Thursday, March 31, 2011

Quick Card Shares and Farewell to Sale-a-bration 2011

Just a few quick cards to share today. I've been swamped with work and I think I just need to go put my feet up and veg out in front of the TV. Smiley from millan.net

I was asked to participate in a local scrapbooking/stamping crop day recently. I had two make-n-take projects for them. This first one is a cute 3x3" card using the Sale-a-bration items Punch Bunch stamp set and Ice Cream Parlor DSP. Sara Bolz gave me this idea. Aren't they adorable?
By the way, if you haven't gotten these SAB items yet, by the time you read this it will probably be too late. Sale-a-bration is over tonight, March 31st. Smiley from millan.net (I'll try to pull myself together...)

Here is the other project they could make. It uses the Build a Cupcake punch and Create a Cupcake stamp set (both in the Occasions Mini Catalog). The basic colors are Chocolate Chip and Poppy Parade (one of this year's In Colors).
This is basically a monochromatic card - it uses one color and a neutral (brown is considered a neutral color). See, even when I'm tired, I'm still full of helpful information! Smiley from millan.net

Hope you can enjoy a relaxing evening too! Until next time...

Jayne Stenstrom
jayne@jaynestamps.com

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Elements of Style on Beautiful Butterfly

Today I'm sharing a card that I made this month for the Upscale Swap Group. I used the Beautiful Butterflies Bigz die (pg. 206 IB&C) to cut out a butterfly from Confetti White cardstock and stamped one of the images from the Elements of Style stamp set on it (pg. 133 IB&C). I used the Confetti White cardstock because that type of cardstock works better when you are watercoloring an image.The image was watercolored with blender pens and ink pads - Pear Pizzazz, Peach Parfait, and Daffodil Delight. Some Basic Pearls were added for the butterfly body. I also used the Bring On the Cake stamp set from the Occasions Mini Catalog (pg. 13). I love word stamp sets! I really get my money's worth from them as I use them over and over again. Of course, there's that Framed Tulips embossing folder again. Love it!

I was so pleased with how this card turned out, that I used the same idea on a name tag. Those of us who attend the monthly Tickled Ink meetings thought that name tags would be a good idea, so we had a "contest". This was my creation.
The elements are basically the same, although I used some of the colored metal (non-Stampin' Up!) for the background and for the letters. The letters are cut with white metal using the Serif Essentials Alphabet Bigz die (pg. 207 IB&C) and then were run through the Big Shot with the Elegant Lines embossing folder (pg. 214 IB&C). I then sanded the tops lightly with a sanding block to bring out the silver underneath.

Here's a close-up of one of the butterflies on my tag. I used the Basic Rhinestones for this body. Definitely a blinged-up tag! Smiley from millan.net

Until next time...

Jayne Stenstrom
jayne@jaynestamps.com

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Stamp-a-Stack samples

Here are the cards that the ladies made at my Stamp-a-Stack class last week. Everyone made three of each design but customized them with whatever saying they wanted. We had a great group here and there was a lot of laughing and having a good time! Smiley from millan.net

This first card is very easy. The Whisper White cardstock was cut in half to 4-1/4" x 11" and folded. The colored cardstock was cut into 4-1/4" squares. We then ran that through the Big Shot with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder.
The saying was stamped in the lower right hand corner, and then some 5/8" Satin Ribbon (pg. 191 IB&C) was added. They could make them monochromatic like the one above, or mix up the ribbons and cardstock.
These next cards used the Punch Bunch stamp set from the Sale-a-bration catalog. We also used the Ice Cream Parlor DSP & Quick Accents Pack and the Ice Cream Parlor ribbon available in the Sale-a-bration catalog. This is the last time you'll be able to get this stamp set or accessories. If you don't get them by March 31, they will be gone forever!
Since the DSP is two-sided, I scored one edge of it and folded it down to add some contrast. Everyone was able to use whatever coordinating ink and cardstock they wanted for the upper half of the card, so each card was unique to the creator. (There has to be room for some creative license, right?)

This simple but beautiful card idea came from Gretchen Barron. It's cardstock with some DSP attached and a vellum overlay.
We used Cardstock Vellum (pg. 170 IB&C) and ran it through the Big Shot with the Elegant Bouquet embossing folder. We used the Springtime Vintage DSP from the Occasions Mini catalog (pg. 15) with coordinating cardstock and 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon (pg. 16 in the mini catalog). The vellum is attached with a strip of SNAIL down the left hand side and then the ribbon is tied around the front to cover the adhesive.
Here are the three finished cards. These look so nice in real life and are a wonderful idea for a quick, beautiful card when you're in a rush.
The last card uses the Beautiful Butterflies Bigz die (pg. 206 IB&C) and the Framed Tulips embossing folder along with the Sale-a-bration Bliss stamp set. The colors used are Very Vanilla and Soft Suede.
This is the only card that they made all the same color. I got the idea from a swap card I saw at the Tickled Ink meeting last Monday. I had been trying to come up with an idea using the Bliss stamp set and butterflies but wasn't having much luck. When I saw this card at the meeting I knew it was exactly what I was looking for! Thanks for the idea Sharon!

I couldn't resist showing you how Webster ended the evening. He decided to make himself comfortable on the couch downstairs. (This is in the same room that I have classes.) Does he look relaxed or what? Smiley from millan.net
Guess he was tired out from watching all the stamping going on.
Until next time...

Jayne Stenstrom
jayne@jaynestamps.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Twisted Easel Card with Build a Blossom

A few weeks ago I saw quite a few posts showing twisted easel cards and I couldn't wait to try one for myself! Do you like?
My card was made using the Build a Blossom stamp set and Blossom Petals Punch. I know I've mentioned it before, but I just LOVE when Stampin' Up! comes up with punches and stamp sets that coordinate. It makes things so much faster and easier when you're stamping or scrapbooking. The colors used are Perfect Plum and Certainly Celery.

My friends Judy and Donna were here when I made my card, so we all made identical cards. The fold is a little different depending on which way the card was scored, but otherwise they are all the same.

So I was thinking that this would be a good type of card to make at my next Wow! Cards Class. What do you think? Would you want to make one of these with me? I just need to come up with a date for my class.

Until next time...

Jayne Stenstrom
jayne@jaynestamps.com

Thursday, March 24, 2011

ONE WEEK

There's only ONE WEEK left of Stampin' Up!'s 2011 Sale-a-bration and your chance to get FREE stamps or other exclusive SAB items! What are you waiting for???

One of the items available this year for SAB is a Chalkboard Decor Element. I love it! I have it on the end of my cupboard in my stamp room. You can write on it with chalk, then simply clean it off to use over and over. Just like a regular chalkboard but way cooler and classier! Smiley from millan.net
Of course, I have some more cards to share with you using the SAB sets. Not that I'm trying to tempt you or anything...Smiley from millan.net

Bliss card by Georgia Giguere
Bliss card by Julie Taylor
Punch Bunch by Deb Snyder
So sweet for a baby card, isn't it?
Punch Bunch by Joann Anglin
Also uses the Ice Cream Parlor Designer Series Paper from the SAB catalog
And in parting I thought you might enjoy seeing our new dog bed being put to good use - by the cats, of course! They look quite comfortable, don't they? So I'm sending you some kitty hugs from Webster and Snickers before they go back to sleep. Smiley from millan.net

Until next time...

Jayne Stenstrom
jayne@jaynestamps.com

Monday, March 21, 2011

Star Embedded Embossed Card

I made this card about a week ago for my daughter's boyfriend, Jared, but I've had to wait to show you until after his birthday - and after I'd given him the card! He was pretty impressed with it - which made me pleased! Smiley from millan.net
The stars are punched from Tempting Turquoise, Rich Razzleberry, and Certainly Celery card stock. I added just a few Basic Rhinestones for a little touch of sparkle.

And here's the happy guy with his card! (He's such a ham!) Happy birthday, Jared!
Until next time...


Jayne Stenstrom
jayne@jaynestamps.com

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Cake Made with Designer Series Papers

I saw a card very similar to this a couple of months ago and have been wanting to make one for quite awhile. So when Judy S. came over the other day, we decided to tackle it. It took us a little bit to figure out what colors we wanted to use. (Of course, I didn't have the Neutrals DSP Stack that I wanted to use, so we had to get creative!).

This is Judy's card made with Certainly Celery and Perfect Plum DSP from the Soft Subtles Stack.
This is my card made with Night of Navy DSP from the Regals DSP Stack and Poppy Parade from the In Colors DSP Stack. These were lots of fun to make and I think they would make a great wedding card.

I can't stay on long - we're getting a thunderstorm and it's messing with our connection. So enjoy and I'll be back soon!

Thursday, March 17, 2011

More Punch Bunch Samples

How about some more Punch Bunch samples?

Card by Joann Anglin
Card by Nancy Vertalka:
Card by Ann Fitton:
Card by Laura Miller:
Card by Ann Welborn:
Card by Angela VanderLeek:

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Embossed Metal-Covered Candles

I have such a pretty project to show you today - embossed metal-covered candles. I've been wanting to make one of these for quite awhile. I purchased some colored metal sheets (non-Stampin' Up!) and have sort of been hoarding them for awhile... (you never do that, do you?) Smiley from millan.net

Well anyway, I finally cut into it to create these candles - aren't they gorgeous? The picture doesn't really do it justice. They are so much prettier in real life. We made a coordinating card for the first candle.
Wouldn't this make a great little gift for someone? Either a wedding gift, a thinking of you gift, or a "thanks for letting me stay at your house" hostess gift. The idea for this wasn't original to me. It came from a post on Workin' Out the Inks back in February. My card is a little different than hers, but I still used that gorgeous Framed Tulips textured impressions embossing folder. Love, love, love that! The candle and the metal parts on the card were made with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder. I'm not sure that I would be comfortable burning this candle because of the Seam Binding Ribbon tied on the side. I would probably remove that before actually lighting the candle. Safety first! Smiley from millan.net

Here is a close-up of the card. The edges were sponged with a little Perfect Plum to bring out the embossed part. Basic pearls were added in the centers of some of the images.
Here is the candle and card that my friend Judy made. Pretty, isn't it? I love the turquoise and Early Espresso together!
I had some miscellaneous candles around the house, so I decided to cover all of them too. Most of these candles are about 2 to 2-1/2" tall. I'm not going to be happy with just "plain" candles anymore! The red one uses the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder and Basic Rhinestones for accents. It was hard to get a close-up picture of the red one, so this is the best picture I have of it.
This pink candle was covered with metal embossed with the Elegant Lines embossing folder and accented with some Basic Pearls. This candle is closer to 3" tall.
The green candle was covered with metal embossed with the Finial Press embossing folder. I didn't add any additional accents to this one - I liked it just the way it is.

So if you have some plain candles, dress them up with some embossed metal! If you have any questions, feel free to contact me! Or if you decorate some candles of your own, send me a picture so I can see your creation! Until next time...


Jayne Stenstrom
jayne@jaynestamps.com