The Stamp Review Crew: Happy Congratulations Bonus Edition

Welcome to another Stamp Crew Review Blog Hop!  We share our take on a selected stamp set every first and third Monday.  You may have noticed, up to now, we have focused on stamp sets in the main catalog. This time we are hopping along with a bonus set from the Occasions catalog, Happy Congratulations. 

If you are hopping around in a circle, you have just come from Tanya's beautiful blog.  I just love her fresh and fun style! Happy Congratulations was the first stamp set to jump out at me in the Occasions catalog.  I love flags, banners, and paper lanterns, and this set was so attractive, and yet so simple.

In the Go for the Gold (and Silver) class, we created a classic, elegant card, perfect for a silver anniversary or even birthday.

The paper lanterns fit nicely into the 3/4" Circle punch for some fun layering. And don't miss the fabulous and fun detail of the gold and silver designer vellum sheets.

Stamps: Happy Congratulations; Paper: Very Vanilla, Smoky Slate, Silver Foil sheets, Silver Fancy Foil designer vellum; Ink: Silver Encore; Accessories: Silver baker's twine, Silver 1/8" ribbon, Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch, 3/4" Circle punch, Clear embossing powder, Decorative Dots EF, Chalk Talk framelits, Texture Boutique, Dimensionals.

Here is a easel card I've had in my mind since December, inspired by a wonderful swap by Missi Roeber at 2013 Convention.

The 4-1/4 x 11" card base is scored at 3-5/8" and 7-3/8".  The lanterns are stamped on vellum and sandwiched between the front panel and card base.  And the card is illuminated with a flameless tea light.  The card follows the color scheme for Fab Friday #36.

Stamps: Happy Congratulations; Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White, Gold Foil sheet, Vellum; Ink: Crushed Curry, Bermuda Bay, Strawberry Slush, Black Stazon; Accessories: Gold Sequin trim, 3/4" Circle punch, Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch, Tea light.

Below you can see a collage of more projects you can make with this set.  As not to detract from this hop, I won't provide a link to the previous Stampin' Addicts blog hop.  Once you've made your rounds, you can visit my January 3 blog post for more information.

Make sure you check out the next stop to see what lovelies Mary at Scrap and Stamp with Mary put together with the set.  Thanks for stopping by!

 

The complete hop list:

1. Paula Wright  paulastamps.blogspot.com/
2. Mike Funke    stampin-style.typepad.com/
3. Nancy Smith  iguanastamp.wordpress.com/
4. Adriana Benitez  escape2stamp.com
5. Tanya Boser   tinkerin-in-ink.blogspot.com
6. Heidi Baks  runningwscissorsstamper.blogspot.com
7. Mary Rindal   maryrindal.com/ 

Stampin' Addicts Hidden Treasures Blog Hop

Welcome to Stampin' Addicts Hidden Treasures Blog Hop! Today a group of us demonstrators will bring you a selection of items available, but not found in the current catalogs. Grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and enjoy a tour of Stampin' Up's hidden gems. If you have been following the blog hop in order, you have just come from Mary's blog featuring the masculine set Dude, You're Welcome! Weren't her projects fun?

Today I am reviewing the Circle Card Thinlits die.  This and the Label Card Thinlit swing card dies have been around since last summer.  I've used my Label Card die for stamp club, but this one wasn't even open.  Doh!  Time to challenge myself to come up with something new.

I created a warm-up card using Lyssa Zwolanek's Easy Porthole Flip Card tutorial.

The sentiment was printed using My Digital Studio, and the four-leaf clovers resulted from combining MDS and an e-cutter.  The rainbow watercolor wash background is a piece I had from making next week's Friday Mashup card.  I will have more info on that in an upcoming post.  This card is also for Mix-Ability challenge #44, Hang Ups, incorporate a hanging element on your project.

Stamps: Positively Chevron BG; Paper: Pear Pizzazz, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White; Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Primrose Petals; Accessories: Gold Sequin trim, Rhinestone jewels, White baker's twine,  Clear embossing powder, Stampin' Spritzer, Aquapainter, Circle Card thinlits, Circle Collection framelits, Big Shot; MDS Elements: Lucky Framable designer kit.

You may have also seen the MDS hybrid spinner card I posted for MDS Monday.

If you try one, be careful!  They are addicting!

So I tried to think of some out-of-the-box projects using the Circle Card shape.  I thought a camera-shaped card would be cute.

I'm hoping this looks like a camera.  I was going on and on about the lens size and color to my husband, and he confesses he didn't realize it was a camera.  Sigh.

For this card, start with a 5-1/2 x 8-1/2" base, and thread the card stock through the die so you don't lose any length of the card base.

I tried to use several of the "supporting" framelits in this set.  I created my own heart chipboard by cutting a couple thin chipboard pieces and paper, gluing them together, sanding, and sponging.  Fun!

Stamps: Hip Notes; Paper: Old Olive, Night of Navy, Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Et Cetera DSP, Silver Foil, Vellum, Chipboard; Ink: Calypso Coral, Baked Brown Sugar; Accessories: Rhinestone jewel, Sponge, Circle punches, Corner Rounder punch, Circle Collection framelits, Circle Card thinlit, Big Shot, Dimensionals.

One day the die and I are staring at each other.  Honestly, there has got to be a 3-D project that you can make with this die.  Think, think, think.  I was thinking about a bag with a circular handle... maybe a carpet bag?

This animal print paper looks like fabric to me, hence my choice for the carpet bag.  I started with an 11-1/4" square piece and scored at 3-3/4" on each side.  From there, follow the Tiny Triangle Box tutorial on Splitcoaststampers for rest of the score lines.

After cutting a 1-7/8" circle out of each center to create the handles, the die-cuts are glued to the inside flaps of the "bag".  The unique part of using the Circle Card die is it creates a flap that you can fold over the handles to close the bag.

Paper: Summer Starfruit, Sweet Sorbet DSP; Accessories: Antique brad, Circles Collection framelits, Circle Card thinlit, Big Shot.

There just isn't enough time to create all the ideas I came up with.  You could try a step card, glue several die-cuts together for a mini album, even use a die-cut as a pull-out for a This & That page.  Such fun options for this little die!

If you aren't yet a member of Stampin' Addicts, you can sign up here.  Make sure you check out the next stop to see what Yapha at Rubber Stamping & Card Making with Yapha put together with the fun photopolymer stamp set Map It Out. She's made some amazing projects.

The complete blog hop listing:

1) Yapha -- Map It Out Photopolymer Stamp Set
2) Mary (nuhhdad) -- PhotoPolymer Countless Sayings
3) Tanya (Tanya27) -- Eye-Catching Ikat
4) Twila (tjdstampsalot) -- Envelope Punch Board
5) Paula (scrapshappen) -- Hip Hip Hooray card kit
6) Mary (MaryR) -- Dude, You're Welcome
7) Heidi (hlw966) -- Circle Thinlits die

Thanks for stopping by!

FM150 Feathered Thank You

Holly brings us this week's Friday Mashup challenge, masculine and stitching.  I'll be posting a bit earlier due to tomorrow's blog hop.

Photo Source

Here's your Mashup Challenge:

1. Create a "Masculine" project.
2. Create a project with some "Stitching/sewing on it".
3. or Create a "Masculine project with Stitching on it".

So I threw a bit of stitching at my card.  :)

The vellum feathers were exported from My Digital Studio and cut with an e-cutter.  Aren't they awesome?!  Love them!  The grungy sentiments from the Dude, You're Welcome! kit is the perfect touch to the card.

Stamps: Dude, You're Welcome! kit; Paper: Very Vanilla, Soho Subway DSP, Vellum; Ink: Early Espresso; Accessories: Wood button, Linen thread, Stylus, 3-1/2" Circle die, Big Shot, e-cutter, Sewing machine, Thread, Dimensionals; MDS Elements: Feathered Woodcuts kit.

Thanks for stopping by!

More Love Fest Challenges

I've got a couple more Splitcoaststampers' Love Fest Challenges to share.

LOVEFEST2014J ~ Cute & Fun or Classy & Elegant

I created a cute birthday card for my niece using Freshly Made Sketches #123.  This was a challenge hosted by Paper Smooches, and they offered some free digi stamps for the challenge.  I did attempt to hand-cut these clovers, and they just looked sloppy, so I opted for the e-cutter.

LOVEFEST2014K ~ Lots of Lovely Layers

Lots of layers make me think of telescoping images.  I thought I would play around with some busy DSP.  Once I had the main panel, I had to figure out what to do with it.  I got a little crazy with some stencils, ink, embossing paste, and splatter.

Thanks for stopping by!

Weekly Deals & More

• Paper Pumpkin is one-year old . . . and we've got a party goin' on!  If two new Paper Pumpkin subscribers sign up under me by March 31, I'll receive a brand-new stamp set called Bravo from the upcoming annual catalog.  I would love the share the excitement of new products with you on the internet!
• By subscribing by March 31, in addition to receiving a FREE acrylic block ($8.50 value), you will also receive FREE 2012-2014 In Color markers in the Welcome kit ($14.95 value).
• How much does it cost?  The monthly subscription is $14.95 plus $5 shipping, and you can cancel anytime.  More than double the value in your first kit, so why not give it a try?
• Don't forget, as a subscriber, you are also eligible to purchase past Paper Pumpkin kits.
• As an added incentive, if you sign up by March 31, I will send you a FREE gift (or two) from the recent grab bags I have received.  I have $500 worth of grab bag items, so there is plenty to share!

Here are this week's Weekly Deals -

2012-2014 In Color Designer Series Paper Stack Price: $21.95 $16.46 Adorning Accents Textured Impressions Embossing Folders Price: $8.95 $6.71 Betsy's Blooms Stampin' Around Standard Wheel Price: $6.50 $4.88 Coastal Cabana 3/8" Ruffle Stretch Trim Price: $8.95 $6.71 Everything Easter Ensemble - Digital Download Price: $14.95 $8.97 Large Rhinestone Basic Jewels Price: $4.95 $3.71 Midnight Muse 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon Price: $8.95 $6.71 Strawberry Slush 3/8" Ruffle Stretch Trim Price: $8.95 $6.71

MDSM56 You're My Sunshine

Joan brings us today's MDS Monday card challenge, a sketch and the extra step to use the opacity function on your project.

I have a personal challenge to create more hybrid cards.  So if possible, I will do so with the bi-weekly card sketches.  This one had me a little stumped.  I was rotating the sketch, and since I have the Circle Card thinlits on the mind for an upcoming blog hop, I came up with the starburst plan.  I did skip the opacity part of the challenge.

The background papers were printed from My Digital Studio, and the sun spinner was imported and cut with an e-cutter.

Paper: Crushed Curry, Daffodil Delight, Pistachio Pudding, Whisper White; Accessories: Rhinestone jewels, White baker's twine, Square Lattice EF, Circle Card thinlit, Circle Collection framelits, Big Shot, e-cutter, Dimensionals; MDS Elements: Game Day - Starburst, Calendar Kit - Sun, You're My Sunshine kit; Accessories: Rise & Shine Pocket Cards.

Thanks for stopping by!

The Stamp Review Crew: Fabulous Florets Edition

Welcome to another Stamp Crew Review Blog Hop!  We share our take on a selected stamp set every first and third Monday.  This round we are looking at the flower set Fabulous Florets.  This set has a fun combination of line art and solid images, which allows a great opportunity to incorporate various coloring and stamping techniques. 

This is the first stop from the top, but if you are hopping around in a circle, you have just come from Jill's beautiful blog.  Don't you just love her style?

I have used Fabulous Florets LOTS, so it is hard to come up with something new and different.  Splitcoaststampers' Mix-Ability Challenge #33, Signed, Sealed, and Delivered, to the rescue.  This challenge was to color an image and seal it with some sort of glaze.  Although Crystal Effects would work here, it would give me a glossy finish, and I was looking for something with a matte finish.  The options were transparent gesso or, my choice, Mod Podge.

This is all one stamped layer, including the background text.  :o  The masking turned out pretty accurate, and potentially the Mod Podge could have been a disaster to my finished main panel.  Thank goodness all was ok.  Once I started with the messy stuff, I couldn't stop, and I used acrylic paint to soften and distress the edges.  This card also uses Freshly Made Sketches #122.

In this photo, I'm trying to pick up how the matte layer softens the colors a bit.

Stamps: Fabulous Florets, Really Good Greetings, Dictionary BG; Paper: Calypso Coral, Baked Brown Sugar, Whisper White, Etcetera DSP; Ink: Daffodil Delight, Calypso Coral, Pumpkin Pie, Tangerine Tango, Old Olive, Early Espresso, Black Stazon; Accessories: Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch, Aquapainter, Mod Podge, White acrylic paint, Sewing machine, Thread, Dimensionals.

Flowers are an easy choice for many mixed media challenges, so I did another one.  I played along with Mix-Ability Challenge #27, A Little Sketchy, and I love how this card turned out.  The challenge was to use some pencil to shade the background.

Can you guess what this is?  First I created my background (a flowing creek) with watercoloring, then spritz the entire piece with water to blend the colors.  For the challenge, I shaded under the leaves and blossoms with pencil.  Framing it on a clean card looks so artsy fartsy... heehee.

Stamps: Fabulous Florets; Paper: Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Watercolor paper; Ink: Real Red, Old Olive, Crisp Cantaloupe, Black Stazon, Coastal Cabana & Island Indigo reinkers; Accessories: Aquapainter, Stampin' Spritzer, Sponges, Pencil, Dimensionals.

Tanya was hoping for some 3-D items, which I find difficult with a versatile flower set.  I need something that says, "This is what this set is made for."  The more specific, the better for me.  I'm strange that way.  I whipped together a seed packet matchbook for my girlfriend.  :)

What kind of flowers are in this set anyway?  I think it is purposely ambiguous; all the more difficult to figure out which seed packet to target.  I inked the flowers and sponged the center of the stamp before stamping.  I edited the seed packet label I had on file from a punch art class.

Stamps: Fabulous Florets; Paper: Old Olive, Basic Black, Whisper White, Etcetera DSP; Ink: Old Olive, Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, Tangerine Tango; Accessories: Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch, Sponges, Stapler.

Make sure you check out the next stop to see what Cindy at Stamps, Paper, and Ink put together with the set.  Her projects are always amazing!  Thanks for stopping by!

 

The complete hop list:

1. Heidi Baks  runningwscissorsstamper.blogspot.com
2. Cindy Beach stampspaperandink.typepad.com/
3. Tanya Boser   tinkerin-in-ink.blogspot.com
4. Debra Burgin  heartfeltinkspiration.com/
5. Deb Currier  artfeltimpressions.blogspot.com/
6. Yapha Mason   yaphamason.com
7. Mary Rindal   maryrindal.com/ 
8. Nancy Smith  iguanastamp.wordpress.com
9. Martha Stewart  seasonsofstamping.com/ 
10. Dawn Tidd   tiddbitsfromdawn.typepad.com
11. Betty Traciak kittystamps.blogspot.com
12. Lisa Young   addinkandstamp.blogspot.com/ 
13. Kerry Willard Bray  kerrywillardbray.com
14. Paula Wright  paulastamps.blogspot.com/
15. Rita Wright  ritascreations.blogspot.com/
16. Jill Coleman  jillstamps.com/