Saturday, October 29, 2011

Do you miss me??

I'm missing you!  Smiley from millan.net

I just wanted to post a quick note to tell you that I'm still alive and kicking, however, my internet connection at home is NOT!  I schlepped my computer into my husband's office so I could do some of my medical transcription, and I thought I would take this opportunity to let you know that I haven't totally fallen off the face of the earth - I just have no way to contact you.  Maybe smoke signals?  I feel so alone...
Smiley from millan.net

The last word I heard is that it should be back up and running by Monday 7:00 PM, but I'm starting to wonder.  It's already been out for THREE DAYS!!  Help - I'm going through withdrawal!

I promise that I will be back to posting as soon as I have some kind of internet connection to the world again.  Don't give up on me - I'll be back as soon as I can!

Jayne Stenstrom
jayne@jaynestamps.com
http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/jaynestamps/

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

The Sounding Joy

There is a beautiful and elegant stamp set in the Holiday Mini Catalog called The Sounding Joy.  I just love the elegance of the script writing and the words that are used.  If you like a classic look to your Christmas cards, this is the stamp set for you!

This card was made by Joann Anglin.  She used Night of Navy and Whisper White cardstock along with Night of Navy dye ink and VersaMark with Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder.  She also used the Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  Doesn't the word "Joy" just pop right off at you?
Did you notice the extra touches she added?  They don't take much time, but add to the overall elegance of the card.  The edges of the top Whisper White panel were inked with VersaMark and then embossed with the Gold emboss powder.  And she also tied some Night of Navy 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon across the Night of Navy panel at the bottom.

Sometimes if you have a card that you're not quite sure looks "done", try either adding some ribbon or sponging the edges.  It's amazing what a difference that can make!

Until next time...
HAPPY STAMPING!
Jayne Stenstrom
jayne@jaynestamps.com 
http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/jaynestamps/

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Christmas Lodge Samples

I know that many of you are looking for card ideas for Christmas.  Today I have some gorgeous ones to show you made with the Christmas Lodge stamp set in the Holiday Mini catalog.  This is a beautiful stamp set that can be used for cards all winter long.

I received this first card from Debra Currier from our Upscale Swap Group.  She always has such clean and elegant cards.  Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, and a touch of Cherry Cobbler are all that is needed for this card.  She also layered the main image onto a piece of the Early Espresso 3/8" Quilted Satin Ribbon.  The snow on the rooftop and around the lodge is colored using our White Gel Pen.

This next one was from Deb Snyder from another swap group I'm in.  It's hard to believe that these two cards were made from the same stamp set, isn't it?  Deb used the smaller branch with the birds and framed them with the rectangle shape from the Designer Frames Textured Impressions Embossing Folders.  She accented the folder with some Shimmer Paint to make it stand out.  The DSP looks like a real birch tree, doesn't it?  That is from the Frostwood Lodge Designer Series Paper pack.  The touches of So Saffron in the cardstock and the 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon tie it all together.

The last card for today was created by Joyce Feraco.  She stamped the lodge in Cherry Cobbler ink directly onto the same paper that Deb Snyder used.  Joyce used four of the designs from the Frostwood Lodge DSP pack on her card.  The snowflake is cut with some of the DSP using the Northern Frost Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die.
She also accented her card with Cherry Cobbler 3/8" Quilted Satin Ribbon, some Linen Thread, and a Mini Jingle Bell (isn't it cute?).

This is your last week to take advantage of the special offer to get a FREE Big Shot!  Contact me if you'd like more information.

Until next time...
 
Jayne Stenstrom 
jayne@jaynestamps.com
http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/jaynestamps/

Do you live in the USA and need a copy of the new Idea Book & Catalog? The cost is only $9.95. Send me your mailing address to jayne@jaynestamps.com and when I've received your payment, I will mail the catalog directly to you (shipping to you is free!).

Are you getting inspiration from my blog? One way to help support it is to order your Stampin' Up! products through me. Click HERE and then on the "Shop Now" button to place an order. Are you interested in becoming a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, receive a 20% discount on products, and earn instant income on orders? Consider being part of my Stampin' Up! team and start your own business. You can get more information HERE or you can contact me at jayne@jaynestamps.com.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Leaves of a Tree are Gently Falling

Hmmm... can you guess what stamp sets I'm showcasing today?  If you guess before you read any further, you get a gold star!
Smiley from millan.net

The weather has been rainy, windy, and cool for the last couple of days.  This is when I finally remembered the problem with having a dog.  We have to take her out in it!  Smiley from millan.net  But how could I resist this face?  She's sooooo sweet!

Anyway, on to the cards for today.  The first couple are made with the Leaves of a Tree A' la Carte stamp.  It's on page 43 of the Holiday Mini Catalog.  Emily Mullin made the first one as her card swap for our Chalk-a-holics meeting last week.  I love how she added multiple colors on the leaves with markers.

The other card I have for you was made by Lisa Gray for our Upscale Swap group.  I'm not sure how she got the various shades of color on her tree, but I'm guessing it was using a technique called "thumping".  Did you notice the Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder on the Cajun Craze cardstock? 

 And of course while we still have some leaves left on the trees around here (some of them are actually still green, but they will fall off anyway from the wind and cold), I had to share some more samples made with Gently Falling.
Smiley from millan.net
This first one was a CASE from Mary Brown (I think it was her original idea).  This is actually different from my usual type of card.  I'm usually all about sponging the edges and adding more to the background, but I wanted to keep this simple.  The use of white space is something I need to get used to.  It's a GOOD thing, right?  The leaves were all stamped with two colors - either Pumpkin Pie "rock 'n' rolled" in Pear Pizzazz or Pool Party "rock 'n' rolled" in Pear Pizzazz.  The detail was stamped on top with Chocolate Chip ink.  The Pumpkin Pie medallion was cut with the Perfect Pennants Bigz L Die and the saying is from Petite Pairs.

I found another card that Debra Daam gave me when we were stamping together.  I don't know how I missed it, but this gives me another chance to highlight my favorite stamp set here!  (Like I need an excuse...) Smiley from millan.net

Don't forget about the amazing opportunity to get a Big Shot for free this month!  If you need more information, you can contact me at jayne@jaynestamps.com.

Smiley from millan.net
Until next time...
 
Jayne Stenstrom
jayne@jaynestamps.com
http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/jaynestamps/

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Owl Fancy Favor Box

We made the most adorable box at our group meeting last week!  I found a pattern for this Owl Fancy Favor Box on Stetler Arts Blog.  It was just so cute, I couldn't resist making it.  Everyone at the meeting liked theirs too!


You can get the actual instructions HERE, but I'll give you a list of the basic supplies we used.  The base is More Mustard cardstock cut with the Fancy Favor Die.  Other cardstock colors used were Cajun Craze, Almost Artichoke, Elegant Eggplant, Not Quite Navy, Basic Black, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, and Tangerine Tango (for the beak).  We also used the Scallop Edge Border punch, Petite Pennants Builder Punch, 2-3/8" Scallop Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, 1" Circle Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, and 1/2" Circle Punch.  The wire is retired from Stampin' Up!, but you could use any kind of wire as a handle.

I also thought I would show you that Webster has decided he is our semi-official "mascot".  He comes down when the ladies are here for a meeting or stamping class and makes himself comfortable - wherever.  (This was supposed to be our table for snacks!)  Goofy cat!


Until next time...

 
Jayne Stenstrom
jayne@jaynestamps.com 
http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/jaynestamps/

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Boo to You!


Last Friday we had our monthly Chalk-a-holics meeting.  We had so much fun getting together to stamp, visit, and snack.  Smiley from millan.net  If you'd like to join us in our monthly meetings, October is a GREAT month to join Stampin' Up!  When you purchase any of the standard starter kits, you will get a Big Shot for FREE!!!  Or if you already have a Big Shot, you can choose $100 in Stampin' Up! merchandise for FREE!!  We would absolutely love to have you join us - the more the merrier!  Contact me before October 31st and I'll help you get started.

On to a few of our projects.  This particular card was one I had seen done a few different ways on various blogs.  I thought it was just too cute and we needed to make it.  It uses the Spider Web Embossing Folder, Serif Essentials Alphabet Bigz Die, the NEW Peekaboo Frames Bigz Die, Delightful Dozen stamp set, and the Scallop Oval Punch and Large Oval Punch.


Cute, huh?  But get ready to really squeal with delight.  Look what happens when you lift up the Peekaboo Frames:

Someone's looking at you!  Is this stinkin' cute or what?


Diane Kipp gave each one of us one of these adorable witch's hats.  Just 'cause she's so sweet.
 And look - it holds a chocolate nugget!  But I have a problem... it's so cute, I don't want to eat the chocolate (and you KNOW how I love chocolate!).  Smiley from millan.net
Oh well, sometimes the sacrifice must be made to maintain the integrity and cuteness of an idea. Oh, the things I do for stamping!  Smiley from millan.net

The ladies were all able to make one of the cards that I had from my open house a few weeks ago.  Most of them hadn't made one of the pleated flowers (or lollies) made with the new Simply Scored tool, so it was a good time for them to give it a try.  (And it uses the Gently Falling stamp set...just in case you didn't know) Smiley from millan.net

So it was again a great night and I can't wait to do it again next month!  I'd love to have you here in one of the chairs stamping and having fun with us! 

Until next time...
 
Jayne Stenstrom
jayne@jaynestamps.com 
http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/jaynestamps/

Friday, October 14, 2011

I'm Gently Falling... for a free Big Shot?

In case you haven't figured it out yet, I'm addicted to the Gently Falling stamp set.  I love this stamp set and I reach for it again and again to make cards.  Smiley from millan.net

I saw a card very similar to this one and decided to CASE it for our upscale swap group.  The background was made by brayering More Mustard dye ink onto the Houndstooth Embossing Folder and then running More Mustard cardstock through the Big Shot with the folder.  You can see a bit of shadowing and depth on the background that this added.
The leaves were stamped color-on-color:  Cajun Craze, More Mustard, Cherry Cobbler, and Old Olive with the detail stamped on the top with Early Espresso ink.  The saying is from Bring on the Cake stamped on Very Vanilla cardstock and punched out with the Extra-Large Oval Punch.  Behind that is the oval from the Designer Frames Embossing Folder cut out in Cherry Cobbler card stock.  The edges were sponged with Cherry Cobbler ink to again add some depth.  The finishing touch was a bow tied from the 3/8" Quilted Satin Ribbon in Cherry Cobbler.  This ribbon is so rich!

This next card was made by Debra Daam.  You should check out her blog at Debra's Stamp Life.  Deb gave me this card when we got together to stamp a week or so ago.  I love the multiple colors on the leaf.  I think it was inked in Pear Pizzazz and then rock 'n 'rolled on More Mustard (or maybe Cajun Craze).  She added some Dazzling Details to the leaf veins.  I love the sparkle that adds!

So I'm sure these won't be the last of the Gently Falling cards you'll see from me, but I promise to mix it up with cards made with other sets.  Really - I will!

And don't forget, if you join Stampin' Up! during the month of October, you can get a Big Shot for FREE!!  It's always a great deal to join Stampin' Up!, but this deal is over-the-top amazing!  Smiley from millan.net  You can join on-line - you don't even have to leave your house!  And you'll have so much fun as a part of the Stampin' Up! family and my Chalk-a-holics group.  There's really nothing to lose!  Contact me for more details, but don't wait.  October is already half gone!  (Can you believe it?)

Until next time...

 
Jayne Stenstrom
jayne@jaynestamps.com 
http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/jaynestamps/

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Piece of Poison

Personally I'm not a Halloween person.  Other than the candy, I don't care much for the "scariness" of it all.  I love the colors of fall and decorating with pumpkins and leaves, but that's about the extent of it for me.  But I know that there are many of you who are Halloween FREAKS (and you know who you are!). Smiley from millan.net

So I was happy to get this card in a recent swap so I would have something scary to show you.  This was made with the Piece of Poison stamp set in the Holiday Mini catalog.  This stamp set has all the scary things you could want.  Besides the skeleton, it was a spider, a rat, a brain, and a couple of sayings.  It's enough to give me nightmares!  Smiley from millan.net

Carmen Ramirez made this card and it has all the spooky elements that you could want.  I hope YOU like it!  Me, I'll stick to my cats and candy, thank you very much!
Smiley from millan.net

Until next time...
 
Jayne Stenstrom
jayne@jaynestamps.com 
http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/jaynestamps/

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Holiday Stocking Die

After showing you the shoe yesterday, I thought you might like to see the Bigz L Holiday Stocking Die done as a Christmas stocking.  Smiley from millan.net  (Hey, I occasionally have a "light bulb" moment!)

Here is one that I made with Garden Green cardstock and Frostwood Lodge Designer Series Paper (love this paper!).  I also used Winter Wishes Stitched Felt, Cherry Cobbler 3/8" Quilted Satin Ribbon, and a Regals Button with some White Baker's Twine.  Do you like?



This second stocking was made by Cricket Thompson.  As you can see, the stocking can go either direction. Smiley from millan.net  (I seem to be master of the obvious today.  Tee hee!)

She ran the cardstock through the Snow Burst Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  The Stocking Accents Originals Die was used to add the holly berries and leaves.  And don't you just love the "bling" of the Silver Glimmer Paper as the accent pieces?  The words come from the Curly Cute stamp set.  Again, this is so much prettier in real life!


The last sample for today was made by Laura Miller. She also used the Frostwood Lodge DSP and the Snow Burst Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  She accented the top with some Cherry Cobbler cardstock punched out with the Snowflake punch and sponged the edges with Chocolate Chip ink.  It has a "country feel", don't you think?

Hard to believe we're talking about Christmas already, but it will be here before we know it!  Not only can you make cards and adorable accents with this stocking die, but you can use it to cut out fabric and sew a stocking!  I've really enjoyed playing with the Stocking Die and seeing some of the great things that have been made with it.  When you make something with it, send me a picture so I can see what you've made!

Until next time...

Jayne Stenstrom
jayne@jaynestamps.com
http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/jaynestamps/