Cupcake Challenge

I created this cupcake card, cupcake wrapper, cupcake stand, and banner for the Crazy For Cupcakes Creative Challenge on Shelli Gardner's So Shelli Blog.  The challenge was to create anything that featured cupcakes.  Then my upline Jenn, encouraged me to also submit it into the SU-Only Challenge 15 which is Birthday Cards this week. 

I've been influenced by spring.  It seems that lately, I want to create in light, bright spring colours, and this challenge seemed the perfect place to do this.  The banner in the background was created with the banner piece from the Petal Cone Bigz L die and my Big Shot.  I used Designer Series Paper in So Saffron, Baja Breeze, Pink Pirouette, and Certainly Celery.  I mounted these banner pieces onto Linen Thread and accented them with a few punched out flowers from the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack and some medium Basic Pearls Jewels. 

I used Pink Pirouette cardstock, and the Perfect Setting Bigz XL die and my Big Shot to create the cupcake wrapper.  I used the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack to punch out flowers in rose red, whisper white, so saffron, and baja breeze and medium Basic Pearls Jewels to embellish the wrapper. I used Dazzling Diamonds around the edge for a little sparkle.   I created the cupcake stand with Certainly Celery cardstock, the Scallop Circle #2 Die and the Round Tab Punch (I've included a small tutorial at the end of this blog).  Medium Basic Pearls Jewels add a gorgeous finishing touch to the cupcake stand.

The matching card is a 3" x 6 " card (which will fit perfectly in Stampin Up's Small Open-End Envelopes) in pretty in pink.  I also used Designer Series Paper in Baja Breeze, So Saffron, and Pink Pirouette, to accent the card.  I folded up a piece of Sweet Stitches Dsp and sewed across it with my sewing machine.  The cupcake images are from the Crazy for Cupcakes set, and stamped onto Watercolor Paper with StazOn.  I used Blender Pens and ink in pink pirouette, chocolate chip, baja breeze, and rose red to color in the image. I added Dazzling Diamonds to the icing on the cupcakes, and Crystal Effects to the cherries.  The image is popped up with Dimensionals, and a sweet little button in pretty in pink from the Subtles Designer Buttons finishes up the card nicely.  

To create the cupcake stand, I cut some cardstock into a 3" x 11" strip.  I then scored at 1 3/8" intervals. then alternated valley fold, and mountain folds. 

I then used the Round Tab punch to punch each section while folded to create each of the "legs" of the table.

Then glue all sections together, and it will look like this.  The top of the stand is cut from the Scallop Circles #2 die.

Hope you enjoy this cupcake challenge as much as I did!

Gonna Miss Bliss

Well, my post today is going to be short and sweet............I've been away all weekend (on a DATE weekend with my hubby).  It was awesome! Got to take a bubble bath in one of those huge hotel bathtubs with NO kids at the bathroom door saying "Mooommmm......what are you dooooing in there?..........are you taking a bath?..........can I come in too?  Thanks to my brother-in-law for babysitting while we were away.  And thanks to Natasha for holding down the fort and posting for me while I was away :). 

I have to say that Bliss is one of my favorite sets from Sale-a-bration.  I love how detailed and versatile the images are.  For all the ladies from my stamp club and classes who got this set free during Sale-a-bration, I wanted to share a couple of ideas for this set.  For those of you who would still like to get this set, it is still available for 4 more days (free with a minimum $60 order).  Contact me to get yours today!

Products used for this project:
Stamp Sets: Bliss, Tiny Tags
Card Stock: Textured Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, First Edition DSP.
Inks: Baja Breeze, Early Espresso
Assessories:  Framed Tulips Embossing Folder (sponged with Early Espresso to make the details pop), Pearls, Mini Vintage Tags, Baja Breeze Seam Binding, Dimensionals, Sponge.

This card also features the Bliss set. The card measures 3" x 6", and fits perfectly into Stampin Ups Small Open-Ended Envelopes (107286 pg. 171)

Products used for this project:
Stamp Sets: Bliss
Card Stock: Textured Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Early Espresso.
Inks: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Rich Razzleberry
Assessories:  Linen Thread, Vintage Trinkets, Pearls, Curly Label Punch, Dimensionals.

 

Actually, I have to say how proud of myself I am.  Both of these cards are actually quite simple and don't take a ton of products to replicate................AND............they both lie flat and fit into envelopes! (hee hee Natasha).    Well, hope you like the cards, and that this gives you a couple of ideas on how to use that gorgeous stamp set you got for FREE during Sale-a-bration.  

Beveled Windowpanes - Part 2

I'm loving the beveled windowpanes!! Which is a bit of a surprise since my first thought when i saw them in the mini was -- how the heck do you use those thingys..they are too small to do anything with.. ; )

I'm finding that they are so versatile. You can dress them up in many different ways!! You can switch up the sizes, images, ribbons that anchor them down!!..there are so many options. The images look so cute with the "window" over it!! For my stamp club card we used the biggest windowpane and for my DL get together this month we used the medium and smaller sizes. At first i played around and created this card:

Products used for this project:
Stamp Set: Bliss (SAB)
Card Stock: Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Bashful Blue, First Edition DSP (Occasions Mini Pg. 25)
Inks: Bashful Blue, Early Espresso, Soft Suede.
Accessories: Beveled Windowpanes (Occasions Mini Pg. 29), Chantilly Crochet Trim Lace, Linen Thread, Neutrals Button, Curly Label Punch, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, Tearing Edge, Distresser, Dimensional, Glue Dots, Sponge.

But then i couldn't get enough of the beveled windowpanes and became a bit more creative. I decided that this was the card i wanted my girls to create at the DL get together:

it was perfect....i used the same colours but switched up the look by using different stamp sets. For the background i used the Medallion background stamp and for the main image i used the crown from Clearly for you. I added shimmer paint to the crown and changed up the beveled windowpane (used a smaller one).

Products used for this project:
Stamp Sets: Medallion Background, Clearly for You (Occasions Mini Pg. 12)
Card Stock: Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Bashful Blue, First Edition DSP (Occasions Mini Pg. 25)
Inks: Bashful Blue, Early Espresso, Soft Suede.
Accessories: Beveled Windowpanes (Occasions Mini Pg. 29), Chantilly Crochet Trim Lace, Linen Thread, Neutrals Button, Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint, Curly Label Punch, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, Tearing Edge, Distresser, Dimensional, Glue Dots, Sponge.

After a few days of deciding what else we were going to create at the DL get together i sat down at my craft table and the beveled windowpanes were still there.... so instead of putting them away i decided to create yet another beveled windowpane card. AND yes you guest it.. i thought to myself THIS IS IT..!! this is the card for my DL get together!!

Well since i loved each and everyone of the beveled windowpane cards i created and couldn't really decide which one to pre-cut for the get together i let the ladies decide which one was their favorite. Everyone chose what card they wanted to create and I loved seeing the end result when they were all finished. I love seeing everyone's different styles and creativity.

Products used for this product:
Stamp Set: Medallion Background, Clearly for You (Occasions Mini Pg. 12)
Card Stock: Baja Breeze, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, First Edition DSP (Occasions Mini Pg. 25)
Inks: Baja Breeze and Crumb Cake
Accessories: Beveled Windowpanes (Occasions Mini Pg. 29), Baja Breeze Seam Binding Ribbon, Early Espresso 1/8" Taffeta, Neutrals Button, Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint, Curly Label Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, Tearing Edge, Distresser, Dimensional, Glue Dots, Sponge.

Hope you like... : )

Beveled Windowpanes - Part 1

My Club girls created this card at Stamp Club this month. I CASED the design from Sarah Wills. Click here to view Sarah's step by step tutorial on how to prepare and cut the quilted top note piece.

Beveled Windowpanes are featured in SU's Current Occasions Mini Catty (Pg. 28). These little gems highlight images beautifully and give them a glassy look. They come in a pack of 12 (3 different sizes) – they have ribbon slides on two sides so that you can anchor them to your project.

Products used for this project:
Stamp Set: Fabulous Phrases, Nature Walk (Occasions Mini pg 27)
Card Stock: Baja Breeze, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Springtime Vintage DSP (Occasions Mini pg 15)
Ink: Early Espresso
Accessories: SU Anywhere Glue Stick, 1 1/4" Square Punch, 1" Circle Punch, Neutrals Brads, Beveled Windowpane, 3/8" Twill Tape, Line Thread, Top Note Die.



___________________________________________________________

I created this card with my Stampin Buddy Louise. This was our first attempt to create on our own. (we can't help but CASE!!-such great talent out there!!) We decided to challenge ourselves to come up with our own designs. How we are easing ourselves into self creating is we'll take turns each week, alternating weeks one of us will come up with a design of our own and then bring the card and all the supplies to create the card to our weekly meet up. Louise shared this card with me a couple weeks ago. I don't think she could get the card out of her bag quick enough. I was so anxious to see what card i was about to make!! I was sitting on the edge of my chair....and was super thrilled to see what she came up with!! I absolutely love her design and how she Incorporated the colour Blushing Bride with the earthy colours. I love how Louise backed the beveled windowpane onto the scallop square and how she anchored it down with the fabulous Crochet Trim Lace, just brilliant!! love..love it..! Next week I'll show you the design i came up in the attempt to create on my own.. ; ) (wink wink)

Products used for this project:
Stamp Set: Sanded Background, Tiny Tags, You're a Gem (Occasions Mini Pg. 25)
Card Stock: Early Espresso, Blushing Bride, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla
Ink: Early Espresso and Blushing Bride
Marker: Early Espresso
Accessories: Scallop Square Punch, Victoria Crochet Trim, Metallic Brads, Linen Thread, Sponge

You can also view the Occasions Mini online by clicking HERE – you can find the Beveled Windowpanes are on pg 28…they come in a pack of 12, 4 of each size – 1″ x 1″, 1″ x 1 1/4″ and 1 1/2″ x 2″…



I'll be sharing a couple other Beveled Windowpane Cards in my next post.

Crumpled Flower Card {Tutorial}

Well, a few days ago, I posted a picture of this card (which I cased from Stampin Success magazine, and tweaked a little tiny bit) and told you that I would be posting a free tutorial on how to put it together.  The ladies who attended my club/classes this month received all the bits to put this card together, and now here are the steps for them to follow.  You can follow along too.  Just add your own paper and punches, or contact me to order some for yourself.  All products used are by Stampin Up.  I would be happy to place an order for you, or put together a precut kit for you to make these yourself.  You will just have to add your own sentiment.

To make this card, you will need: 

5 1/2" x 8 3/8" Crumb Cake cardstock, scored at 4 1/2" (one side will be a little shorter to allow for trim)

5" x 2 1/2" Very Vanilla cardstock

5" x 2  1/2" First Edition DSP

5 1/2 " x 1" Pear Pizzazz cardstock, cut with Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch

3" x 3" cardstock in Pink Pirouette, Rose Red, Peach Parfait, and Pear Pizzazz

Linen Thread

Mini Library Clip

Dimensionals

Snail Adhesive

Tombow Multipurpose Adhesive

Stampin Mist

Big Shot

Fun Flowers Bigz L Die

Cut one of each of the more "pointed" flower from the Fun Flowers die in each of the colours, Pink Pirouette, Rose Red, Peach Parfait, and Pear Pizzazz out with your Big Shot. 

You will need to remove a little of the bulk from each of the flowers before crumpling them.  Do this by folding the flower in half and roughly cut out a circle from the centre of each flower. 

 Next, spray each flower with a little Stampin Mist, and rougly crumple it in your hand. 

 It will look like this:

Holdng the petals, slowly gather and pinch them together until they look approximately like this: 

 Each flower will look different.  No two will look the same.  Don't worry, if yours don't look exactly like this.  They all look good once they are dry.  

 Set them aside, and let them dry while you complete the rest of the card.

Cut out the Pear Pizzazz trim with the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch.  Fold your precut and prescored piece of Crumb Cake cardstock in half, and glue the Pear Pizzazz trim to the inside of the front of the card (the shorter side of the two sides) down to the inside so that approximately half of the trim is peeking out from the outside. 

 Glue the First Edition DSP down to the Very Vanilla cardstock to give it more weight.  Use dimensionals to adhere this to the front of the card.  Glue down the crumpled flowers with Tombow Multipurpose Adhesive.  Clip on a Mini Library Clip, and wrap the card a few times with Linen Thread, and tie into a bow.  Finally, stamp the front of the card with a sentiment of your choice.  I used "just for you" from the Just Believe stamp set in Early Espresso.

Voila!  You are done!

 Dying to put this sweet little card together, but don't have all the stuff to do it?  Precut kits are available! All you have to supply is the sentiment stamp, and your own adhesives.   Cost is $2.00 per card.  Shipping is available for an extra $1.50 (total, whether you order one card, or ten :) ) Payment by cash, cheque, or paypal.  Canadian orders only please :).   Email me if you are interested in a kit, and I can provide you with more information. 

Happy Stamping!  P.S.  I fear that Natasha is going to give me a lot of grief over this card/post -- she doesn't think I know how to make anything flat that will fit in an envelope.......as I look back over my posts, I realize she's RIGHT.  I'm not capable of doing clean and simple -- or something that can lay flat and fit in an envelope -- hee hee -- but I'm WORKING on it Natasha -- really, I am!

 

Spring is Here! (and so are the Daffodils)

Happy first day of Spring!  Well, as Natasha already mentioned, her, our friend Louise, and myself all challenged ourselves to make a card for at least two challenges this week.  I'm with Natasha....this really was hard for me and took me outside the box.  It's the first time I've ever done a sketch challenge or a colour challenge!


We decided to challenge ourselves with a sketch challenge #182 from Mojo Monday ,
 
and a colour challenge #76 from ColourQ ,

and then I decided to go really crazy and try to combine all of that with Stampin Royalty's challenge #63 which is TEXTURIZE!  

Wow!  That is a lot to pack into one little card.  But..........I'm thrilled how it turned out.  I'm really finding out first hand how these challenges stretch you. These colours made me think of SPRING, and this is what I can up with: 

I used whisper white cardstock as a base.  Sponged Daffodil Delight DSP with Daffodil Delight ink, set onto Early Espresso Cardstock, and stitched around the edge with espresso thread to add texture.  The daffodil is made with a combination of petals from the Blossoms Petal Punch (white petals), the Fun Flowers Die (yellow trumpet), and the stamens are cut from snowflakes from the Northern Frost Decorative Strip Die (cut out in DD and the ends marked with EE marker). Once I had the white petals cut out, I really worked them with a foam mat and a stylus to bring them to life and add more texture.  I glued them to the back of a very small 6 petal flower (which I cupped with the stylus first to give it shape too).  The yellow trumpet is sponged around the edges with DD ink to add depth and also help to bring it to life.  I curled out the edges with my Paper Piercer.   The leaves are cut freehand in Old Olive and texturized with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder, then sponged with OO ink, and curled to give even more texture .  The Kiwi Kiss background is embossed with the Elegant Bouquet Embossing Folder 


Products used for this project:
Stamp Set: Tiny Tags
Card Stock: Daffodil Delight, Kiwi Kiss, Old Olive, Early Espresso, and Whisper White
Ink:  Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Early Espresso (marker)
Accessories: Elegant Bouquet Embossing Folder, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Fun Flowers Die, Northern Frost Decorative Strip Sizzlet, Blossoms Petal Punch, Scallop Trim Border Punch,  Basic Pearls, Linen Thread, Mini Vintage Tags, and sewing machine.

Challenges entered with this project:
Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge #182
ColourQ Challenge #76
Stampin Royalty's Challenge #63

Happy Stamping!

P.S.  For those ladies who are looking for the tutorial on how to put our club card from this month together, I will be posting that next :)

Sale-a-bration Stamp a Stack Card..

There is less then 2 weeks left to earn FREE product with SU's biggest promotion of the year ---- Sale-a-bration! I've totally taken advantage of SAB this year and so should you. There are some fantastic SAB products this year: Exclusive Stamp Sets, Designer Series Paper (DSP), Ribbon, Buttons.. Digital CD and much much more....you can even choose sets from the Idea Book and Catalogue! If you haven't taken advantage of FREE products then you better hurry on over to my website and check out the online catalogues and pick your must have items from your wish list and earn some FREE products!! ; ) For each $60 you purchase (before shipping and taxes) you will receive a free product from the SAB Mini.

Here is a card the girls created at my recent Stamp a Stack (SAS) card class. The layout was designed by Heather Wnek. I received her swap card at Leadership this past January. I just love the layout and how she incorporated the Elegant Lines Embossing folder. It ties in nice with the bright colours. To Colour the flowers and greeting we used Markers. If you don't have the markers NOW is a GREAT time to get them. I'm offering a SAB Marker Bundle from now until the 26th of March. Here are the Details:

Get the Marker Bundle!
Earn FREE product!

Stampin' Up! offers a set of EXCLUSIVE MARKERS featuring dual tips! One end is a fine tip for writing & journaling and the other is a brush tip for artistic flare!

Markers can be used to colour stamped images OR you can colour directly onto your stamp before stamping~it's like having all 43 ink pads!!!

Markers come in our 38 colours (there are no markers for Whisper White or Very Vanilla), and 5 "in-colours". These markers coordinate with SU's ink, card stock, embellishments and Stampin' Pastels! They are acid-free and great for scrapbooking!

Get the Marker Bundle!
Stampin' Write Markers, 119806, $135.95
In-Colour Markers, 119801, $19.95
Colour Spitzer Tool, 107066, $16.95
4 packs of assorted card stock: 2 of each 40 colours
to coordinate with your markers: $34

Bundle Also Includes:
The storage case
THREE free SAB stamp sets
Level One Hostess stamp set
$20 in FREE merchandise

Simply EMAIL me with your Selections and the entire order will be shipped to your home!

(This special is being offered through me, Natasha Hein - Stampin Up Demonstrator and will expire March 28th 2011. Canadian Customers only....thank you)

When i recreated the card i switched out the Red Satin Ribbon she had originally used and added the Red Polka Dot Ribbon instead! (i have TONS of red polka dot ribbon..just had to use some of it up!! if you need any let me know....wink wink..)
The bling in the middle of the flower finishes the card off perfectly!! Here is a close up so you can see the bling...

Hope you like... : )

Products used for this project:
Stamp Set: Punch Bunch (SAB 2011)
Card Stock: Early Espresso, Marina Mist, Pear Pizzazz, Daffodil Delight, Real Red; Whisper White
Marker: Marina Mist, Pear Pizzazz, Early Espresso,
Accessories: Big Shot - Two tags die, Elegant Lines Embossing folder, Scallop punch, 1 3/8" Circle punch, 1 1/4" Circle punch, Jewels - Basic Rhinestones, Red Polk Dot Ribbon (retired)

Happy St. Patrick's Day! - And a Challenge or Two..!

This card was inspired by and created for my wonderful friend Louise!! We meet up once a week to stamp our hearts out, chat and of course laugh alot!! This week Leigha met up with us as well. Oh what fun we had!! Louise was excited to make Leigha's St. Patrick's Pot of Gold! As we chatted a little bit about the project I said ...I love love Leigha's project it's so genius --- petal cone die -----> pot of gold!! BUT..oh no here comes the embarrassing part... i said i love making little treats and stuff BUT who makes St. Patrick's Day cards..??? then in the awkwardness of the silence i said "Louise, you like creating St. Partick's Day cards??... you did a swap last year..!! ---------So apparently Louise is Irish..hum...--yes that was a DUH! moment for me!! ; ) i think i should of known that..?

Louise, Leigha and i decided to challenge ourselves this week. Last week Leigha had fun with Stampin' Royalty Challenge and was top 3 pick..--yeah..serously some wicked talent in that girl i tell ya!! So this week the game is on..! AND i'm in serious trouble. Me, Ms. CASER.. really had to think for a minute before i agreed to enter any challenge! I'm not good at creating from scratch. Well i defiantly can create on my own but it takes me a bit to think..! (yes make fun behind my back.... wink wink). I think it's the time...i wish i could just come up with a brilliant idea..!! I don't get much time to sit and create so casing comes easy. But really what better way to challenge ourselves!! We picked Mojo Monday 182 they provide a sketch so really you just have to get your thinking cap on and look around at all your craft products to see how you can incorporate them into the sketch design. We also thought we'd do a colour challenge from ColourQ Challenge #76. Me being bright at times thinks this is great -- i could do 2 challenges with ONE card..!! I'd have a sketch design already for me along with colours to work with..! ...HOW COULD I NOT CREATE a half decent card..right? so i said sure i'll give it a try!! I'm pretty happy with the outcome of my card.. actually pretty impressed and a little surprised at the same time..! When i saw the Colour Challenge i was inspired by Louise's Irishness and decided to create a St. Patrick's day card for her!!

I used the smallest heart on the Heart to Heart punch to create the four leaf clover. To glue it together i used the Shamrock looking punch from Itty Bitty Shapes punch pack. Once punched out i then attached the hearts to the leaf like shape parts as shown here:


I also coloured the pearl in the middle. I used a drop of reinker.. let it sit for a bit then heated it. Then let it sit to fully dry. (melted my first try with the heat gun). When it was fully dry i then sprayed hairspray on it..? hum.. i didn't have anything else crafty to help make the colour stay on. -- has anyone figure this out.. how to colour the pearls?


Hope you like... : )



Products used for this Project:
Stamp Set: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Card Stock: Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Old Olive, Brights DSP pack (Old Olive and Daffodil Delight)
Accessories: Elegance Embossing folder, Circles #2 Die, 2 3/8" Scallop Punch, Heart to Heart Punch, Oval punch (for stem), Pearls, Old Olive reinker, White Satin Ribbon, Red Sticky Strip, Stampin Dimensional and Distresser.

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I thought i'd share this cute little plant Leigha brought me. She put a simple touch to it that of course WOWed me cuz i would never think of dressing up a plant!! She used the Petal Card Punch and added a ribbon, button and a cute message. Sorry i can't show you the little message inside cuz it's a super duper "private" message!! ; ) ; )
I just had to share the cuteness of the project and let her now how much she made my day and put a giant smile on my face..!! Thanks Leigha..!