Some Holiday Collection Cards

I am giving the Country Living Holiday kits (from last year) to my family for Christmas. So I sat down a couple days ago to make a unique card for each of them, so they would have examples using the Holiday Collection Stamp Set.

This card was a CASE of Angie Juda's topnote treat baggy that morphed into a card. Stamps: Holiday Collection; Paper: Kraft, Real Red, Very Vanilla, Merry Moments DSP; Ink: Whisper White craft, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa; Accessories: Sponge, Wide oval punch, 1-3/8" circle punch, Circle scissors plus, Scallop #2 die, Topnote die, Big Shot, 1-1/4" striped grosgrain ribbon, Dimensionals.

Pinwheel = snowflake? I made the pinwheel with the Small Tag Punch, but you can also create a template, trace on your patterned paper, and cut out. Stamps: Holiday Collection; Paper: Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery, Very Vanilla, Merry Moments DSP; Ink: Whisper White craft, Garden Green; Accessories: Small tag punch, 3/4" circle punch, Small snowflake punch, Dimensionals.

My upline shared this technique with us last year. I LOVE paper folding techniques! If you are interested, there is a link to the video tutorial in my SCS gallery (in the description for this card). Stamps: Holiday Collection; Paper: Bashful Blue, Kraft, Real Red, Very Vanilla, Merry Moments DSP, Bashful Blue DSP; Ink: Whisper White craft, Real Red, Bashful Blue, Close to Cocoa, Versamark; Accessories: Sponge, White embossing powder, Birds & Blooms die, Topnote die, Big Shot.

Wow, the edges of this card look really inked, but it is more subtle IRL. The Kraft cardstock and Bella Bleu DSP look really nice together. Stamps: Holiday Collection; Paper: Not Quite Navy, Kraft, Very Vanilla, Bella Bleu DSP; Ink: Whisper White craft, Not Quite Navy; Accessories: Sponge, Dazzling Diamonds, 2-way glue pen, Kraft taffeta.

Yes, that is a lot of kits for my sisters and my mom... and I didn't even cover my little sis. I have something else up my sleeve for her!

Thanks for stopping by!

My Digital Studio - Which One is Real?

It's been a while since I posted a My Digital Studio project...

Which One is Real and Which One is Memorex? Remember that old commercial tagline? I created a card with the Tree Trimmings stamp set for my Holiday open house, and I thought I would recreate the card in My Digital Studio. Can you tell which one is which?


Playing with Stamp Sets You Don't Own - I also got a chance to play with images that aren't even from a stamp set - these were rub-on's last year (currently available on the Clearance Rack). So cool that we can incorporate them into cards now! The stars are from the Snow Burst stamp set; I reduced them to very small size. And who doesn't love Baja Breeze?

Next up, I would like to try is a hybrid project... Thanks for stopping by!

Online Holiday Extravaganza Sale, Nov 23 - 30

Item	Description	Regular Price	Discounted Price
120280	Framed with Love Bundle Framed with Love stamp set Full Heart punch	$43.90	$21.95
120281	Thank You Kindly Bundle Thank You Kindly stamp set Scallop Edge punch Also available in French (120976)	$29.90	$14.95
120282	Animal Crackers Bundle Animal Crackers stamp set Star Designer brads	$25.90	$12.95
120283	Corduroy Button Bundle Kraft Corduroy buttons Pumpkin Pie Corduroy buttons Summer Sun Corduroy buttons Basic Gray Corduroy buttons Chocolate Chip Corduroy buttons	$49.75	$24.88
120284	Game Night Bundle Card Games stamp set Game Night stamp set	$40.90	$20.45
120285	Four Square Bundle Four Square stamp set Scallop Square punch	$30.90	$15.45
120286	Heart to Heart Bundle Love You Much stamp set Heart to Heart punch Pretty in Pink 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon Available in Spanish (120310) and French (120311)	$49.85	$24.93
120287	Chipboard Letter Bundle On Board Timeless Type On Board Loads of Letters	$25.90	$12.95
120288	Double-Stitched Ribbon Bundle Bashful Blue 1" double-stitched grosgrain ribbon Rose Red 1" double-stitched grosgrain ribbon	$17.90	$10.74
120289	Ultimate Stampers' Starter Bundle* Best Wishes & More stamp set Eight Great Greetings stamp set On a Pedestal stamp set Earth Elements Stampin' Spots Earth Elements assorted card stock (8-1/2" x 11") Whisper White card stock (8-1/2" x 11") Old Olive 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon Flower Designer brads	$127.70	$76.62
120290	Build-A-Brad Bundle Calendar Alphabet stamp set Pewter Build-A-Brad Antique Brass Build-A-Brad	$40.85	$24.51
120291	Enjoy Every Moment Bundle Enjoy Every Moment stamp set Circle Designer brads Flower Designer brads Also available in French (120312)	$43.85	$26.31
120292	Cheep Talk Bundle Cheep Talk stamp set Note cards Pumpkin Pie Corduroy buttons	$42.85	$25.71
120293	Sock Monkey Bundle Sock Monkey stamp set Sock Monkey Accessories stamp set Chocolate Chip Corduroy buttons Available in French (120313)	$58.85	$35.31
120294	Alphabet Bundle Jayne's Type Alphabet stamp set Lovely Letters stamp set	$87.90	$52.74
120295	Simply Said Bundle Simply Said stamp set Old Olive 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon Full Heart punch Also available in French (120314)	$52.85	$31.71
120296	On Board Bundle On Board So Tweet On Board Batch of Blooms On Board Essentials	$42.85	$25.71
120927	Christmas Décor Bundle #1 Holly Berry Wreath Décor Elements (Kraft, Real Red) Real Red Vintage Ornaments Décor Elements Chocolate Vintage Ornaments Décor Elements	$74.85	$44.91
120298	Christmas Décor Bundle #2 Holly Beary Wreath Décor Elements (Chocolate, Real Red) Real Red Vintage Ornaments Décor Elements Chocolate Vintage Ornaments Décor Elements	$74.85	$44.91
120299	Christmas Décor Bundle #3 Holly Berry Wreath Décor Elements (Old Olive, Real Red) Real Red Vintage Ornaments Décor Elements Chocolate Vintage Ornaments Décor Elements	$74.85	$44.91
120300	For All You Do Bundle For All You Do stamp set 5/16" Neutrals Jumbo brads Available in French (120315) and Spanish (120316)	$36.90	$25.83
120301	Striped Ribbon Bundle Bashful Blue 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon Pumpkin Pie 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon Old Olive 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon Pretty in Pink 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon So Saffron 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon Real Red 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon	$47.73	$33.41
120302	Bling Bundle Sticky Pages Sticky Cuts Sweet Fine Supernova Stampin' Glitter Fine Galaxy Stampin' Glitter	$43.80	$30.66
120303	Fresh-Cut Bundle Fresh Cuts stamp set Fresh-Cut Notes 5/8" Neutrals Jumbo brads Available in French (120317)	$37.85	$26.50
120304	Pendant Note Bundle Pendant Park stamp set Pendant notes 5/8" Neutrals Jumbo brads Also available in French (120318) and Spanish (120319)	$39.85	$27.90
120305	Sporting Bundle #1 Large Night of Navy Sporting Décor Elements Night of Navy Just Sports Décor Elements	$67.90	$47.54
120306	Sporting Bundle #2 Large Chocolate Sporting Décor Elements Chocolate Just Sports Décor Elements	$67.90	$47.54
120307	Sporting Bundle #3 Large Black Sporting Décor Elements Black Just Sports Décor Elements	$67.90	$47.54
114864	Ginormous Flowers I Décor Elements	$39.95	$27.97
114863	Ginormous Flowers II Décor Elements	$39.95	$27.97
112534	5/16" Neutrals Jumbo brads	$7.95	$5.57
112533	5/8" Neutrals Jumbo brads	$6.95	$4.87
112081	Scallop Square punch	$15.95	$11.17
113693	Full Heart punch	$15.95	$11.17
113694	Heart to Heart punch	$15.95	$11.17
112091	Scallop Edge punch	$15.95	$11.17
112571	Circle Designer brads	$5.95	$4.17
112579	Flower Designer brads	$5.95	$4.17
112572	Star Designer brads	$5.95	$4.17
114785	Small Wonderful Flowers Décor Elements	$39.95	$27.97
114786	Medium Wonderful Flowers Décor Elements	$69.95	$48.97
114791	Small Wonderful Leaves Décor Elements	$39.95	$27.97
114792	Medium Wonderful Leaves Décor Elements	$64.95	$45.47

Some November Crafting to Share

I thought I would share some cards I have made recently.

A get well card for a swimming friend. I love how the Brocade Blue Designer Series Paper looks like a pool bottom! The stamp set is from Pun Fun. I watercolored with Neutrals Watercolor Crayons and used the Color Spritzer tool with Brocade Blue marker to make the speckled background.

A thank you card that I made for the WICKED demo challenge on SCS. This uses "faux snow", made by rolling up scrap cardstock and grating with a cheese grater. Who would have thought? It actually came out very soft and touchable! The tutorial is on Jackie Topa's website.

Stamps: Pun Fun; Paper: Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Whisper White scrap, Close to Cocoa DSP (currently available on Clearance Rack); Ink: Chocolate Chip; Accessories: Oval punch, Aquapainter, Watercolor Crayons, Cheese Grater, CC Grosgrain ribbon, Texturz Background I, Big Shot, Sewing machine.

A birthday card for mountain biking fans. Stamps: Hit the Road; Paper: Dusty Durango, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, More Mustard, Very Vanilla; Ink: Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel; Accessories: Sponge, Aquapainter, Earth Elements Watercolor Crayons, Ribbon, Texturz Background I, Big Shot.

And a birthday card experiment for stampin' buddy Michele, her website and fab work here. It is a pop-up card adapted from a Mother's Day card in Stampin' Up's Stampin' Success magazine. Did I ever mention that if you too sign up to be a demo, you can get this magazine every month full of great ideas and stampin' techniques?

Here it is opening up.

And a little farther open.

Here is a close up of the microbeads I used on the inside flower.

Stamps: Manhattan Flower, Wonderful You, Sincere Salutations; Paper: Kraft, Old Olive, Bordering Blue, Naturals White; Ink: Bordering Blue, Old Olive, Basic Black Classic ink and marker; Accessories: Corner rounder, Scallop edge punch, Spritzer tool, Gingham ribbon, Clear rhinestone brad, Felt flowers, Silver microbeads, Sponge.

Thanks for stopping by!

Tutorial: Larger Sentiment Tag with Word Window Punch

Ok, so, what do you do if you want to use a punch for a sentiment, but your sentiment is too large for your punches? Well, it is still possible to use your punch - this tutorial will utilize the Word Window Punch.

First cut a strip of neutral cardstock 3/8" wide.

Tack down the strip of cardstock with a small amount of adhesive, so it doesn't slide around. Then using the Stamp-a-ma-jig, first stamp on the plastic image layer and place the image layer, over the cardstock, where you want the sentiment to be centered.

Removing the plastic image layer, without moving the stamp positioner, stamp on the cardstock strip.

Now your sentiment is ready to be punched. Slide the sentiment in from the bottom of the punch - slide only one side of the sentiment between the top and bottom of the punching mechanism while leaving the other end is sticking out - and punch.

Do the same with the other side.

And here is what the finished sentiment looks like. I used this sentiment on my NJ card front swap here. You can try this trick with any of your punches to make a larger shape than originally designed.

Hope you find this technique useful. Thanks for stopping by!

NJ Shoebox Swap Projects

We had a great time Saturday in Northern New Jersey. It was relaxing, fun, lots of projects, different images, different techniques, and new friends. The location was just beautiful - right on Highland Lake. And it was in the backyard of one of my mountain biking stomping grounds (Waywayanda). I am so glad I went!

My shoebox project was posted previously here.

This is my cardfront swap. The Alpine ribbon is currently on sale in the Clearance Rack. Stamps: Sense of Time, Time for You; Paper: Chocolate Chip, Kraft, Very Vanilla, Baja Breeze, Parisian Breeze DSP; Ink: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa; Word Window Punch, Scribbles Swirls die, Scallop Circles #2 die, Big Shot, Alpine felt ribbon, Brad, Sponge, Dimensionals.

And here is my ATC swap. I brayered the background in Brilliant Blue, Almost Amethyst, and Bashful Blue. The snow drift is Shimmery White paper with Dazzling Diamonds on the torn edge. The ATC is mounted on Brushed Silver and Brilliant Blue cardstock.

The camera flash picked up the shimmer mist I sprayed on the background (Champagne Shimmer Paint / rubbing alcohol mixture).

On Sunday, we headed back to New Jersey for the Hudson-to-Highlands awards dinner. I won my age class/category for the series and took home the championship jersey. Yeah me!

Thanks for stopping by!

Product Focus: Shimmer Paint

Have you seen the Shimmer Paint in the Holiday mini? I have been sitting on mine for a while, and now that I have seen what can be done with it, I am wondering why I did!

1. The basic application is to shake the Shimmer Paint bottle and open. Use the paint that collects in the lid, with a sponge dauber, to apply paint directly onto your stamp. Use the paint sparingly, so it doesn't pool between the stamp details. Play with it to get a feel for the amount you need. And this paint is water soluble, so you can clean your stamp like normal on your Stampin' Scrub.

The Shimmer Paint comes in three varieties, Frost White and Champagne, which are both translucent, and Platinum, which is opaque. It also dries very quickly. I stamped this card with Platinum Shimmer Paint, and it gives a very nice "embossed-like" look without the embossing powder and heat gun (this card inspired by "stamperjen0" on SCS). Another example of Platinum Shimmer Paint is Linda's make & take from the Syracuse shoebox swap here.

2. Another basic technique would be to sponge the paint from the lid directly onto your project.

I created these Thanksgiving place cards by sponging Shimmer Paint directly onto the die-cut leaves and Designer Series Paper.

The leaves were cut with the Leaves #2 die, then embossed with the Texture Plates Kit #4, and I then sponged the edges with Soft Suede ink and Champagne Shimmer Paint.

3. The Shimmer Paint can be mixed with reinker to create a colored stamp image that also has some sheen to it.

On this card, I used the basic sponge-dauber-to-stamp application to create a subtle background with Snow Swirled and Champagne Shimmer Paint.

I also mixed Bordering Blue ink and Champagne Shimmer Paint to create a shimmery snowflake on one of the scalloped squares. Capturing the sheen is a photographic challenge, for sure!

4. Another way to use this paint is to mix the shimmer paint and reinkers and paint line images with the mixture. Again this would give the image a nice sheen, great for Holiday cards.

5. And this option, which I just love, is to mix the paint with 70% rubbing alcohol in a mister bottle. You can spray this mixture on your paper for a lovely all-over sheen.

And here is a close up of the Kraft background layer, which is sprayed with the shimmer mixture. This card is a CASE of jentimko's card on SCS.

I hope you take some time to play with Shimmer Paint. Really a lot of fun!

Thanks for stopping by!

MDS Samples

Here are a few of the items I have made with My Digital Studio.

Here is a digital thank you card I made for my buddy. She was out of the country at the time, so what a perfect way to send my thanks! Notice the drop shadow on the main oval image and the Whisper White brads in the corners.

This is a series of pages from the 8x8" album I had printed. The album came out so beautiful; I am so happy with it! Here is an example of a pre-designed page. I just had to drop the photos into the page, and it's done! It's nice that you can put embellishments and text over the photos - something you wouldn't do on an actual photo.

Another cool layout that is already designed - a series of photos. This is Janneke playing around the garden.

This is a cleaner page that I designed. I used the Upsy Daisy stamp set in Whisper White, and then I placed another image with different opacity, so it looks like a shadow. Another special element - scallop edge punch. These are nice little elements that don't detract from the photo.

My little girly girl. Another example of placing elements, circle stamp from Frames with a Flourish with differing opacity and a star with a drop shadow, over the photos and elements to add interest.

More of a western-feeling page, for Janneke's first horse ride. Fancy details include a Chocolate Chip brad (they come in 38 colors!) in the center of the Baroque Motif stamp and stitching around the edge of the Designer Series Paper (which also comes in 34 colors). Also notice the torn edge on the Whisper White cardstock - that is created by adding a Torn Edge stamp. There is a variety of torn edge options. This page also uses the grosgrain ribbon, which comes in 36 colors.

This page uses elements from the Christmas Jingle Simply Scrappin' Kit, which I don't have. So nice to play with something I don't have! This page has an example of using a holly element from the scrappin' kit for a embellishment and using Designer Series Paper for the large circle and scallop edge.

Don't forget about the special My Digital Studio card class offer on November 17. Give this software a try for yourself. Thanks for stopping by!

Trials and Tribulations - Protecting my Stampin' Supplies and Projects

My cat has a habit of waking me up in the morning so she can get fed. She will knock things off the nightstand or paw my closed eyelid (with just a hint of nail if I am not responding).

Well, I guess I wasn't waking fast enough one morning this week, because she ripped the daisy off my coaster photo project and proceeded to rip about half the petals off. Imagine her little paw in the center of the flower and ripping each petal with her mouth, one by one. Geez!

And then there is my daughter. She got ahold of my new spool of ribbon.

I guess the felt ribbon from the Alpine package makes a really good leash, in her opinion. She used the entire spool to wrap the dog in ribbon. Guess it would have been funnier if it had been the real dog, huh?

Perhaps this post will qualify for "Make You Laugh Monday"?

11/16/09: More to file under 'Trials and Tribulations' - My daughter used to stamp so well. But lately, she has preferred to get her fingers inky. It surprises me, since she has always hated her hands to be dirty.

This is after we washed up well (Blue Bayou, for those interested).

Thanks for stopping by!

Holiday Tutorial Blitz is Here... and Some Challenge Cards

Hi Everyone! If you are not a regular visitor to SplitCoastStampers, well, why not?? I'm a little late, but I just found the Holiday Tutorial Blitz, going on November 1 - 8. They also have links to tutorials from the previous years' Holiday Blitzes. So let's get cracking, People! :)

Ok, now for some cards to share. I've been working my way through some interesting challenges that I have found over the past weeks.

This was a VSN challenge called "Pass the Chips". It requires using paint chips (paint sample cards you get at the paint store or big box store) on your card. Most cards are pretty glossy, and some of the fancy paint samples have textured surfaces, so they are pretty cool for cards!

This was a "Ways to Use It" challenge called "Patched Up". I was copying a quilt my mom made for me called the Honey Bee.

This was another VSN challenge called "Spice Up Your Life". This card uses actual spices - I made Jamaican Curry Powder and Cayenne Pepper paint. I have also wanted to try the In Colors together for a Southwestern feel, so the Southwestern block pattern layout was a must. Those little squares and triangles are harder to place than you think! Tweezers were involved!

The next challenge was Lyssa's (GWTWJunkie) demo challenge, a "Wiggle Card". I thought things that fly for Halloween was perfect for this one.

The flying objects are held on with thin strips of acetate.

A better view of the flying objects against the fence.

Another "Ways to Use It" challenge using leaves. This card also uses Dawn Griffith's Window Card layout. This is a CASE of s1itcher46's card.

Here is a card I finished up this evening.... well, not really a card. It is based on a Mailable 3-D Card challenge, but the tree is so beautiful, I don't want to fold it up. I made this project permanently 3-D so I could use it as Thanksgiving decor.

I used the new O Christmas Tree pop-up die to create the Thanksgiving tree out of Autumn Traditions Designer Series Paper. The tree skirt is made from the Scallop #2 die and Circle Scissors Plus.

Here is a close-up look of the acorns in the Thanksgiving tree.

And here you can see the pheasant is standing up with the help of a thin strip of acetate.

Details for all cards are in my SCS gallery. Thanks for looking!