Tag Exchange and December Stamp Class

Friday night we had our December meeting of my stamping group. This class is always festive because not only do we all bring food to share, we do a Tag Exchange where members bring multiple tags that they have designed and we all go home with a set of unique tags!

For my tags, I knew I wanted to make a snowman shaker tag. I started by choosing my tag color–Perfect Plum–and some sequins to go in the shaker.

Next, I cut two pieces of Perfect Plum card stock 2 1/2 x 4 1/8". Using the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch, I carefully fed both pieces into the punch (it is possible to cut the tag top on pieces larger than 2" but you have to carefully feed them through the punch) so that they would cut in exactly the same spot.

Once they were cut, I used scissors to snip off the excess part at the sides and then used the Snow Friends Framelits to cut a snowman in one of the tags.

Using Versamark and the snowflake stamp from the Perpetual Birthday Calendar Stamp Set, I stamped all over the tag front. I used the To: From: stamp from the Very Merry Tags Stamp Set to stamp at the bottom with Basic Black Archival ink.

I chose an assortment of Crystal sequins from Pretty Pink Posh and a few other plum-colored sequins from my collection. I tried to estimate how many sequins I would need for my shaker by pouring my chosen sequin mix into the snowman hole in the tag.

I measured around the snowman to find out how large a shaker pocket I would need to fit comfortably within the borders of the tag. Once I had this measurement, I cut a piece of Whisper White card stock for the inside of the shaker pocket (the sequins seem to move better when they have a piece of card stock or DSP behind them rather than to put them just between pieces of plastic–too much static that way!).

My Fuse Tool was used to create the shaker pocket by sealing the card stock, between pieces of a page protector, on three sides. I stuck a piece of a dryer sheet into the little pocket to try and reduce the static as well as pouring the shaker sequins from a dryer sheet into the shaker pocket (probably overkill with regard to the static reduction but it seems to work for me!) and then sealed shut the remaining edge of the pocket.

Fast Fuse Adhesive was used to secure the shaker pocket between the two pieces of the tag.

Using the Framelits again, I cut two sets of ear muffs for the snowman, one from Silver Foil paper and one from Dazzling Diamonds Glitter paper. I trimmed off the two "muffs" from the Dazzling Diamonds and adhered them to the foil ear muffs using the Fine Tip Glue Pen. They were then adhered to the tag front.

I used a permanent black Sharpie to draw on a face, added a carrot nose by punching a very small piece of Pumpkin Pie card stock, using the now retired Blossom Builder punch, and then used a stamp from the Snow Place Stamp Set with Stazon ink to stamp on the snowman's buttons.

To finish the tag I inserted a length of the White Glitter ribbon and knotted a piece of the 1/8" Silver Ribbon around it. Once my tag prototype had been designed, I simply prepared several of the needed pieces for each tag and put the remaining tags together, assembly line style!

Here are all the tags from the night:

A closer look (for an even closer look, click on the photos):

Of course, the Tag Exchange is not the only thing we do in December; we also host a regular stamp class. On Friday afternoon, I had only to prepare my speaking points and demo pieces for the evening to come since I had prepped my projects and the materials for the class the week before.

It was in preparing for one of my demos that I about pulled all my hair out!

I was trying to align a die on the paper strips that I had prepared for class. Strips which two items could be cut from, but for the life of me, I could not get the die and paper to line up properly on my Magnetic Platform to allow me to cut two! Luckily, a posting on Facebook got me the help I needed (Thank you, Lydia! I owe you big time!) so I still had hair to wear to class!

The first project we created was a Christmas Light Treat Holder. I first saw this posted by Lydia Fiedler on her blog, Understand Blue. As soon as I saw it, I knew that this would be one of our club projects for the December class!

To create the treat holder, you cut two "bulbs" from a 3 x 11" strip of card stock (Cucumber Crush) using the pointy end of the Curvy Keepsake Die. The following photo is the one that Lydia sent me to explain exactly how to place the card stock and die on the Magnetic Platform.

Photo courtesy of Lydia Fiedler showing proper placement of die.

A picture is indeed worth a thousand words!

The excess card stock is trimmed off the side of the base of the bulb and then the base is scored 1 1/4" from the natural score line at the top of the bulb base. This resulting little piece is folded on each piece and then adhered together to form the bottom of the treat holder.

A 2 1/2 x 1 1/4" piece of Gold Foil is inserted through the top of a Scalloped Square Punch to create the scallops at each end of the foil. Using a scoring tool, the foil is scored between each scallop. Two foil pieces are created in this way and then adhered to the bulb base.

The tag sentiment, from the Peaceful Pines Stamp set, is stamped on contrasting card stock, Real Red, and then die cut using one of the tag dies from the Curvy Keepsakes Dies.

A white gel pen is used to color in the highlight marks on the side of each bulb and then, using Glue Dots, a treat can be adhered to the inside of the treat holder. The tag is then tied onto the top of the bulb using Gold Cording Trim.

So cute!

Our second project for the evening was cased from Sage Kimble from a shadow box frame project shared with her email subscribers. Again, as soon as I saw it, I knew this would be a project for my stamping group!

Shadow Box Project by Sage Kimble

To create the card, the Sleigh Ride Thinlits Dies were used to cut three pieces of Whisper White card stock. On the Sleigh piece, the sentiment from Jingle All The Way Stamp Set was stamped with Versamark and then embossed with Silver Stampin Emboss Powder.

The Two-Way Glue Pen was used to place glue in the indent created by the die (under the houses, trees, and sleigh) on all three pieces, as well as on the trees and then Dazzling Diamonds was applied. These were set aside to dry while the sky piece was created.

Using the 3/4" Circle Punch, a moon mask was punched and placed in the "sky" area on a panel of watercolor paper. Alternately, Island Indigo and Daffodil Delight were sponged onto the sky area to create streaks akin to the Aurora Borealis. The moon mask was removed and the moon was sponged in with Daffodil Delight.

If this wasn't beautiful enough, Dazzling Diamonds was sprinkled over the sky and then the piece was sprayed with ordinary hair spray to seal in the glitter.

Breathtaking!

A sponge dauber and Basic Black Archival ink was used to ink the edges of the panel and then the three die cut pieces were adhered to it using Dimensionals. The completed panel was then adhered with Dimensionals onto an Island Indigo card base.

Using a piece of the now retired Naturals White card stock, the trees from the Happy Scenes Stamp Set were stamped at the bottom right corner using Island Indigo. The matte was then adhered inside the card using Fast Fuse Adhesive.

Here's our stamping group–such a great group of ladies:

Photo courtesy of Brian Cunningham

I hope you enjoyed our tags and stamping projects!

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Celebrate The Season With Acorns

As often happens with me, a card idea came to me just before I closed my eyes the other night. I immediately jotted it down into my Evernote app so I would not lose track of it.

The next day, I was able to create my card and I was able to utilize the leftover acorns I had created while previously making my Acorn Thank You cards.

I cut a card base from Basic Black card stock to give me a card measuring 8.5 x 4.5". I really like this card size! You can view another card I made in this size in my blog post, Love For The Lotus.

To add a bit of texture, I cut a matte from corrugated white paper and used a leaf from the soon to be retiring stamp set, Lighthearted Leaves, with Basic Black Archival ink to stamp all over the matte. I was very pleased with the result–I wanted a very airy look to the stamped panel and I think I achieved it because the Lighthearted Leaves were perfect for this effect!

I inked three sides of the matte using Real Red ink and then adhered it to the card base using Fast Fuse Adhesive.

Next, I used the Banners Framelits Dies to cut three banners from Real Red card stock and I inked all but the top edges on those, using the Basic Black Archival ink. These were also attached with Fast Fuse adhesive.

The acorns I had previously punched from Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper and the soon to be retiring, Black Glimmer Paper. The top of the acorn was adhered using the Fine Tip Glue Pen. The acorns were adhered to each banner using Dimensionals.

Using my MISTI I stamped the sentiment from the soon to be retiring Happy Scenes stamp set, using Real Red on a 3/4" strip of Whisper White card stock. I then used the Triple Banner Punch to flag each end. I used the punch again on a 1" strip of Basic Black.

The sentiment pieces were adhered using Dimensionals and then adhered to the card front, also with Dimensionals.

For the inside of the card, I used a matte of the now retired Naturals White card stock. Using the same stamp from the Lighthearted Leaves, I stamped along the bottom of the matte using Real Red and then inked each edge as well.

I think that my card looks quite festive as well as being quite clean and crisp! You've just got to love red, white, and black!

I am so sad that the Lighthearted Leaves will be retiring! It is such a pretty set and can be used in so many different ways. If you like it as much as me, be sure to order it from me before it disappears! While you are at the store, be sure to grab some of the Black Glimmer Paper as well!

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Wonderland: My Go-To Stamp

Even though you may have purchased several stamps from the Holiday Catalog, do you find yourself constantly reaching for the same stamp again and again? I do!

Lately, my favourite stamp is Wonderland. I just love this stamp! Is it just a coincidence that wonderful and Wonderland have the letters W-O-N-D-E-R in common? It's obvious that it is not only me that thinks this stamp is wonderful—just look at the many cards using it on Pinterest! It's a stamp that can be stamped in any color, on any card stock, be stamped off and be embossed in any way you cam dream of to use it. In short, it's magical!

Today, I knew I wanted to showcase these trees in white against the richness of Cherry Cobbler.
Rather than simply heat emboss the trees in white, I decided to create a custom embossing powder mix by combining equal parts of White Stampin' Emboss Powder and Dazzling Diamonds Glitter.

After stamping the trees with Versamark on Cherry Cobbler card stock, I heat embossed using my new concoction. I was so pleased with the result! I loved the rich contrast between the white and the Cherry Cobbler, and the added sparkle from the Dazzling Diamonds was sweet!

I decided to push the contrast even more by framing the trees with a die cut window frame in a piece of Whisper White Thick card stock. I used one of the Window Frame Collection Framelits to cut an opening in the matte. I used one size larger framelits to cut the trees.

I inked the edges of the matte with Cherry Cobbler and then taped the trees behind the white matte. I taped a length of the Cherry Cobbler linen ribbon around the bottom of the matte and then tied a short lie ever of the ribbon in a knot in the middle of the ribbon. I then adhered the matte to a card base of Whisper White Thick card stock.

For the sentiment, I used Noel from the Happy Scenes stamp set. I stamped it in Cherry Cobbler on a strip of Vellum card stock and heat embossed it using Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder. I used the Triple Banner Punch to flag both ends.

To complete the card, I used glue dots to fasten the sentiment across the window and then covered the glue dots with Cherry Cobbler Candy Dots.

For another Wonderland card, be sure to check out Color Burst Christmas and Wonderful Wonderland. Watch for more Wonderland cards from me in the near future! What have you created with Wonderland? Leave me a link in the comments below!

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Hearth and Home: Fused

I had just the best day today on my day off!

For the last three days, I've been sick with a bad cold and had to take two days off work but finally started feeling better today. Usually if I get a cold, it always seems to strike on my day off–but not this time!

Today I was able to play with a lot of Stampin' Up! goodies from the new Holiday Catalog and I paired them with my new We Are Memory Keepers Fuse Tool.

After reading a lot of posts about this tool and seeing the creations that people were making with it, I decided to take the plunge! Am I ever happy I did!

I decided to use the window from the Hearth and Home Framelits to create a winter scene, suitable for a Christmas card. What could be cheerier for Christmas than a Real Red window frame?

I used the Fuse with a page protector to create the little pocket which I filled (too full, but it's hard to stop!) with a mix of both Stampin' Up! and Pretty Pink Posh sequins.

On a piece of Watercolor paper I sponged in a sky using Marina Mist and then stamped the conifers using Mossy Meadow ink. I adhered this scene to the window using Sticky Strip.

To create the wall for my window, on a Whisper White matte I adhered a Mistletoe-filled paper from the gorgeous new Home For Christmas DSP. On top of that I adhered a piece of Whisper White which I had embossed with the Stripes Embossing Folder to resemble beadboard. A tiny strip of white laid across the top gave the illusion of a chair rail. The completed matte was then adhered to a Real Red card base using Dimensionals.

The window was adhered on the card front using Dimensionals. I added a small wreath to the top of the window.

The wreath was created by first punching a hole in Mossy Meadow card stock with a 1/2" Circle Punch and then putting the 7/8" Scalloped Circle Punch over the punched hole to punch the wreath.

I added flowers to the wreath by using a Memory Box die called Flower Mound to punch tiny white flowers which I adhered using the Fine Tip Glue Pen. I added some red Stickles to the centres and completed the wreath by adding a bow made with 1/8" Real Red ribbon.

The Sparkly Seasons stamp set provided the perfect sentiment for my card! It was stamped with Versamark on Mossy Meadow and then heat embossed using White Stampin' Emboss Powder.

I used the Washi Label Punch to punch the sentiment and it was adhered to the card bottom using Dimensionals. A couple of rhinestones completed my cheery winter scene!

Have you made shaker cards? Have you tried the Fuse tool? Drop me a comment below–I'd love to hear from you!
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Vintage Leaves and Happy Scenes

Friday was the first meeting of our stamping group after the summer break. It was a small group this time round as a number of members are either traveling or had other activities that night but we still had fun in creating two fall cards.

The first card used the Hearth & Home Framelits and the Happy Scenes stamp set to create a fall scene.

Watercolor paper was masked at the bottom using Post It Label Roll. Marina Mist was sponged over the top of the paper to create the sky.

The MISTI was used to stamp the scene using Basic Black Archival Ink. The scene was then colored in using Stampin' Write Markers.

The window was cut from Basic Black card stock using the Hearth & Home Framelits and adhered to the scene using the new Fine Tip Glue Pen.

A matte of Tangerine Tango was embossed using the Stripes Embossing Folder and then Cajun Craze ink was sponged over top to give definition to the stripes. The matte was then adhered to the Basic Black card base using Dimensionals.

The completed window was adhered to the striped matte using Dimensionals and then a tiny bow created with the now retired Pumpkin Pie 1/8" ribbon was adhered to the top of the window using the Fine Tip Glue Pen.

A 1" banner was cut from Basic Black card stock using the Triple Banner Punch. A 3/4" strip of Whisper White was also punched to make a banner.

The sentiment was stamped using the Basic Black Archival ink and then the banner was sponged with Pumpkin Pie ink and edged with Cajun Craze. It was then adhered to the black banner. The completed banner was adhered to the bottom of the card using Dimensionals.

A matte of the now retired Naturals Ivory card stock was stamped with leaves from the Perpetual Birthday Calendar stamp set (an invaluable stamp set for adding "little touches" to cards and envelopes!) using Tangerine Tango and then edged with Cajun Craze.


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The second card was a one layer card with lots of textured elements!

Oak leaves were cut from both watercolor paper and vellum using the Leaflets Framelits.

On a craft mat, Distress Inks (Fired Brick, Rusty Hinge, Fossilized Amber) were stamped and then spritzed with water. The two watercolor paper leaves were dragged through the ink until the colors were as desired. The leaves were dried using the Heat Tool. Water drops were spritzed onto the leaves and then blotted with a towel and then dried again.

The vellum leaf had the edges and stem inked with Versamark and then heat embossed using Gold Embossing Powder.

All three leaves were bundled together using Linen Thread. A little Crystal Effects was applied to the thread ends to make them stiff and then the ends were wound around a pencil to provide a little bit of interest to the thread.

A die cut from Gold Foil was made using the Starburst Framelits and then the shape was embossed using the Woodgrain Embossing Folder. It was adhered to the Soft Suede card front using Dimensionals. The bundle of leaves was adhered over the starburst also using Dimensionals.

The sentiment from the For All Things stamp set was stamped with Soft Suede onto Baked Brown Sugar card stock. The Triple Banner Punch was used to flag one end.

The 7/8" Scalloped Circle Punch was used to punch a shape from Soft Suede and it was adhered to one end of the sentiment banner. A Gold Basic Metal Button was adhered on top. The banner was adhered to the card front using a Dimensional.

For the inside of the card, a matte was created using Naturals White card stock. Three oak leaf tips from the Vintage Leaves stamp set were stamped at the bottom of the matte using Baked Brown Sugar and then the edges were inked.


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Love the colors and textures in these cards! Hope you enjoyed viewing them.