HSS Technique Challenge #22 & BLOG CANDY!!!!

Good Morning Stampers!! I am so excited to share this weeks Hand Stamped Sentiments Technique Challenge #22 project with you, it is FANCY FOLDS. Not to mention there is a prize at the end of this post... WhoHoo!

I have had this in mind to do for some time, and I finally get to do it. I incorporated two different techniques into one card, yes I was feeling extra punchy this week and took two on. :) I know you are thinking this is just a card, cute and unassuming- but you would be wrong. HeHe, I love surprises too. So lets see what this card is hiding inside.

So before I get into the prise inside, first let me share with you the first technique I used on this card which is called Emboss Resist, you can see a step by step tutorial by clicking on the link, and it is SUPER easy and gives your project a total WOW factor! I used some different materials than what was suggested on the link, here are the different ones I used:

Glossy White Card Stock

White Embossing Powder

Sponge Daubers

Now for the surprise inside.... drum roll please. Take a good long look at my sausage like fingers before you focus on the card... :) This card is called a SLIDER CARD, and if you click on the technique name you will find detailed instructions on how to create it. It isn't difficult at all, but does require some time because there are a few steps to the process BUT it is well worth the time!

When you pull out one of the sides two inserts slide right out to be viewed. I made this card just to be written on BUT you could create pockets out of the side inserts and house a gift card or cash in them. I made a card using this technique at a stamp camp years ago and the inserts had a $20 on the left side and a $5 on the right side to make up the year 2005 on a graduation card.... it is a little harder to describe then to show, but I gave it away to a grad- imagine that. :)

Here is a close up shot of the left insert. I used Perfect Plum for my ink color on this insert and of course the white embossing powder. I just love this look!

NOW FOR THE PRIZE!!! Over at HSS the Design Team Members are doing a give away at each of our sites!!! Here is the loot that I am giving away, simply leave a comment on THIS post and you are entered in the drawing. On Monday July 5th I will pick a winner and announce it with my post with next weeks HSS Challenge on July 6th. Visit all of the DT sites and you could possibly win all three!!!

I have up for grabs two mini clip boards (great for decorating), the WOW FLOWERS stamp set, two mini lunch box tins (these would make a great altered item), The WORKSHOP WOW DVD from Stampin' Up! (this thing is chuck full of perfect project ideas), a pack of Hodgepodge Hardware oval frame & brad pieces, and last but not least a bag of designer brads.

I hope you enjoyed today's project and try and make one for yourself or a friend. You will love the outcome! Don't forget to leave a comment, visit us over at Hand Stamped Sentiments and PLAY ALONG with this weeks challenge and hopefully you will be the lucky winner of one of our giveaways! Until next time~ TTFN

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Anything But a Card

Good Morning Stampers!

I have been late to post today all because my husband is out of town and he is the computer guru in our home. I had to go to my neighbors house to complete my post, since I can't seem to get my computer to work properly... UGH- technology! Anywho, onto more crafty things, here is my project for this weeks Hand Stamped Sentiments Challenge #21, Anything BUT a Card! I made these adorable little doohickeys for a primary picnic we had a few weeks ago. They were a hit! Lets see what I did.

These of course are all over the Internet, so I am not the originator but I just love how it dresses up a plane bottle of water. I found the template on line and simple made the cuts that were on the instructions and using the following items I had these made in no time. Here is what I used:

Real Rust Card Stock

Whisper White Card Stock

Summer Sun Card Stock

Avery Labels

Scallop Circle Punch

1-3/8" circle punch

1-1/4" circle punch
Modern Label Punch

Designer Series Paper

Tart-n-Tangy Stamp Set

Pumpkin Pie Classic Ink

Summer Sun Classic Ink

Vintage Brads

1/16" Hand punch

I used a FUN technique called "rock-n-roll". I inked up my image using the Summer Sun ink, then rolled the inked image in the Pumpkin Pie ink- making sure just to roll the outside edges of the stamp and not get the ink in the middle. This gives you a neat two toned almost 3-D effect for your image. I punched out the image and layered it onto the Summer Sun card stock then added a dimensional before attaching it to the packet.

I used my printer and my Avery labels to make the sentiment for these it states, " Thanks for all the effort you POUR into Primary". then I punched them out using my Modern Label Punch and stuck them onto the front of the pockets. I used some retired Designer Series Paper to spice up the backing of these packets and added a scallop punch embellishment for the top that fits over the lid of the water bottle.

To create the top, I punched a circle out of Summer Sun card stock first then came back with my scallop punch and centered it over the circle then punched it out. That gives me a perfectly centered hole in the middle of my scallop.

To close the pockets I simply used my 1/16" punch to create the holes for my vintage brads. I attached them on either side to hold my contents nicely in my pouch and BAM you have an adorable personalized water bottle great for any occasion. These are FAB too because you can customize them to coordinate with any theme or event that you are having.

I hope you enjoyed my project for today and come play along with us over at HSS, we LOVE to see your creativity and who knows maybe you will be chose as a guest designer for an upcoming challenge. :) Hope to see you playing and until next time~ TTFN!!

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HSS Sketch Challenge #20

Good Morning Stampers!!! I am so excited for today's challenge, not just because I get to share something crafty with you but today starts the first day of my official vacation!!! I am not doing anything fancy but it will be relaxing and fun none the less, and needless to say I am pretty pumped about it. My family and I along with 4 of our neighbors families are heading to the beach to stay for the week. BUT before I go I wanted to share this weeks Hand Stamped Sentiments Sketch Challenge creation with you. We took our inspiration for this month from the Junes Stampin' Success. It is a simple layout, and in true Erin fashion I did a slight variation on the original, so let's take a look see!

I didn't want to copy the template exactly, although believe me there are MANY times when I do exactly that- and why not it makes life a whole heck of a lot easier, but today was different. Maybe cause I was a little more inspired or excited or stumped by this template...OK so it was the last one. I really couldn't think of anything adorable, I think mainly because I was so focused on getting the kids packed, the car clean, the house clean, my house listed, myself packed, the food ready...shall I go on? So I took the template and tweaked it a little, oh- alright I dumbed it down A LOT!!!! :) But I still really like it, mainly because of the colors, they just POP!

So I guess there is nothing too difficult or special about the card, but maybe that is what we all need sometimes- a card that is simple to recreate that doesn't take 3 hours to conceptualize and bring to fruition. I am sure I am not the only one that gets super frustrated when I try to reinvent the wheel and get all lost in the details, and the card never ends up being that FAB after all. I have found myself leaning more and more toward the simpler more time efficient cards, not to mention my club ladies LOVE the easier faster cards. They seem so much more manageable and still pack a perfect punch!

So this card today is super simple, it required the use of a few punches stamp sets and ink colors and BAM you have a card. I used the following items:
1-3/8" circle punch
1-1/4" circle punch
**Key Hole Punch (this is retired but the wide oval punch would work great, I couldn't find mine...)
Define your Life Stamp Set
**Seeing Spots Stamp Set (retired)
Tempting Turquoise Classic Ink & CS
Passion Pink Classic Ink & CS
Pumpkin Pie Classic Ink & CS
Green Galore Classic Ink & CS
Basic Black Classic Ink & CS
Whisper White CS
Stamp-A-Ma-Jig (SAMJ)
Tempting Turquoise 1/4" grosgrain ribbon
Retired Earth Elements Buttons

The only tricky thing about this card was getting the sentiment to line up in the right place where I made my hole using my punch with the Basic Black CS piece. I used the Stamp-a-ma-jig in order to get the placement of the sentiment JUST right. I punched the hole out of my black CS where I wanted it, then using my SAMJ I held it between the white and black layers of CS. Once i had the exact position, I held the plastic sheet still, removed the black CS, positioned the SAMJ handle and placed my sentiment in the exact spot. Then I layered the black CS and had perfect placement of my sentiment!!

I stamped all my floral images onto whisper white CS then punched them out and layered them on corresponding CS pieces punched out in the slightly larger circle and then placed them onto the card front using dimensionals to give them some lift. I added the ribbon instead of the scalloped paper section from the template, and then tied it off and added a coordinating button for some added texture.

I just LOVE all these colors, especially when they are placed onto a black back drop- it just seems SO SUMMER-Y!!! I love bright, happy colors- it makes me super happy when I look at it. I also love that this card can be used for ANYTHING!!! I can add a more specific sentiment inside the card for what ever occasion I need it for. Well, I hope you like my project this week and stay tuned next for next week, when I return form VACAY I have some BLOG CANDY ready!!! I know spoiler alert, I had planned on getting it onto this post- BUT with everything I had to do today and yesterday, it just DIDN'T get done. But it will, just when I get back :) so until next time~ TTFN

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HSS Fathers Day Theme Challenge #19

Good Morning (Afternoon) Stampers, as you may have noticed there are a few things wrong with my blog/post...I have been delayed in posting this AM due to computer issues, and none of my photos have my water mark since I had to wipe my system clean and reformat it over the last few days. I am still in the process of installing different programs and MDS (My Digital Studio) is one that hasn't been installed yet...

So onto our challenge today, I had a perfect card in mind for the Hand Stamped Sentiments Fathers Day Theme challenge this week, come over and take a peek and play along- we LOVE that!!!

This is one of the VERY FIRST cards I ever made, I was not even into stamping yet and my cousin Shannon had moved out to CO and was going to my ward when we had a gal in the ward hold a Stampin' Up! card class. She begged me to go and to be nice I went along...little did I know that I would fall in love with this hobby! When I made this card I loved the techniques that we used to create it, now it seems so easy and simple- but at the time I was SO impressed at the difficulty and the fact that I could do it.

There was really nothing much to this card, a simple sentiment stamped on the creamy caramel card stock in basic black ink, some black twine stung behind the main center image , but the center image is where all the beauty lies...

Using water color paper we stamped the large tree image using Black staz-on ink and the hand tore around the outside edges. We drug the torn edges through the creamy caramel classic ink to get a smear of color around the edges. Then using a aqua pen and the ink lids we water colored the main image. To get ink on your stamp pad lids simple squeeze the lid against the ink pad while it's closed then open and pick the color up off the lid top with your aqua pen. Using the water color paper makes this effect even easier to achieve. Not only does the paper have a great texture to it but it soaks up the water so the paper doesn't curl or buckle.

As you can see I just drug my aqua pen over the image there was no "neat-ness" about my application of color. I think that is what makes watercolor so timeless...the messier the application is the better it looks!!

I hope you enjoyed today's project and visit us over at Hand Stamped Sentiments, you can make ANYTHING not just cards... share your creativity with us!! Have a great day and enjoy your SUMMER- until next time~ TTFN

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HSS Color Splash Challenge #18

Hello Fellow Stampers, and Happy Belated Memorial Day!!!

I had a great time yesterday celebrating the holiday with some friends/neighbors and kids swimming in the Llano River. We had a blast! And now I get to do something else that I totally enjoy, CRAFTINESS!!! This weeks challenge is a Color Splash over at Hand Stamped Sentiments, come on over and play along- it's SOOO fun to see every one's creativity! This months inspiration is Black, White, and Gold/Silver... what do these colors make you think of? Well for me, it's WEDDINGS!!!

So I used those colors to help me with my jumping off point. I have to give my amazing cousin , Shannon, credit for this card inspiration, she shared the layout with me a few years ago and I LOVE the set "Baroque Motifs"so much that I was just dying to use it for this challenge. I JUST got this stamp set for FREE!!! I earned it through achieving a certain amount of sales during Sale-A-Bration and literally got it on Friday and I was SO happy to be able to use it for something RIGHT off the bat! I think this set is just so elegant and still fun.

I made this card to be used as a wedding invite, I thought the simple color scheme and elegance of the stamp set worked really well together. I just randomly added a small punch of color at the bottom in the sentiment, but any bride could substitute a color that went with her theme. I also used a fun, simple but timeless technique on this card to give it a bit more POW!

I don't think from the photos you can tell that well that the stamped images are not JUST black but have been heat embossed. I love the texture and shine the card has from this technique. I think for a wedding invite that it suites the card well. I simply stamped my Baroque image using VersaMark Ink and then covered the images with Black embossing powder. Using my heat tool I heat embossed the images and BAM I have my own patterned card stock.

I accented the card with some Going Grey Taffeta Ribbon, which I think is so much more fancy than regular grosgrain at least for the purpose of this card. The card base is a traditional 5.5x4.25" and the main patterned card stock piece is just 5.25x4"... there is a simple rule of thumb that most card makers know and I will share it with you in case you don't know it, "lose a quarter for a border". If you reduce your layer by just a quarter you get a nice even border around all sides of you card. The smaller inside black piece measures 3.5x3" and the top white layer measures 3.25x2.75".

I loved how simple and elegant this card is, and the statement it would make to any recipient. I think this layout is great too especially if you were going to make 50 or more for a wedding invite or as a thank you because they are so quick to put together and create. I hope you enjoyed today's project and join us at Hand Stamped Sentiments to submit your creative ideas for this weeks challenge, we would love to see you there!!

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STAMPS:Baroque Motifs
PAPER: Basic Black, Whisper White
INK: Melon Mambo, VersaMark
TOOLS: Heat Tool, Powder Pals, Black Embossing Powder
ACCESSORIES: Going Grey Taffets Ribbon