More Competition for me…

As if my daughter wasn't challenging me enough in the stamping arena…along comes my four year old son!

He had a birthday party to attend this past weekend for a friend from preschool.  I asked him to "go make his friend a card" which typically entails drawing a few squiggles on a piece of copy paper, calling it a roller coaster, and tossing it in with the gift.  Well to my shock he says "I want to make one like you do."  So I, of course, told him he could pick some stamps and ink and stamp away (on said copy paper).  Again, this was not what he had in mind.  "No mommy, a real card like you make."  Well okay!

So, he did all the stamping.  I did the sponging.  He put the adhesive on and the dimensionals and placed everything just so on his card.  He chose the color button (I threaded it, he decided which side of the button was going to show), I had my hand over his to help him with the punches, and then I stamped the sentiment inside.  I think I need to worry about two of my children taking over my stamping suite now!  What do you think?

So that is his above… and my "inspiration" card below for him.  (Ya, he's not a big football fan!)

And just because I can… here's his cute little signature.  I love his "R"!

Supplies used:

Happiest Birthday Wishes stamp set
Soft Suede ink and cardstock
Pool Party card stock and Designer paper (Attic Boutique from the current Occasions mini) – Notice how stamping some "dirty spots" all over the doilies can take it from girlie to boyish!
Spiral punch
Buttons
White baker's twine

Raining Black and White

I often tell stampers that not every card they make has to be completely different.  Here is a sample of what I mean.

This card was CASEd from the Stampin' Up! demonstrator web site and we used it for Technique Club the other night…

I loved the sharp contrast of the Riding Hood Red ink and the Jet Black Stazon. 
It uses the new Twitterpated Designer Series paper, a jumbo Neutral brad, and of course a "gem" (self adhesive jewel rhinestone).  The stamp set is "Raining Flowers" and the butterfly comes from a Sale A Bration stamp set that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE (the set is SO me it's not funny) called "Elementary Elegance."  The saying comes from "You're a Gem" stamp set.

Now, as sometimes happens, a happy mistake comes along!  One of my card club members messed up the "cloud" with the sentiment.  I don't remember what happened, crooked? smeared?  I don't know.  Doesn't matter.  But, we made the best of it and she stamped another "cloud" on a scrap piece of white and attached it to the card with a dimensional.  I loved it so much I had to make one myself.  It perfectly illustrates how changing up just one aspect of a card (subtly at that) can totally change the look and feel of a card!

What do you think?

To see them side by side…

Fun, right?

I urge you to go find a card you have made already and find one element to change.  See what happens!

September Club Cards

So, here are the cards my Technique Card Club members created this month. 

I put my favorite card in front.  It uses the Always Thankful stamp set currently in the Holiday Mini catalog.  I made this card using a fun fold, slightly different than a traditional card.  And I love those tiny little silver brads!  So fun.  One of the best things of the card, in my opinion is the color combination.  The base is Soft Suede and the designer series paper is the new Peach Parfait.  Those were the colors I was going to stick with but once I had it together I really felt like it needed another color, and surprisingly that color was Cherry Cobbler!  Doesn't sound like a good combination but in the end it really worked!  A great autumn thank you card.

Other stamp sets we used were Patterned Party, French Script, Just Believe and Thank You Kindly.  The techniques we did were the fun fold, multiple colors on a single stamp, water coloring with blender pen, using the stamp a ma jig and layering images. 

My club members seemed to like them and hopefully you find some inspiration in them too!

Loving the Holiday Mini!!

So, just so you know… just because there aren't posts here on my blog doesn't mean I haven't been stamping!!  I've actually been able to do quite a bit of stamping lately, just not a lot of blogging!

So, I have a few minutes before I run out for the evening so I wanted to share one of my most favorite cards right now.  I just LOVE it! It uses a bajillion new things from the Holiday mini and it makes me happy!  I hope it makes you happy too!

I actually had this card as one of the Make and Takes at my last Team Meeting.  Do you see all the NEW things?  Check out the supply list below.  And because it's been a while, I included all the dimensions and some tips on how to make the card as well!  Hope you enjoy!

•Base cardstock: Confetti Cream (8.5” x 11”)

•2nd layer: Early Espresso (5 1/8” x  3 7/8”)

•3rd layer: Garden Green (5” x 3 ¾”)

•4th layer: Holly Berry Bouquet DSP (4 ½” x 3 ¼”)

•Stamp Set: Warmest of Wishes

•Inks: Early Espresso

•Embellishments: Cherry Cobbler Baker’s Twine, Jingle Bells mini, Very Vanilla  Velvet Ribbon

• Accessories:  Stocking Builder Punch, Big Shot, Square Lattice embossing folder, stampin’ sponge,  mini glue dots, paper piercer, dimensionals

Tips:
Run some scrap Early Espresso Card stock through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice embossing folder. Punch out with the Stocking Builder Punch.
Punch out the stockings from the embossed Early Espresso.
Punch out the toe, heel, and trim from scrap Cherry Cobbler card stock.
Sponge the edges of the Cherry Cobbler CS and Garden Green CS.
Adhere the DSP to the Garden Green CS.  Use the piercer to pierce all along the edges.  Adhere to Early Espresso layer.
Wrap the ribbon around the layers with mini glue dots.
Finish assembling card. 
Stockings get attached with dimensionals..
Cherry Cobbler Baker’s Twine gets attached with a mini glue dot.

Designer Series Paper SPECIAL

You may choose any 3 packages of the Designer Series Paper in the current Idea Book & Catalog and Summer Mini Catalog and get one pacakge for FREE!!

Perfect for cards, scrapbooks, and more.  Don't miss out on Stampin' Up!'s exclusive designs and top quality papers.