Operation Write Home

I enjoy using rather than tossing my cardfront swaps after they retire.  I can only use so many of certain types of cards, so I attach them to a white or ivory cardbase and donate them to Operation Write Home.  The charity sends a box of cards to a contact who distributes the cards among their military unit/group for the hero to send a card home to a friend or family member.  Cards written TO a hero are also included so that those who don't normally receive mail get one as well, but the main focus is cards for the heroes to send home.

This year I had some retired cardfronts, but what I really needed to use was retired carstock from Stampin' Up!'s last color renovation.  I was able to use some Western images (both current and retired) and the Motorcycle from last year's Summer Mini Catalog for Father's Day cards and the Manhattan Flower Rose embossing folder to create Mother's Day cards.  I had help in making the Rose cards and Motorcycle cards from my church women's group and from my stamper friends who helped after class one day.  My daughter Emma helped with the Western cards as well. All in all it is an enjoyable and easy way for me to clean up my craft area without being wasteful, and all together Operation Write Home received 192 cards.

If you'd like to read more about Operation Write Home, here is a link to their website: http://operationwritehome.org/

Stampin' Addicts Sale-A-Bration Blog Hop 2011

Welcome Stamping Friends to the Stampin' Addicts Sale-A-Bration Blog Hop! 

This is the first stop on our trip, but you may have arrived from Cheryl's Blog, Love to Stamp and Scrap, where you enjoyed her lovely creations with Thank You Kindly. Should you get lost or want to chat about the blog hop, visit the Blog Hop Chat Thread on Stampin' Addicts for a list of all the participating blogs in order.

I really enjoy the So Happy for You Sale-A-Bration set...Five great sentiments plus 5 adorable mini stamps that make for an easy quick card! This set is a good one to have on hand, for making a variety set of cards to give as a gift or for creating a card kit of stamped cards and separate sentiment labels that can be added when the occasion arises.  The red card sketch is Paula's Stampin' Addicts Sketch Challenge #60.

The Emboss Resist Masking card below uses each image in light colors that are perfect for a spring birthday...Using a different color circle sponging on each image makes them really pop.  This card is my sample for both this week's Fun Fold Technique on Stampin' Addicts and for next week's Technique challenge to use both Emboss Resist and Masking in some way.  Stop by and check out any of the challenges!

It doesn't have to be about the sentiments though....sometimes it's all about the bling!  Contrary to the vintage chic design usually applied for the petal cones, I added random large and medium rhinestones (with Mono Multi glue for a secure hold) as well as small rhinestones in the center of each stamped flower and on the butterfly for a sparkly modern look. The Petal Cone is a perfect box for a gift of earrings or trinkets, and this set of colors would be adorable in a girl's room.

Finally, this set is great when its sentiments are combined with other sets such as the baby sleeper from the A Slice of Life Hostess Level 1 set in the Occasions Mini Catalog.  I used the Mojo Monday Sketch 175 ( MOJO175 ) for this card, and I enjoy the substitution of a safety pin for the hatpin and addition of the mini button brads at the bottom right. Adding a couple of embossed texture layers made this card quick yet interesting.

Now click on over to stop number two, Jennifer's Sunflower Stamper blog for a look at her pretty and fun ideas for the Punch Bunch Sale-A-Bration set!  I hope you enjoy the hop!

  

Treat Cup Poppy Parade Designer Series Paper Card

I so enjoy the Hostess Level 1 designer series paper pack, so I showcased a few Poppy Parade colored pieces in this Treat Cup Valentine.  The heart from the Sweet Centers set and the LOVE heart from the I Heart Hearts set combined with a few punches from the Heart to Heart punch for a flurry of patterned fun.

I have seen the method for getting the treats out without tearing up the card in several places, but I'm sorry I don't remember exactly where.  I'm not sure if I saw using a 3X3 card to make it easy to punch the 1-3/4 inch circle or not, but it will be much more enjoyable this way for class. :)

Swaps are so Fun-Occasions Mini 2011

I love to join card swaps in which I send 10 or so of the same card and get back 10 different cards, and recently I swapped this card made with the Eat Chocolate Set.

One of the WOW swaps I received in return was this one from Cheryl Wilcox.  This card uses the new Build a Blossom set and Blossom Petals Punch to a beautiful and striking effect.  Cheryl is participating with us in this weekend's Sale-A-Bration Blog Hop with Stampin' Addicts, so be sure to check back for more fun things!

Cocoa Powder Embossed Cupcake with Stampin' Up!'s new Create A Cupcake set!

This card was so fun to make using the new Build A Cupcake Punch and Create a Cupcake stamp set.  I enjoyed using the Mojo Monday sketch 172 for it as well as the new Sale-A-Bration Ice Cream Parlor Designer Series Paper (which also comes with a Quick Accents Pack perfect for scrapbooking or quick cards!).  I used cocoa powder mixed with my clear embossing powder over Chocolate Chip Craft Ink for a chocolate scent for my card. (It does give the cupcake top a matte rather than shiny look.)

Mini Tutorial:

I also wanted to show you an easy and green way to punch just what you want from your Cupcake Punch...simply cut a strip of designer series paper or cardstock the width of the part you want to punch and slide it into the punch.  Especially if you are going to stamp first, it is really helpful to use just a strip of cardstock for perfect punch placement. When you punch your cupcake wrapper, just a bit of Chocolate Chip carstock will be wasted this way.

The fluffy icing is just as easy....

A tiny strip of your favorite red (Real Red shown below) is perfect for the little cherry. :) You can also slide in a tiny scrap of Daffodil Delight for your candle flame.

Some stampers were surprised by this locally, so I thought I should share how easy this punch is to use online as well.

Quick Stampin' Up! Create a Cupcake Card

This card uses Stampin' Addicts Sketch Challenge #73, and the new Create a Cupcake Stampin' Up! stamp set and punch.  It is a lot of fun to use, and this is a surprisingly quick card to make.  I hope my customers enjoy making it at class this week.

Masculine Valentine MOJO173

This week's Mojo Monday sketch is perfect for a Valentine, and my group usually likes at least one Masculine Valentine card.  I used the Love Impressions Designer Series Paper with the Red Glimmer paper for the main image area.  The little LOVE hearts from the I Heart Hearts set are stamped in Real Red for a contrasting random background for the straight patterned designer series paper. Add dimensionals and dovetailed Satin ribbon, and you're finished.

Collage Stamping...Stampin' Addicts Technique Challenge (Tech77)

Today's Challenge is Collage Stamping. You simply stamp your images in a random way (you can create a pattern if you'd like) that doesn't create an actual scene/picture (That's next week's technique.). Repeating some or all of the images can be helpful.

I used direct to paper/drug my cardstock across the Crumb Cake ink pad in my example and sponged over most of the cardfront with Crumb Cake ink as well.  I enjoy the Bella Toile Background with the new Clearly for you set for a messy, interesting look.

This technique is perfect when you need a fast card....This is a card that will be offered at my next Quick Class on the 19th and 20th.

Stamp-A-Ma-Jig Two Step Stamping and NEW things....

Once in a while I like to cut out a flower or two, and this set certainly lends itself to it. The Stamp A Ma Jig makes it so easy to place your stamps just where you want them on your card and so easy to stamp your two-step stamps. Two step stamping with the Stamp A Ma Jig is a technique I should use more often, and it is perfect for lining up layers of ink in a pleasing way for the pink roses for this card. Using Pretty In Pink, Regal Rose and Rose Red for the larger/outer rose stamp provides variety and using Rose Red as the small/inner stamp creates interest and continuity.

I cut out the roses and the center of the sentiment label after masking the flower image while stamping the leaves. Just punching a hole on each side of the sentiment label stamp makes the new Rose Red Seam Binding Ribbon appear to support the label..  There are dimensionals under the Framed Tulip embossing folder layer to create a sentiment window with Happy Birthday (from the new Create A Cupcake set) under it.

Simple Sponging and Marker to Stamp

I got this new set for Christmas, and I love it.....Just a little Old Olive sponged over the tulip edge embossing folder and the cataloging of your Nature Walk (hee-that's the name of the set too) is framed out in a sweet little card.  I used the marker to stamp technique to add the color to all these images, but poppin' pastels would be lovely too.  His tail is a little short, but this bird makes a nice Robin...I'm sure I'll try all the species except cardinals before I'm finished!

Stamp A Ma Jig Fun...Baby Blossoms from Stampin' Up!'s Occasions Mini 2011

Here's another of the cards we'll make this Wednesday or Thursday at Technique Class.  I was inspired to try the colors and edge from this lampwork pendant bead I purchased a couple of years ago.  The neutral is River Rock--I don't use it often, but it can be just the thing sometimes.  Not Quite Navy, Old Olive Cherry Cobbler/Rose Red for the remainder. Quick but pretty.

Mini Scalloped Circle Card

As promised, in this picture you can see the mini scalloped circle card opened and lined with another Very Vanilla circle....I think it makes an unusual and fun variation for a cardfront.  It was made by simply putting a folded piece of cardstock into the 2-3/4 inch scallop circle punch, but being careful not to punch the three scallops furthest to the inside of the punch for the fold like one often does for gift tags.