Embellish

Patriotic Christmas Card

It's so rare that a card turns out exactly as envisioned from the get-go! I made this Americana-inspired card this morning while trying to figure out what to do with the three extra rolls of Cherry Cobbler scallop dotted ribbon I accidentally ordered. I was adhering the ribbon down for another card and was suddenly inspired to make this one.

I used the inset embossing technique (photo tutorial here) for the Whisper White snowflakes on the Night of Navy background. The sentiment is from Four the Holidays, which I know many of you got for FREE because it was a Sale A Bration choice last spring! Love SAB!

Anyway, wanted to share this card partly because it shows off that pretty ribbon, which you can enter to win by leaving me a comment on the post at the top of the home page! Check back on August 31st, 2011, to see the names of five lucky ladies (or gents!) who will be getting a 1-yard sample of each of the colors this scrumptious ribbon comes in. Perfect for playing with! Good luck!

31 Days of Doilies--Day 19

 
Happy Day 19 of the 31 Days of Doilies! Today's card is a girly ode to Melon Mambo and the yummy new Scallop Dotted ribbon. It's busy, but it all works because of the limited color scheme.

Our doilies today come from two sources--the Delicate Doilies-stamped Whisper White background, and the Lace Ribbon border punch that I added along the bottom. TIP: Notice how it is crimped for texture? That really brings the lace to life instead of leaving it flat and boring! and it's such a simple thing to add.

I used Perfectly Penned for the sentiment, my favorite new sentiment set in the catalog. It's really a chameleon sort of set that goes with all different types of styles, not just vintage.

Hope you're enjoying the blog series! If you're just joining us, be sure to head back to August 1, 2011, and start at the beginning to catch all 31 days worth of ideas. And remember, I'm taking suggestions for future blog series. They may not be month-long ones because this has proven difficult with my short attention span, though! See you tomorrow.

31 Days of Doilies--Day 18

All you scrappers out there have been patiently waiting for me to post some of the scrapbook layouts I created for this event, and today is the day! Thanks for checking in on this summer blog series entitled the "31 Days of Doilies."

I am hard-pressed to choose a favorite from this year's crop of In Colors, but Pool Party is in the running. It goes so well with any color I have tried with it! I especially liked it with Peach Parfait. The doily sheets from the Flirtatious specialty DSP pack are actually a percentage of Pumpkin Pie, so you can use them with either color, but I like the softer orange of Peach Parfait best. I also used another doily, this one flipped to show the white side, with the center punched out for a small photo frame.

Those doily sheets are really something! You can use them individually, in a line like I did here, in a cut strip with straight edges, or the whole sheet as a background. TIP: If you do use the whole sheet, take a moment to trim out a couple of the doilies that will be hidden by your photo mats and save them to use on another project!

If you don't scrapbook, try your hand at a 12x12 page anyway. Making your own art is a wonderfully rewarding, personal thing, and you'll find endless gift-giving potential in making personalized framed pieces for your friends and family with your papers and stamps. Sometimes a whole album seems too much to tackle, but I bet that once you try your hand at laying out a page, you'll be hooked on a life-long hobby. I'd be tickled pink to come and introduce scrapbooking to you and your friends--let's book a fun evening for this fall when things settle into routine after school starts!

31 Days of Doilies--Day 17

Ok, Ok, I missed a day! I know! Yesterday I wasn't feeling particularly wonderful, so I kept procrastinating and hoping I would get motivated later--only to remember in bed at 11:50 last night that I hadn't ever done it. Oh well--I know you guys know I have a life and don't exist solely for your amusement : )

So here's Day 17 of the 31 Days of Doilies! Actually this is the very first project that came to mind when Carrie Cudney called and asked me to present the Flirtatious Suite of products at Convention 2011. This is a gift pack of coasters, made with our Cork Sheets, Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets (MPA), and acetate Window Sheets, and the 3.5-inch circle die for the Big Shot. I centered a laser-cut doily from the Flirtatious DSP pack on an Island Indigo cardstock circle, and they turned out great!

Here's the layers--let me know if you need to order anything to make these cuties and I'll set you up! Cork sheet--MPA--cardstock (and doily)--MPA--window sheet. You can get 18 cork circles out of a pack of Cork Sheets, so you can make them up for a party, or make several gift packs, or coasters for several rooms in the house.

Then I had to make a little gift pack holder for them, of course! What an incredibly fun little hostess gift this would be next time you are invited to dinner! Here's the measurements for that:

• For a four-pack of coasters—cut cardstock to 4.25x11 inches and score at 1/2 inch from both ends and 5 and 6 inches.
• For an eight-pack of coasters—cut cardstock to 4.25 x12 inches and score at 1/2 inch from both ends and 5 and 7 inches.

I cut a window in the holder using the 3-inch circle Big Shot die. There was no need to back that with Window Sheet, because I put the coasters into a large Cellophane Bag and tied a ribbon around it. Then you just fold the holder around the bag of coasters and staple once on either side of the top. The little half-inch flap folds down to cover the staples (isn't that cool?) and then you can decorate it as desired. I used the Best of Everything set that coordinates with the Curly Label punch and some Baker's Twine, and trimmed the holder with some scallops from the Tasteful Trims Big Shot die.

Ok, now I'll go do Day 18 right now so I don't forget!

 

 

31 Days of Doilies--Day Sixteen

Today's doily project is a bunch of Blossom Boxes made from one of Stampin' Up's newest dies for the Big Shot. I have always loved these little guys, but the amount of work involved in making them meant I never made more than one, and certainly never enough to stack together and tie with ribbon, like these cuties!

Enter the Blossom Box die! All the cutting and scoring is done for you, precisely and perfectly, every time, for as many as you could want to make! They do still take a bit to assemble, because you have to fold on each of the scores, but they are so cute, I think they're totally worth it. They are just like a flower. And they hold a lot of chocolate!

My tip for these is to use the Premium Crease Pad to ensure you get nice deep scores but that aren't cut through the DSP (oh and use quality DSP, not the cheapo stuff!). Cardstock is not reccomended because it is too unforgiving for this project, although you can make it happen if you are stubborn enough (I qualify). Then do all the circular folds first, then the straight lines radiating out from the circles, and then the two extra little angle folds. And don't give up on the first one--once you have made it, they are very easy.

Enjoy these pictures of Blossom Boxes (and tags) I made with the Flirtatious specialty DSP and the Delicate Doilies stamp set. I see there is one especially nice one missing, so I will try to get that photographed and posted as it is my favorite.

Happy Day 16! See you tomorrow for more 31 Days of Doilies!

31 Days of Doilies--Day Fifteen (possible FC swap card)

Welcome back to another installment of the "31 Days of Doilies!" It's August 15th (already, can you believe it?) and here is the 15th doily card I have to share wtih you. Hope you've been enjoying this summer blog series! I think I forgot to show you this beauty!

If you got one of these swap fronts at Convention 2011, count yourself very lucky, because I only did about 12 of them, and they were the very last swaps I made at like midnight on the night before we left for Wyoming and Utah! I wished I had hit upon the design much earlier, because I think it turned out really gorgeous and it really wasn't that hard to mass-produce.

This card features the large background stamp Hello Doily stamped with regular bleach on Crumb Cake cardstock. No two bleached stamps turn out the same! After the image was allowed to cure and out-gas, I stamped the stylized flourish from Elements of Style in Basic Black Craft ink where I wanted it--it was a little different on each one, as I tried to let the best parts of the doily show on every card.

Finishing touches were using the Color Spritzer Tool to spatter black on the background, and of course--Shimmer Spray. I waited until the ribbon was on the card to do that, so even the satin has a sheen to it! I also added an Antique Brad and a great sentiment from the Blessings From Heaven stamp set.

It really is a quick card, believe it or not! I am trying to come up with a swap front for the Founder's Circle retreat--quantity 123--that is really neat but not too atrocious to mass produce. Or too expensive! This one is in the running. I think they would like it. What do you think?

Hope you're enjoying the blog series--see you tomorrow!

31 Days of Doilies--Day Fourteen

I like clean, bold cards, which doilies would seem not to lend themselves to very well--but I think this card establishes that as a myth! For Day 14 of our "31 Days of Doilies" summer blog series, I'm sharing this cutie pie card from my Convention 2011 demo booth presentation. The base is Melon Mambo, with tone-on-tone Delicate Doilies stamped on Pool Party, and a circle of Island Indigo. I chose these colors so I could use the adorable new polka-dot Printed Brads as well as the Scallop Dotted ribbon, which comes in many yummy colors.

The doily in question is the back side of one of the doilies cut from the laser-cut sheets included in the Flirtatious DSP pack. I left it white and just punched out the center to form a frame. You can use the frame for scrapbooking, or to highlight a sentiment, or just to draw attention to an element, like I did here.

These little flowers are super easy and quick to make, so don't be put off by the fact that you'll have to dig out a needle and thread! Here's my SECRET TIP: because the new Scallop Dotted ribbon has a little pre-punched hole in every scallop, all you have to do is stitch through those on a piece of ribbon about four inches long, pull the ribbon up tight and tie off! It literally should take about three minutes total! You can do that!

Join me tomorrow for Day 15--the half way mark? Can I make it all month without repeating any projects? You bet! This is one of the most versatile product suites Stampin' Up has ever made. If you'd care to leave a comment below, it keeps me encouraged and posting, and everybody wins! I'd love to know if you are enjoying this blog series, and of course--any ideas you have for future ones!

31 Days of Doilies--Day Thirteen (Petite Pocket Gift Card Holder)

Of all the projects I shared at Convention 2011, this Petite Pockets Multiple Gift Card Holder received the most requests for further instructions, so I am pleased to present a mini tutorial Day 13 of the 31 Days of Doilies! Thanks for joining me. Above is a photo of the holder when closed. I used Flirtatious specialty Designer Series Paper (that's where the doilies come in!), with Wisteria Wonder cardstock and ruffled ribbon.

Actually my favorite part of this whole project is the little punched circle "enjoy", with it's rim of different-sized pearls. I was planning to do all the same size pearls and accidentally added one the wrong size--and loved it! Awesome mistake!

To start, cut two sheets of DSP into six 4x12 inch strips. Run them all through the Big Shot with the Petite Pockets XL die. Adhere the opening flap down flat inside before you fold the bottom flap up to form the envelope.

Next, cut a strip of cardstock measuring 11x2.5 inches for your cover, and score at 2.5, 3, 7.5 and 8 inches. You can border punch the ends like I did here with the Scallop Border punch if you'd like. I used scraps of DSP to decorate the cardstock, and a piece of Whisper White so the gift-giver would have a place to write. You'll also want to use Sticky Strip to add a long ribbon tie--about 18 inches--to the inside back of the cover, to hold it closed when shut.

Stack the Petite Pockets you made together and hold them where they belong on the cardstock cover. Punch through all seven layers with your handy-dandy Crop A Dile, and tie a bow or knot of narrow grosgrain ribbon tightly through to bind the stack of envelopes to the cover.

Since the envelopes are not stacked together with any kind of adhesive, just the bow holding them near the bottoms, they move freely. You can fill them with gift cards (yes, they fit!!) or little tags, or photos, or whatever you'd like that is small and fairly flat.

You can adjust this project to have more or fewer pockets, as desired, up to about eight pockets before it gets too large for the cover.

What a fun little gift this would be to get! And it doesn't have to be expensive. One of my favorite gifts I have ever received was a stack of smaller-denomination gift cards. They didn't add up to any huge sum, but just the thought that my friend Angela had taken the time to get me a gift card at each of those fun locations was very sweet!

 

Summer Shoebox Swap was a blast!

We had tons of fun at the last demonstrator Area Shoebox Swap here in Watertown! We're already looking forward to the next one, which will be in December at our annual Christmas party.

If you've been thinking about becoming a demo, the Song of My Heart Stampers would be an awesome group to hang with. We have monthly stamp nights with lots of inspiration, business tips, and amazing project ideas. We'd be honored to welcome you as our stampin' sister as you started your journey with Stampin' Up! Click here to visit my official website and click on "Join The Fun" to view a short video clip on making that decision. Should you choose to select me as your upline and mentor in Stampin' Up, you can sign up quickly and easily right there, in about 15 minutes. Then it only takes about a week to get your Starter Kit!

Be sure to contact me if you have any questions, and I'll get back with you pronto! Stampin' Up is my full time job now, and I love to talk shop. Chat with you soon! (920) 261-3962

31 Days of Doilies--Day Twelve

Welcome to Day 12 of the 31 Days of Doilies! If you're just joining us, be sure to look back through the posts to August first and catch up--and then bookmark the site or sign up for the feed, to make to sure you don't miss the rest of them!

I had all the supplies out to make a scrapbook page the other day with this wheeled stamp, Friendly Words, so I decided to make a card with it--and then ended up making 12 card fronts with it, too! The colors are Island Indigo and Whisper White, just like my favorite summer time outfit. I brayered ink on the doily so that it exactly matched my project--just love that!

I really like stamping on the paper daisies--have you tried that yet? I don't think I'll ever use a plain one again! It's way more fun than dyeing them, I think! And it adds an unexpected and personalized touch, because no two ever turn out quite the same. I originally planned to use the new Printed Brads in the centers, but I was out of them--oops! So I opened up my new package of Neutrals Glimmer Brads--WOW. It was a good change!

If I've convinced you that you need some of the pieces in the doily-theme Flirtatious Suite of products, or you're like me and already used up all the cute Printed Brads you ordered--contact me today, or click here to visit my shopping website. Browsing and window-shopping encouraged! Be sure to let me know if you have any questions.

Enough with the doilies!! A man card

Ok, we've had a LOT of lace going on here lately and we're about to head into glitter season, so I think it's time for a man card, don't you? Muddy boot prints ought to do the trick!

As soon as I saw the Daring Adventure set in the new catalog, I knew I had to have it. I LOVE the quote. I DO feel like my life is a big adventure, especially with all the traveling I do with Stampin' Up! So I put this on my first order, but I haven't had much time to play with it. I finally got it out for a downline event last week.

Lots of weathering, direct-to-paper inking, some metal, some twine, and the new denim ribbon going on here...I also used a trick my friend Jan T. taught me at convention with the new striped embossing folder, turning it 90 degrees and embossing it again to get a cool plaid weave. Plaid is going to be fun for Christmas projects. That's like getting two folders for the price of one! What a great tip.

I'm off to Scrap A Stack Club, where we'll be using this stamp set on a really cool spread tonight. I promise I'll get it photographed and on here soon!

31 Days of Doilies--Day 11 (Baby Tees Photo Frame)

Today's doily project for my "31 Days of Doilies" blog series is not a card! It is a photo tray that you hang on the wall, based on the one I took a class on at Convention 2011. I had the delightful pleasure of sitting down and making a gift for my friend and fellow stamp-lover Theresa O this past week. She and her husband are expecting a little pumpkin this fall, gender as yet unannounced, so I kept it neutral with Wisteria Wonder, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Whisper White, and some accents in Old Olive. It was super fun to make!

For the first opening, I used the white backside of one of the doilies cut from the 12x12 sheets of laser-cut doilies that comes in the Flirtatious specialty DSP pack. I punched out the center with the 1 3/4 inch circle punch to form a cute little frame for one of the onesies cut from a sheet rolled with the Baby Tees jumbo Stampin' Around wheel. I love that wheel because you can roll a whole bunch and just cut one or three of them off as you need them, color them the appropriate colors and you're ready to go!

Here's a picture of the whole thing so you can kind of get the feel of it. The individual rectangles are stuck in with glue dots, so if any of them fade or are damaged, Theresa can just change them out. Or when Baby O becomes Little O and his/her nursery theme changes, she can redo the whole tray to match!

There are five places for photos. If one was in a hurry, you could also leave an opening or two totally blank, as these are sized for 4x6 photos. One tip for you on a project like this is to make sure each rectangle has some of each color in your color scheme. That will draw all the diseparate elements together as a whole visually. No one rectangle should draw the eye a lot more than the others. You want the baby photos to shine here!

I used all kinds of new products here--mini clothespins, Baker's twine, In Color Printed Brads, In Color ruffled ribbon, Scallop Dotted ribbon, Old Olive buttons, the Lace Ribbon punch, Paper Daisies, Crystal Effects, Basic Pearls, Subtles brads--lots of texture and detail in this project.

You can also cut off the bottoms of the baby onesies and have little t-shirts, as shown above.

And here's one last doily for you--underneath this little striped onesie is a die-cut doily piece from the Perfect Pennants die for the Big Shot. This medallion-style doily is meant for layering with punches, so the center is solid. I am finding it endlessly useful!

All right! How's that for Day 11? Wait until you see Day 12! Check back tomorrow for another post in the series. Happy Stamping!

 

31 Days of Doilies--Day Ten

Welcome to the tenth day of Christmas--I mean, the 10th in our "31 Days of Doilies" blog series! As soon as I laid my hands on the big Hello Doily background stamp, I knew I wanted to try it with the Stampin' Pastels chalks, and this is what I came up with. I inked the stamp with Versamark clear embossing ink, and then used the sponge daubers to gently pounce Pretty in Pink and a little Regal Rose chalk, lighter in the center and darker on the edges.

When using chalks, the best tip I have is not to RUB--you will smear the Versmark and the image will turn out blurry instead of crisp. So just pounce the color on, either with the applicators, drugstore eyeshadow applicators, or the sponge daubers. Q-Tips are really a last resort kind of thing for chalks, in my opinion. It's also super easy to neaten up any edges using the chalk eraser that comes in the Stampin' Pastels kit.

Next I added a doily from the Fliratious DSP (using the non-colored side), which I also colored with chalks. I stamped the big doily from Delicate Doilies in the center of the 2.5 inch circle punch, and dressed the whole thing up with the new scallop dotted ribbon and some Pretty in Pink satin ribbon, with Basic Pearls. Notice how the edges of the satin ribbon shimmer? That's just a little sweep of Smooch Accent Ink in "Illuminate," run right along the edges. There's also shimmer spray on the whole card. Love my bling!!

Thanks for joining us for our 31 Days of Doilies! And for those of you who missed my very popular "Feeling Flirty" stamp camp featuring the Fliratious Suite last week, I may be holding another session in September--let me know if you'd be interested!

31 Days of Doilies--Day Nine

On the Ninth Day of the 31 Days of Doilies, you're invited to a Pool Party! To MAKE an easy-peasy Pool Party CARD, that is! All you need is the hottest new In Color, cool and crisp Pool Party, plus the Hello Doily background stamp, the new Printed Brads, and some satiny organza ribbon.

Stamp your big doily centered on Whisper White, then cut off the top and bottom equally (use your Paper Trimmer, because if you're like me, you can't cut a straight line to save your life). Adhere the top and bottom pieces to the card, then mat the middle piece on Pool Party, and adhere back in place over the top to cover the cuts. That's it!

I added a strip of organza ribbon, and hand-stitched (I KNOW!) a little rosette for the center. Don't faint. I know how to hand-stitch! So the rosette appears to be connected in some way to the ribbon underneath the layer, but it's not. That might have been a leetle too complicated for whatever hour of the night I was working on this.

Those new In Color Printed Brads are too cute for their own good, aren't they? I'm on my thrid container already. The Pool Party ones are always the first to go. But I'll save some special just for you, should you decide to book a workshop and you want us to make this card as one of the projects! Email me, and enjoy the next of the 31 Days of Doilies!

31 Days of Doilies--Day Eight

Thanks for joining me on Day Eight of the "31 Days of Doilies." We haven't run out of ideas yet! Today's card is all about the lovely new In Color Wisteria Wonder. Such a pretty, up to date shade of deep lavender--a nice modern twist on the colors we'd been missing since the big Color Rennovation of Aught 10.

I tried really hard not to sponge this monochromatic card, wanting to make sure I didn't go all vintage on you and not show how those of us who love retro-mod and contemporary clean can get on board with the hot new doily trend, too!

I LOVE the Flirtatious specialty DSP with the new Lace Ribbon Border punch, but when you realize how well that punch goes with the Perfect Pennants scallop circle die cut for the Big Shot, you just want to die! because you have to add it to the wish list!! It's the same little pie-shaped cutouts as the Lace Ribbon Border punch--and it coordinates so well with all the circle punches....ALMOST LIKE THEY PLANNED IT! So no, you cannot get away without ordering it, so click here to get it over with: www.lyssa.stampinup.net

See you tomorrow for more of the 31 Days of Doilies!

31 Days of Doilies--Day Seven

Oooh, you're gonna love this one! For Day Seven of my "31 Days of Doilies" summer blog series, I have a CHRISTMAS CARD!

That's right, a Christmas card made with the laser-cut doilies from the Firtatious Designer series specialty paper pack, a brand new item from the new Idea Book & Catalog (don't have yours yet? Mine are free to existing customer friends, and just $5 if you've never ordered with me or come to an event--email me to get one ASAP!)

Hmmm, you may be thinking to yourself--I thought the doily sheets were Melon Mambo and Pumpkin Pie colored? Well gird up your garters, grannie, because the backsides are a lovely versatile white!

I used a variety of circle punches to get several different sizes of snowflakes, and when I had them adhered down (2-Way Glue Pen rocks!) I ran the whole Night of Navy piece through the Big Shot using the Square Lattice Folder, a technique known as Inset Embossing (photo tutorial here). Then everything got a BATH in Shimmer Spray, because if you can't go glam for Christmas, when, precisely, can you?

Enjoying the rest of the 31 Days of Doilies as much as I have been? Probably not, if you don't own Hello Doily and her friends Delicate Doilies, Fliratious DSP, and all their coordinating accessories. Click here to go to my shopping website, or email me to place your order!

We're 83! We're 83!

My goofy husband decided I needed something to commemorate coming in 83rd of the top 100 Demonstrators of the Year for 2011, so he ordered me a pink football jersey (we ARE from Wisconsin, after all!) with the number 83 on it. Too funny! I'll have to wear it to the Founder's Circle pajama party. Still can't believe I get to go!

Baby Shower Onesie Banner

Had to share this ADORABLE baby shower banner my friend Marilin made. She took the onesie card idea to a whole new level and turned them into pennants! Isn't that so clever? Here's a closeup so you can really see the details on Marilin's lovely piece.

Love the pink sparkly tulle! Great job, Marilin. It's sure to be a total hit at the shower.

31 Days of Doilies--Day Six

Augh! the "31 Days of Doilies" is so cute you can't stand it!! Thanks for joining me on Day Six of my blog series focusing on the adorable Flirtatious Suite of products from the new Idea Book & Catalog. Doilies are everywhere! Have you noticed this new trend in the stores? I sure have. A friend even spotted doily-printed bedding at IKEA!

This card is SO COOL in real life, it just kills me that the photo doesn't do it justice. I edged all those petals with Iluminate Smooch Accent Ink, and between the Shimmer spray and the Clear Rhinestone and the white embossing on the Melon Mambo paired with stark Basic Black, this card is positively decadent!

My favorite part, though, has to be the smallest doily from Delicate Doilies stamped on the center flower (three Paper Daisies, layered). You get four different doilies in that set, and they are awesome alone or paired up. Put them with Hello Doily in the background and KA-ZAAM!

Enjoy your 31 Days of Doilies! and yes, I KNOW the rhinestone brad is off-center, but so am I, and you love me anyway, right?

31 Days of Doilies--Day Five

Welcome back to "31 Days of Doilies!" If you're just joining us, make sure you go back and look at the days you missed, and bookmark or subscribe to this blog so you can make your way back and enjoy the rest of this fun series!

Doilies can be highly effective and quite modern-looking when used in a square shape with clearly defined edges. I embossed this doily in Whisper White on Melon Mambo (see the yummy new Scallop Dotted Ribbon in Melon Mambo?) but something went wrong--part of one whole side didn't emboss right. So I cut that side off, my little thrifty self, intending to figure out a way to use it. But then I KEPT cutting, and this square 4x4 card came to be.

Here's a free tip I'll just toss in there because I'm awesome : ) --next time you are tempted to put ONE pearl in the center of that doily--STOP being so stingy! Put on a couple large ones, then fill in the gaps with smaller ones until you have a pearl medallion. Put several drops of Crystal Effects on them and they will seal right up into a solid piece. LOVE IT.

Has my 31 Days of Doilies tempted you to order the Flirtatious Suite yet, or are you still holding out? If you're ready to cave, click here to go to my shopping website.