321 Stamp: Launching Creativity

Graduation Cap Fun-Fold Card

This is the cutest graduation card ever. First a shout out to my friend and fellow demonstrator Dawn Olchefske who made this card three years ago and shared a video on her blog. She said then she CASEd the idea from Pam Hoffman. My adjustment is to use the Diagonal Simply Scored Plate that you use with Stampin' Up's great SImply Scored board to make this so much easier to make. You can watch Dawn's video here for background and tips -- and then my version and adjusted directions are below.

I used the great current stamp set Pure Gumption from the current 2013-14 Stampin' Up catalog.

Here's the inside when it's unfolded:

And here are my instructions:

Navy card stock piece: 4¼” by 9¾”

- Put this in the Simply Scored horizontal (with no added insert plate -- just the straight, built-in lines) and score at the 5½” mark (rubbing card stock with wax paper can help stylus glide easier)

- Insert the Diagonal Plate, arrow on the back pointing up. Put the blue piece back in with the 5½” straight score line you already made matched up with 5½” marker again.

- Score diagonally with your stylus starting at the marker that’s at 3 & 3/8.” Flip the card stock over so you can score the other way diagonally to make an X, again with the straight score lined up with the 5½” marker. You're scoring all the way around the card stock each time.

- Fold on straight line so right sides are together; unfold, then fold each diagonal separately so the insides are together. Push in your folds and you've made your base.

- Now you nead to cut the top into a diamond shape to make the cap. Mark top of Navy card at center point – 2 &1/8”. Line up diagonal score mark and the 2 & 1/8" tick mark to cut diagonal and repeat for other side of top of cap. This turns it into a square.

Inside layers: White CS: 2½” square; 4” by 5¼” rectangle. Mark one end of larger rectangle piece at 2” center mark then 2” down the side from each top corner. Use tick marks to line up and cut diagonally.

Inside Designer Paper mat: 2¾” square.

Ribbon Tassel: 8” piece of Taffeta or Grosgrain. Fold in half and tie an overhand knot at folded end. Cut off one selvage edge and pull vertical threads to make tassel strands. Repeat on other tail, trimming off leftover parts to just leave the vertical threads you pulled loose. The last pieces you trim off look like eyelashes and would be great to use as trim on the dress die.

Enjoy and like I said -- watching Dawn's video may help my adjusted directions make more sense.

Dolled Up Birthday Kit

The newest card kit, voted on by Stampin' Up's facebook page fans, is here!

Stampin' Up's second Submit a Project kit--the Dolled-Up Birthday Kit--is based on a birthday card created by fellow SU demonstrator Chris G.

The Dolled-Up Birthday kit includes the following:

• Dolled-Up Birthday Photopolymer Stamp (1)
• 8-1/2" x 5-1/2" Crumb Cake Cardstock (6 pieces)
• 2" x 4-1/4" Very Vanilla Cardstock (6 pieces)
• Very Vanilla Medium Envelopes (6)
• Tea Lace Paper Doilies (6)
• Dress Up die-cuts (6)
• Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Spot (1)
• Vanilla 5/8" Flower Trim (6 pieces)
• Sponge Dauber (1)

Get everything you need to make six cards for only $15.95 (item 133913)!*

You can buy this in my online store or on any order placed with me.

Twisted Greeting Card - Sycamore Street and a Posy

I'm back with another version of that twisted greeting card from my last post. This one shows off the Sycamore Street Designer Series Paper that you can get for free during Sale-a-bration (it can be one of your free items for a $50 order).

I love the accent on the front -- made from the Pop-Up Posies Designer Kit in the Spring Occasions Catalog. Love it! (item 131395 -- it makes pretty flowers, and has tags and comes with the cute "Just for You" stamp as well).

Here's the inside:

And if you missed the last post, it had my tips and a link to the video from the designer who first made this card design. Here's a link to look at that.

Twisted Greeting Card - A Valentine Gift Card Holder

I first saw this twisted greeting card idea on the special Stampin' Connection website that's open just to Stampin' Up Demonstrators. It was designed by fellow demonstrator Kelly Gettelfinger who also shared a video about how to make it (I'll share that link later in this post -- plus my tips). Then I got a valentine version in a swap from fellow demo Kelly Acheson and it was a sign that I needed to make one! My version was a hit at my January stamp clubs and demonstrator team event.

I often change a few things -- and I did here as well. In Kelly G's original she used the Simply Scored for the scoing -- but with the new Stampin' Trimmer available (which also scores) it was easier to use that -- very easy to make diagonal scores on the Trimmer by living your corners up with the single scoring track. I'm going to share the link to her video and you'll see how she did that with the Simply Scored. My other slight change was that I had my designer paper cut to 10.5 inches long by 3 & 7/8" tall -- just an 1/8 of an inch wider than Kelly's but it fit just a little better for me on the card.

Here's the inside and you can see how it makes a pocket for a gift card:

One more trick to share that I devised after lots of trial and error. Decide which side of your double-sided  paper you want to be predominant -- for me that meant which side would be on the larger top parts of the card -- and then when you line up the corners to make your first diagonal cut, be sure your paper is "leanng to the left" as I like to say. So I had a triangle to the top left, and one to the bottom right. Any other way and the paper sides would not fit like I wanted later.

Click here to watch Kelly's video about this card.

Next post I'll show you a different version of this fun fold card!

Chalkboard Technique with From My Heart

The Chalkboaard Technique has been all the rage around cyberspace lately and I knew Stampin' Up's "From the Heart" stamp set would be perfect. (Item 126555 - wood and 126557 in clear mount). My stamp clubs in January -- and demonstrators at our team meeting -- loved making this card. They could choose from two sayings and two color schemes.

The border image comes from the Madison Avenue stamp set that is available free with a $50 order (U.S.) right now through Mar. 22. The punched four-petal flower image from the Itty Bitty Punch Pack (item 118309) fits PERFECTLY inside -- love that look. Hard to tell in these photos but there is a tiny stick-on pearl in the center of each card stock flower.

The chalkboard technique starts with black card stock and images that are heat embossed with White embossing powder (I like to stamp with Versmark clear ink and use white powder -- the Versamark gives a nice clean image). Then you can stamp some images if you like in plain white pigment/craft ink -- but I did not do that on these cards -- I did use the white pigment ink though to look like leftover chalk marks on the "board/" The idea is to rub bits of ink where it would look like the board had been erased a lot or to highlight parts of your saying.I just used a soft tissue to apply the ink and then burnish it in.

Also key to the look is adding some lines or doodling with a white pencil -- any white pencil will do. I used the one from my kids' Crayola pencil set and also a nice Prismacolor one -- the look is the same. A grid ruler made sure my lines were straight.

Vintage Verses, which is another free Sale-a-bration set right now, would be so perfect for this technique as well! This whole technique goes so well with my love of school supplies. This would be a great thank you card or set of cards to give a teacher.

Happy Super Bowl Day! Who are you cheering for?

A Quick & Easy Card for Sale-a-bration

If you're like me, sometimes you need a card in a hurry and with Stampin' Up's biggest annual promotion starting today, I wanted to share this card made with the Sycamore Street Designer Series Paper (item #127540) that you can earn free!

Plus I want to be sure you know to sign up for my newsletter list in the sign-up box below my photo in the left column as I'm sharing six weeks of bonus project ideas using Sale-bration stamp sets through a special newsletter series. (If you already get my newsletter and received my 12-weeks of Christmas ideas recently, then you're on the list for this special series.)

This is my go-to layout for quick cards: the Summer Starfruit base is 4 & 1/4" by 11" -- folded to 5 & 1/2" and the designer paper starts at 4" by 5 & 1/4". I cut the paper and flipped the top part so the back side shows (cut at the amount you like, in this case 2": so the bottom part is 3 & 1/4". The Rich Razzleberry stitched ribbon covers the "seam."

The greeting is from the set called Blessings from Heaven -- punched out with the Extra-Large Oval punch (item #119859) and layered onto a Razzleberry mat punched with the Decorattive Label punch (item #120907).

Quick, easy -- and best of all from today through March 22 each $50 ordered in the U.S. earns you a free Sale-a-bration item, and your choice could be this beautiful package of twelve, 12 by 12 inch sheets of double-sided paper! Click my "Order Online" link in the right column to browse for your goodies.

New Single Stamps Available

You wanted more? You got more! We've had a great response so far to our experiment with single stamps. So much so that we are making ten more never-before-seen images available as single stamps available through March 31, 2013.

These stamps are available on any order type-customer, workshop, or online. These won't be sent in our typical cases or packaging; they'll be packaged in cello bags. If you'd like a case for your stamp, you can buy our Clear-Mount Stamp Cases that come in packs of four (item 119105). This offer is available for clear-mount stamps only. There's no limit on how many pieces you can buy.

You can see the new images by clicking here. Here's just a sample of the ten new exclusive designs that are not part of any larger sets. (not shown actual size here)

These stamps are only available through March 31, 2013, so get them while you can!

Real Men Stamp with the new Dude, You're Welcome stamp set

You asked, and we listened! We're excited to introduce our new, very manly stamping kit: the Dude, You're Welcome! kit.

 

Guys don't always have the easiest time expressing themselves, but with the Dude, You're Welcome! kit, they'll have:

- Four wood-mount stamps (double-mounted) with the perfect sentiment for every occasion

- Twelve 4" x 6" postcards in four different (manly) colors

- Twelve gray envelopes

- A Basic Gray Classic Stampin' Pad

- An instructional guide (for the most novice stamper!)

Basically, the kit includes everything a dude needs to create the perfect manly card that any woman would adore, all packaged in an appropriately masculine box.

It's item 132807 Dude, You're Welcome! Kit for  $24.95

Visit my online store to learn more about this exciting new kit (and it may be for men -- but dude, I like it, too and can see using this to make cards for the dudes in my life!)

And click here to read a very funny blog post from one of the men at Stampin' Up's corporate office who was  involved in developing the set!

Affection Collection Goes Golden

I wanted a glammed up valentine that would work as well for a December wedding card if needed. Affection Collection is an awesome stamp set in the Holiday Catalog that will be gone as of Jan. 2 when the holiday catalog ends. It's a great set -- so great for many things.

I got the background idea from a card I saw in our Stampin' Connection private demostrator site -- to combine the two embossing folders (the Fancy Fan and Delicate Designs lace one). I wanted to glam it up using our gold shimmer card stock. It's a knock out in person -- photos do not do it justice. Big hit at Nov. stamp clubs. FYI -- the lace edge is cut with the coordinating Big Scallop Edgelit before it was embossed. Cutting before keeps your pretty embossing from being "smushed" while cutting after.

A card by Jason of jk cards inspired the focal point. I changed up his layering to a love greeting and added some champagne glimmer paper. Just use the modern label punch for the saying and the glimmer layer (cut in half and attached with glue dots to stick out on each end).

Can't believe I forgot to photograph the inside! Will describe now and try to add it later. White card stock with the wing image from the stamp set in Midnight Muse; the word "Always" in Raspberry Ripple added above the wings; and small punched glimmer champagne heart over the heart in the wing image. Simple glamour. Great for any sweetie or like I said, as a wedding card.

Ink and card stock colors are Midnight Muse, Raspberry Ripple, Whisper White, Gold Shimmer and the Champagne Glimmer.

Take Your Greetings High Tech with Talking Tag & A New Way to Add Texture

With Talking Tag, you can send a gift that is uniquely you. Talking Tag is a message label you can attach to cards, invitations, gifts . . . anything! Personalize birthday cards, Christmas gifts or even record quick instructions for a project. Now your pictures really can say a thousand words!

How to send a voice message:

1. Download the FREE TalkingTagT App on you smartphone from talkingtag.mobi, iTunes® or Google PlayT.
2. Adhere the message tag to your card or gift.
3. Open TalkingTagT App and scan the code.
4. Record your message (recording starts immediately, so make sure your ready!).

You will have the opportunity to listen, re-record, cancel, or confirm your message after you've completed recording it. Each label allows up to 60 seconds of a greeting, song, or product message.

To play the message, recipients will need to download the app and scan the code.  Messages are saved for two years, so they can listen to it over and over.

How to Buy Talking Tags:

Buy 'em by the sheet from my online store or from me directly! You get 10 tags for just $7.95 (item 129723).

Here's a video about how it works:

 

Now here's news of another new item for Stampin' Up -- a smaller Sizzix machine that will use embossing folders to add texture to your paper crafting projects.

Due to our partnership with Sizzix, we are pleased to be able to offer a test run of the Texture Boutique Embossing Machine in our North American markets. We have 4,000 available to be sold only while supplies last. If this product test goes well, we may offer the Texture Boutique again in the future.

The Texture Boutique works with Textured Impressions Embossing Folders to transform ordinary cardstock, paper, metallic foil, or vellum into an embossed, textured masterpiece. This machine embosses only; it does not die cut.

'Tis the season of giving, and the Texture Boutique makes a wonderful gift for anyone who wants to create their own elegant embossed art. To help you with your gift-giving needs, we're offering a special value bundle that saves you $5.90. If you prefer, you can also purchase the Texture Boutique alone. Looking for stocking stuffers? Pick up some additional embossing folders.

Texture Boutique Bundle
Item 132700
$39.95 (a $45.85 value)
Includes

• Texture Boutique Embossing Machine, 1 Pair of Standard Embossing Pads, 1 Mylar Shim
• Flower Garden Textured Impressions Embossing Folder-Stampin' Up! exclusive
• Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder-Stampin' Up! exclusive

Texture Boutique Embossing Machine
Item 132657
$29.95
Includes

• Texture Boutique Embossing Machine, 1 pair of Standard Embossing Pads, 1 Mylar Shim

And here's another video about this item:

 

Whew -- that's lots of news but it's all exciting. And you will want to check back tomorrow, Nov. 16 -- as I will have news about our upcoming Online Sale Extravaganza just in time for the start of the holiday shopping season.