Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Circle Scissors Plus, 1/2" Circle Punch, Stampin Dimensionals

Masculine Birthday Card

Stamps: And Many Mower

Cardstock: Basic Black, Brocade Blue, Very Vanilla, Taste of Textiles 

Inks: Brocade Blue, Close to Cocoa and Chocolate Chip Markers and Black StazOn

Accessories: Big Shot, SU! Backgrounds #1 (Texture Plates), Kraft Taffeta Ribbon

Linen Botanicals

First - I must say that the original date on this post was February 11th.  SERIOUSLY!!!!  What happened to me???  The answer - LIFE!!

We have had some issues with my middle daughter over the past month and we are finally seeing the light.  We have one more doctor's appointment at the end of this month and I hope that we will have ALL of the answers then.  I want to say THANK YOU to everyone for sticking with me during this time and even sending occasional emails to make sure that I was OK.   You all are the BEST!

With all that has gone on over the past month, I have realized how much I love SU! and owning my own business.  I took a month and slowed down the pace - BUT - I still have a job and customers to come back to!  This worked perfectly for me.  It may work perfectly for you - let me know.  Now back to our previously scheduled post.....

I just love this time of year - Sale-a-bration!!  Buy what you love and get even more of what you love for FREE - stamps, ribbon and paper.

I have to say that my favorite set this year is the Botanical Blooms.  As soon as I had it mounted, I already had a picture in my mind of the first card that I wanted to make with the set.  I had to make a simple, geometrical card with a Faux Silk focal image.

Faux Silk??? You've never heard of faux silk???

I had seen several cards using this technique and was just itching to try it out.  Simple WOW and stunning are the best way to describe it.  Check out the tutorial HERE and give it a whirl.

Be Inspired by Life,

 

Check out the other items that are available during Sale-a-bration.  Spend $50 on SU! products and get something FREE out of the Sale-a-bration catalog.  It's almost over!!!!

• Stamps: Botanical Blooms
• Cardstock: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss
• Ink: Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss
• Accessories: Tissue Paper, Anywhere Glue Stick, Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon, Chocolate Chip 5/8" Grosgrain, Stampin' Dimensionals

Jumbo Size my Square

The other day we played with scraplings - the scraps created when you cut a standard size card down to a 4-1/4" square card.  Now I LOVE square cards, but I am also OCD by design.  So when I create a card,I must have an envelope to fit it EXACTLY!  Stampin' Up! carries small (3-1/8") and medium (5-1/2") sized square envelopes but nothing to fit 4-1/4".  What to do?!?

Easy - use a 5-1/4" square of Pink Pirouette to give the card a larger backing.  Now it is the perfect size for my medium envelope.  Since the folded part of the card is created by the 4-1/4" Riding Hood Red cardstock, you only need a single 5-1/4" square of Pink Pirouette to complete the card.  This means that I can still get two cards from a single piece of 8-1/2" x 11" cardstock.

I wanted to introduce a new concept to my hostess club and paper piecing works just perfectly with this set.  The birds were stamped in Basic Black on some of the Candy Land DSP and then cut out.  The stamped images are then matched up and adhered together.  What a look for such little effort.

Since I hate to waste, I also used every heart punch-out from my Heart to Heart punch when I created this card.  I used the smallest heart with a Stampin' Dimensional above the 'love birds' to help draw your eye.  I had a special purpose for the other two larger hearts - faux buttons.  I punched two holes in each of the hearts with my Crop-a-dile to create a faux button feel.  I then threaded my Riding Hood Red taffeta ribbon through the hearts to reinforce the look.  Too fun and EASY!

Keep an eye out for other faux button creations in future posts.  There was a section in my last newsletter regarding creating faux buttons and I want to put them to good use.

Next time my 3D-side will come out with an idea for a cute holder for those M&Ms that we love to give out at Valentine's day.  Until then....

Be Inspired by Life,

 

Stamps: Love You Much (113756)

Cardstock: Pink Pirouette(111351), Riding Hood Red (111348), Very Vanilla (101650), Candy Lane DSP (113980) 

Ink: Basic Black Classic Ink (101179) 

Accessories: Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon (111365), Riding Hood Red Striped Ribbon (111374), Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049), Heart to Heart Punch (113694), Stampin Dimensionals (104430), Ticket Corner Punch (107214) 

Reduce my Ribbon Use

I just love the Riding Hood Red Striped Ribbon in the current SU! Holiday Mini Catalog.  I have used it on my candy jars, my tree, my ornaments, and I still want to use it on my wonderful holiday packages.  WHOA!!!  I also wanted to use it on some Christmas cards this season, so I decided that I needed to find a way to minimize the amount that I used.

To create the faux ribbon wrap on my card, I used two pieces of ribbon and a SU! Build-a-brad decorated with some DSP.  The bottom piece of ribbon was cut slightly larger than the Top Note die so that I would be able to tuck it under each edge.  The top piece of ribbon was cut approximately the same size as the Top Note die so that I would have some room to decoratively cut each end.

I stacked the ribbons making sure that the smaller ribbon was centered.  I opened the prongs of the Build-a-brad and slid the center of the ribbon stack under the prongs.  You may have to work with the edges of the ribbon a little bit to get them to slide completely under the edges of the prong.  I then pushed the prongs back together and......

VOILA!  I have a cute ribbon wrap with minimal ribbon use.  So use ribbon, ribbon and more ribbon on your cards, but always look and see if you can create the same look with a more efficient use of your supplies! 

Be Inspired by Life,

 

Card Supplies:

• Stamps: Winter Post
• Ink: VersaMark, Real Red Marker, Chocolate Chip
• Paper: Kraft, Very Vanilla, Riding Hood Red
• Accessories: Top Note Die, Big Shot, Riding Hood Red Striped Grosgrain, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Build-a-brad