Embellish

Ginormous Scallop Circle Paper Flowers for Big Shot Club

Look at this pretty thing!! This is the same technique as the photo tutorial on the Scallop Circle punch-scrunch flowers, only done with the Scallop Circle die for the Big Shot. I am SO glad I tried it out, because it is truly something astounding! Click here for the photo tutorial.

So I had this gorgeous paper flower the size of my fist and I wanted it to be the main adornment on a wedding gift bag, but it needed something else. I've been wanting to play with the new sheets of multi-purpose adhesive for the Big Shot from the Holiday Mini (starts tomorrow!) so I dug them out. But, what fabric to use? My flower was Rich Razzleberry and we don't carry fabric in the right color (yet). 

So I decided to use the Rich Razzleberry satin ribbon and the brand spankin' new Tasteful Trims Bigz XL die, essentially turning the ribbon into a long, scalloped fabric sticker, which I then could put wherever I wanted on the bag or on a card. The Tasteful Trims die is nice and long, too, so this even fits on a 12x12 scrapbook page! 

Mega closeup of the flower... honestly, I am so taken with this. It's SO pretty! and it literally takes about five minutes (minus drying time).  I can't WAIT to show it to my Big Shot club ladies on Thursday night. If you would like to join us this month and see what Big Shot Club is all about, please give me a call at (920) 261-3962 or email me: zwolaneks@att.net and I would love to have you come as a guest. You do not have to own or purchase the Big Shot to attend.

Photo Tutorial: Scallop Circle Paper Flowers

The kids are back in school and here's an AWESOMELY fun new project, just begging for a photo tutorial. Enjoy these EASY and GORGEOUS paper chrysanthemum technique that you will be using for years to come!

First, punch out five Scallop Circles of your desired color of cardstock (regular paper and most cheapo-brands of cardstock not recommended for this project). Yes, I know there's only four scallop circles in the photo. Do you want your flower to be sorry-looking? I didn't think so. Punch out five and be quiet).

Lay them on a paper plate or dish (I used an empty stamp case) and mist them with water. Flip them and mist again. Isn't this FUN?? It's like pre-school!

Stack all five circles loosely together (no need to line them up, all you perfectionists out there) and punch through the center with your handy-dandy Crop A Dile (definitely not for pre-schoolers). Then put in a large brad of some sort (small ones aren't up to the size of this baby).

Then, layer by layer, start bringing the scallops up around the brad and crunching them into petals. It's really easy, because the paper is extremely pliable. If it starts to dry out too quickly, just mist it again.

When you get them all scrunched up (technical term), it should look like this. Only in whatever color you chose, of course. If you chose Daffodil Delight cardstock and your flower looks like this, then Houston, we have a problem. Let it dry like that. it won't fall apart, and it won't noticeably come un-scrunched, either. It will take a bit to completely dry, maybe say three to four hours or so. For sure overnight.

Since I was using Peach Parfait, one of the new In Colors, I used the new Glimmer Brads from the Holiday Mini, which starts September 1st! If you use something pretty on the inside, it won't matter if the brad peeks out at you from between the petals. You might want to separate them a little so it shows on purpose (although then you can't really call it a chrysanthemum (although, considering I've typed that three times now and had to use spell check every time, not calling it a chrysanthemum might be a plus).

So what does one use your little bitty masterpiece on? Anything! Cards would have to be hand-delivered, of course, but it's too adorable on little boxes and bags. try it on the Bitty Box for sure. Here's a gift bag idea for you that I made as part of a hostess gift this week.

There you have it! Easy and FUN to make little flowers... but I'll warn ya, they're totally addicting. My stamp room table is covered with these little guys left out to dry from yesterday. I think maybe they multiplied in the night.

Wanna see something TOTALLY amazing? This technique can be done with the Scallop Circle die for the Big Shot, too! Click here.

If you liked this tutorial or think you might use the technique, please leave me a comment and I'll be so encouraged I might do more. Happy Stamping!

Incredible Cards Club tonight!

I'm excited to show everybody some fun ways to use Shimmer Paint and Smooch Accent ink tonight at Incredible Cards Club. Bummer that the sparkles are not showing up on this card! There is Platinum Shimmer Paint on the paper daisies and the Presto Patterns specialty DSP. We're also going to be painting on the g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s Antique Brads with it as well. It's just really a Marina Mist and Whisper White confection of shimmery goodness!

This is your LAST CHANCE to get the satin ribbon in Bashful Blue. The Summer Mini catalog ENDS TOMORROW (Tuesday) and that color has not been carried over into the main catalog. This is a STAPLE COLOR, so be sure to get at least one spool before it is too late!

Watercolored Lighthouse card

Loved this set from the minute I saw it in the new Idea Book & Catalog, and was lucky enough to get it and 12 others for free in 2010 from Stampin' Up! I tell you, I love my job. We are offered opportunities to earn free stamps during the year, which you can redeem in the new catalog. Really helps with that gigantic wish list each July! I also have been paid in stamps for doing a presentation and an article for them this year--I'd love it if they asked me every month!

So Uncharted Territory (isn't that a cool quote?) was one of my first choices for free stamps. It's not an expensive set at all, but I've learned not to pick the biggest sets just because I'm getting it for free--pick the ones that appeal the most, regardless of price.

I love the artwork--just wispy enough so that you don't have to be too precise with the watercoloring or chalks. This particular card is my first one with this set. I wanted to try the Neutrals Watercolor Wonder Crayons with it especially. I stamped the images on Sahara Sand with Bravo Burgundy ink, distressed the edges with the Cutter Kit, and layered it on Not Quite Navy on a Bravo Burgundy base.

I really like it! So you're going to see a lot more samples with it. Hope you like it, too!

Time left to register for the 10-10-10

The Fall 10-10-10 event will be held September 11th at 10:00 a.m. at my usual location at the college in Watertown. At this event you will make ten different cards, each taking about ten minutes, for just ten dollars total!

RSVP TODAY! I have 25 ladies confirmed already and have to cap it at 30, so hurry! (920) 261-3962 or zwolaneks@att.net

I have all kinds of fun cards planned for you--I've been having a wonderful week working on those, as well as dreaming up no less than four wonderful workshops in the next five days. I'm going to be one busy girl!

Come and get your hands on ten different layouts and color schemes, and start your mojo flowin' for the fall!

The card above is in the running for the final ten designs at the 10-10-10. It features the spotlight technique, where you pull a single part out of the main image and highlight by punching it out, layering it and popping it up on a dimensional. One of the things that's SO awesome about Stampin' Up is the total coordination of the punches. We have everything from a 1/16th inch circle punch all the way up to 2.5 inches (coming in the Holiday Mini catalog, starting Sept. 1st!) You could also use square or oval punches to do the spotlight technique, too.

Be sure to sign up ASAP, and keep checking back for more cards that you might see at the 10-10-10 as I finalize the plans. I'll keep the final ten designs under wraps--one of them is TOP SECRET because it uses the advance set I was given to do the Stampin' Success magazine article. Come and find out what it is!

Broadsheet Alphabet as a background

Got a little grunge-vintage thing going on here that turned out kind of fun. I had made a bunch of signs for my Hostess Appreciation event with the Broadsheet Alphabet set, and when the evening was over, I hated to just toss them. So I turned them into cards!

First, I stamped additional letters all over the front of the sign, in all different directions, so that the original words were obscured. Then I added a few of the fun images from my good old favorite Chic Boutique stamp set, and a lot of heavy sponging. This is all Basic Gray on Rose Red, by the way.

I wanted to use the tulle and the pearls, so I had to sponge the Newsprint DSP heavily enough to disguise the fact that it is Very Vanilla. I don't care what fashion trends come and go, I just have a hard time pairing white and off white! Love the flirty edge of the white Dotted Scallop Ribbon punch peeking out from behind the torn edge, like a petticoat.

You can see the Shimmer Spray (I can't help myself!) and I also added some Smooch Accent ink to the Eiffel Tower, and around the sentiment, too. Where did I get that cool punch? It's not a punch! It's two of the labels from the Matchbox XL die for the Big Shot. 

All of these items are available for purchase on my shopping website, www.lyssa.stampinup.net and I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have. The recipe for Shimmer Spray is here. Happy stamping! 

Paris Cards for Josephine's

I've been busy making more cards to fill that rack at Josephine's. Happy to say, the store is now open in it's gorgeous new location, inside The Willows next to the brand new Pic N Save in Watertown. Go check it out! I have all kinds of cards for sale there, and more designs coming every two weeks.

I had some leftovers of this pretty Paris card we made at my Hostess Appreciation night this past week, so I spent a pleasant interlude yesterday making them up while I rested up from that fabulously fun event. They feature Presto Patterns specialty DSP, the new dotted scallop ribbon punch, the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder for the Big Shot, and the Chic Boutique stamp set, all done up in Whisper White and Concord Crush. Love the little bit of white tulle tied around the main image! 

Awash With Flowers and pink polka dots

I was so taken by this pretty card in the mail yesterday, sent by my fifth level upline Kristen. She is always so good about sending encouraging notes! it's a good reminder to me to send more cards--if I love they way they make me feel, I'm sure others love receiving happy mail, too.

I like how Kristen sponged the polka dots after embossing them on the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots folder. And I think she must have used the marker to add some darker pink to the inked-up stamp before she stamped the flower image. Cute and easy!

Ready for Christmas? We're getting there!

At Christmas Club on Monday night, we all agreed we feel very virtuous getting such a head start on our Christmas projects this year! We each made twelve of these cards and will be making twelve more each month for three months. 

I am trying to make a good variety of designs so there will be something to appeal to everyone. They seemed to really enjoy the quilted Top Note card made in Poppy Parade and Pear Pizzazz with Garden Green. It's kinda country, but in bright, modern colors--we call that style Retro Mod.

I also had to work in my favorite Christmas color combo of Rich Razzleberry, Silver embossing powder and Whisper White. Awesome with the new rhinestones! And just a wee dab of Shimmer Spray... couldn't resist! (Snow Swirled stamp set)

The last card was actually MY favorite. You know how crazy I am about the Newsprint DSP. I had to find a way to work it in.

It's not easy to see in the photo, but the dove is painted a pearly white with Smooch Accent ink, which really made the whiteness pop from the antiqued background. Love the combo of Riding Hood Red with Very Vanilla and Sahara Sand. (Gifts of Christmas stamp set)

I'd be ever so pleased if you and your friends wanted to book a Christmas Club of your very own. We can start with just four members, so let me know if you can grab a couple of friends who want to get a headstart on their Christmas projects and make meaningful, beautiful cards BEFORE they get so stressed out that it gets bumped off their holiday to-do list. We could also just have a workshop with Christmas cards as well--just book it soon so there's time for people to receive their orders and still be able to make their cards! 

Summer Mini stamps--get 'em before they're gone!

I don't often "fussy-cut," but the flowers in the Tropical Party set lend themselves very easily to some quick moves with the Paper Snips, so I didn't mind for this card. I didn't think it was anything too awesome, personally, but several people who have seen it in person really liked it, so here you go!

To get the woven look for the wall behind the flowers, take a piece of cardstock approximately 5.5 x 2. Slice it up the long way with your paper cutter, but stop and start your blade about half an inch from the ends of the cardstock. This gives you four strips that are still connected at the top and bottom. Sponge or distress it now rather than later--I used the Very Vanilla Craft Pad with the direct-to-paper technique.

Fold the top uncut portion around the back of your cardfront and secure with Sticky Strip. Weave your hemp twine through as shown and knot it off to one side. Then fold the bottom uncut portion of the strip around the back of the cardfront and secure that as well. 

There you are... beachy and casual... and only available in the Summer Mini, which ends August 31st. Don't wait! Contact me today to order, or go straight to www.lyssa.stampinup.net and place your order before this great set and all of its coordinating accessories (album, Big Shot die, DSP, party favors and more) are gone for good!

The Very Versatile Broadsheet Alphabet

Broadsheet Alphabet is my favorite new alphabet set, hands down! I just love the way this vintage-inspired page benefits from the cute font used for this set. We made this spread in Scrap A Stack Club this month and had fun thinking of all the different things you could scrap on this page--a museum trip, a living history farm or reenactment, your family tree, a family immigration story, or even just some great black and white photos of your kids.

Here's a view of the whole project-- notice the layers of different patterns of Newsprint DSP on the left hand side. Love the ledger sheets for journalling, too!

Love the monochromatic color scheme with just one pop of color in the More Mustard. At first I was worried that I was getting a stamp set that was too specific to one style. But see how fun the look can be when you use it on something colorful and eclectic like this garden spread:

Oh hey now! What's that rick-rack looking stuff, you say? It's a really cool new die for the Big Shot! It was designed with fabric in mind, but as soon as I saw it, all I could think about was scrapbook pages! Now you can cut four different border styles, unlimited times, out of just about any material you want--cardstock, DSP, fabric, vinyl, wallpaper, leather, cork, balsa, tin--you name it! I am SO PUMPED about the possibilities with this die. Now if only I had TIME to play, right?!

Vintage newsprint hummingbird card

Here's on of my favorite cards that I have made recently. The colors were inspired by the striped papers from the Elegant Soiree DSP in the Idea Book & Catalog. The card base is Sahara Sand, sponged and stamped with the flourish from Elements of Style. Then I layered on the stripes and a piece of Not Quite Navy cardstock run through the Big Shot using the Vintage Wallpaper folder.

On top of that went the hummingbird image, stamped in Not Quite Navy ink on a torn piece of Newsprint DSP (my favorite!). By the way, watch out when you use that DSP so that you don't have an unpleasant word from the gardening section (manure, anyone?) or an unintentionally funny or inappropriate advertisement in some terribly obvious place on your card! 

Then I added the Scalloped Oval punch sentiment (from Oval Alls) and some Very Vanilla taffeta ribbon with a small safety pin from Vintage Trinkets on it. It also has Gold Glow Smooch Spray on it, which you can't see too well in the photo. Love that stuff! 

Bird Card for Card Buffet

I'm throwing a Card Buffet for Cheryl and her girlfriends today here in a couple of minutes. For those of you who've never heard of a Card Buffet, it's such a cool concept! Everyone pays $5 to come and make a certain number of cards. Then, they can make additional cards, as many as they can manage to get accomplished in the time allotted, for just $1 each.

Obviously for that price, the cards are simple and easy to put together. I love the challenge of coming up with cute, inexpensive cards that people can easily reproduce later when they're stamping at home. 

This is one of the ones we'll be making today, a nice Perfect Punches birthday card that would work for either masculine or feminine, in my opinion. It's the first thing I've used the new 2-Step Bird XL punch on, if you can believe it! I really like it!

And these colors rock together! Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake, Marina Mist, Bashful Blue, Whisper White. Two tones of blue and two tones of brown. Gotta try it!

Easy bleached card

My friend Theresa's having a workshop tonight and she requested that we learn bleach stamping. I always try to accommodate my hostesses, so I came up with this card this morning with the great new set Just Believe. Hope she likes it!

I had to buy some new bleach for this, because our previous bottle of bleach had been banging around the place for about ten years and was no longer active. I was used to stamping with that, so here's a photo of what happened when I used the stronger new stuff!

It really bleached! The Soft Suede and Old Olive ones bleached out to a bright Crushed Curry color. Pretty, but not what I was going for. I backed down on the bleach a little and tried it on Wild Wasabi, and that's what I ended up going with for the card. 

Here's a gorgeous card by Kimberly Rebarchik that uses bleaching in just a masterful way. The Medallion stamp is bleached, then wheeled over with the Very Vintage jumbo wheel. Isn't it awesome?

Gotta run--tornado warnings and thunderstorms and computer should not mix! I'll post the other projects from this weekend's shows (I have five events in six days!) tomorrow.

More swaps from this week's meeting

Kim Vale did such a cute job with the new Petal Card Punch and the coordinating hostess stamp set.

Look at how the Cherry Cobbler just pops on Jessica's great Flower Fancy swap card.

Patti tells me the way she did this flower was to layer multiple Scallop Circle punches, then spritz them heavily with water and scrunch them up a lot. Let them dry all scrunched. Isn't that a cool look? Love it! 

Fun swaps from area demo meeting

We had a BLAST at the demo meeting last night. I just love those ladies. I can't wait to go on the chartered bus to our Leadership Conference with them this coming January! We played games and STAMPED, of course! If you're interested, I just posted the game on my demonstrator inspiration blog. And at the very end of all our get-togethers, we swap. Here's my swap card, plus a couple others, and I'll share some more tomorrow.

I did a tea-bag holder card for mine and thanks to my mother, who collects different kinds and colors of tea bags for me, I had enough to actually put a tea bag in each card. I used Basic Gray with the new Elegant Soiree DSP, and the cute coffee/tea set Morning Cup.

Here's a cutie made with the Ornament punch! Isn't that clever? Sometimes these Stampin' Up demos come up with such out of the box ideas, I have no idea how they got from "here to there." Super cute.

This one's soooo pretty... and I have everything to make it! I am so pleased with the Just Believe stamp set. It is turning out to be really versatile. Diane did an excellent job on the direct-to-stamp coloring on the main image. Just a really great card.

Stay tuned for more later! 

1 stamp set+1 color ink+1 embellishment cards

I just got the oh-so-cute set For Everything, and here it had been a whole week and it didn't have ink on it yet. So I took half an hour the other night and whipped up some "limited supplies" cards using just one ink and cardstock color--Tangerine Tango, the one stamp set, and one embellishment--Whisper White narrow grosgrain. And yes, I'm aware I can't count and that there are two colors of cardstock shown in the picture--but Whisper White doesn't count!

I went with simple one layer cards first, then added a punched piece to another, then a layer on one, then some extra layers on another. And yes, I'm also aware that since monochromatic cards are my absolute favorite things to make, it was kind of cheating.

In no time I had five cute, easy cards, all of which just simply let the stamp set shine. Stampin' Up has wonderful, clear, crisp artwork and clever designs, which can often be overwhelmed with all the bling people layer on sometimes!

They'll make a cute little gift for someone down the road, in a Tangerine Tango stationery case. Instructions for a quick, one sheet carry case can be found here. My friend and fellow demo Jeri F. and I adapted one that used to take a 12x12 sheet and waste a bunch of paper, and modified the measurements so that you can do it with ZERO waste. Love that! 

If you like a challenge--pick a set you haven't played around with enough, choose one color that's waaaaaaaay out of your comfort zone, and a nice versatile embellishment like ribbon--and then start simple and work your way up. Not only will you probably decide you really do like that crazy color, but you can feel good about getting some ink on that unused rubber AND produce some cute, quick cards for a friend. Have fun!

Save the Date

My annual Christmas Card Stamp a Stack will be held on November 13th. Just go ahead and mark it off right now, and watch for details coming the first week of October!

Feeling Cranky?

PMS LADIES CLUB

IS THE ANSWER!

For those of you wondering WHAT in the WORLD could a PMS Ladies Club possibly be, it stands for “Pizza, Movies, and Stamping,” and it’s great fun!  Your “back to school blues” could be “Gone With The Wind” very shortly if you plan now to schedule that one night off for yourself each of these next three months!

The PMS Ladies will be meeting from six to ten p.m. on the following dates this fall:

Friday, September 17th

Friday, October 15th

Friday, November 19th

The cost will be $10 per person, with specialty pizzas and beverages included. I’ll provide one intermediate to advanced stamping project to get your juices flowing. The rest of the evening, you can use all my stamps, punches, inks, and tools to work on any project you have been wanting to get done, or just sit and make some cards. Bring your own adhesive and paper, and go to town!

Space is limited, so RSVP for yourself and your best bud NOW for any or all of the three fall sessions of PMS Ladies Club.

There now. Can’t you just feel that excess estrogen slipping away? I feel better already!

Brayers and Big Shots

On Monday night at Big Shot Club, we learned five different ways to use the embossing folders. Everyone's favorite was the brand new Elegant Lines folder, with Vintage Wallpaper a close second. These are some of the projects we made, several of which combine the use of the brayer with the embossed folder.

You can brayer ink on either side of your embossed cardstock, either inking the raised pattern or the pattern's negative. You can also brayer the folder itself before you put the cardstock in and run it through the Big Shot. The folders look awesome just plain, of course, but my favorite technique is the card on the right, with the Elegant Lines folder brayered heavily with Rich Razzleberry ink.

We used the new stick-on pearls for all of these cards. I love how there are many different sizes of pearls, so I could fit them into the embossed circles on the Elegant Lines pieces. See them there? You may have to look closely.

We also played with the BEST new ribbon in the catalog--the Rich Razzleberry satin ribbon. It is just plain gorgeous, no other word for it! I realized that Rich Razzleberry really is my favorite Stampin' Up color right now. No wonder my fingers are usually Razzleberry-colored!

 

PS--we can take one more person in Big Shot Club! Join us on the first Monday night of the month for two hours of fun and educational projects. You do not have to own or purchase a Big Shot to join, although you certainly can buy one on the installment plan. Contact me!