Best Fishes!

Playing with more stuff!  I saw a sample on a demonstrator-only Facebook page, and had to try it for my grandsons.  What do you think of this:

I got this adorable new stamp set, Seaside Shore, and thought it would be fun to make a card for Ethan and Jacob.  So I started with the inside--if this wasn't going to work I wasn't going to spend time creating the outside of the card...but it DID work,and it came out so cute.

So here is the card from the front.  I stamped the fish, masked them with a post-it note (stamped the fish and cut out to create the mask) and then stamped over them with the seaweed.  I also added the bubbles.  Then I colored them to make them look "tropical", and I added Wink of Stella to each fish (sorry you can't see how shiny they are).

Then to the inside:

I created a "pop up" by folding my cardstock in half and making a slit about 1-3/4" across the fold.  Then I scored from each end of the slit to the center of the fold--this allowed me to pop out the "mouth" of my fish.

I covered him in Peekaboo Peach Designer Series Paper; his tail is cut from a retired flower punch (but could easily be from a heart punch) and his fins are the retired Scallop Circle punch.  On the back of the card, across the "mouth" I added a stamped banner, glued to either side of his mouth.

Seaweed was added along the bottom of the "ocean" and I stamped and cut some little shells for the ocean floor.  This piece was mounted to little scalloped strips of Peekaboo Peach, and then adhered to the inside of my card.

But I had to have a treat to go with my cute card...

The new Clear Tiny Treat Boxes were perfect!  They are 2" cubes, clear, and such fun to play with.  I cut 1-15/16" x 8-1/2" strips of the Peekaboo Peach DSP and scored them at just under the 2" mark every 2"; this allowed me to insert the paper INSIDE the treat box.  I wrapped them with ribbon and added little tags. These were cut with the Lots of Labels Framelits and decorated with Swirly Scribbles "seaweed" and cut out fish.

And what was inside?  Well fish and and worms, of course:

I found Swedish Fish and Gummy Worms--what could be more perfect?

I loved putting this set together, and expect my grandsons will enjoy it all when it arrives this week.
What do you think?

All items can be purchased here. 

CASEing the Catalog

Occasionally I'll buy a new stamp set because something about it appeals to me, but then it comes and I'm not quite sure what to do with it.  Such was the case with Weather Together, a set from the new Annual Catalog.

I really liked the cute umbrella images, and the phrases are great.  But the matching framelits are what pushed me over the edge.  And getting them with a bundle saved me some dough!  What's wrong with that?  Nothing!

Then everything arrived, and I was stuck.  So I went to my catalog and looked at the photos using this combination of stamps and framelits...and I totally copied a card!  This is called CASEing (Copy And Share Everything...or as some folks stay, Copy And STEAL Everything!)  I needed a card for a friend who has been ill, and look how perfect this is:

I used Smoky Slate for the card base and for a top layer.  The clouds are part of the framelit set, and were cut in the top layer.  Then I stamped the raindrops in Smoky Slate.  This layer was boosted with Dimensionals over a piece of Whisper White (so the clouds would show) and then it was added to the front of the card.

The umbrella was stamped in Dapper Denim on Dapper Denim card stock, and the handle was stamped with Dapper Denim on Soft Sky--then both were cut with the framelits.

The sentiment was stamped on Whisper White, and the end flagged, and was attached to a skinny strip of  In Color Designer Series Paper.

So the next time you're stumped and just don't know where to begin, pull out your catalog!  There's a ton of wonderful samples just waiting to be CASEd!

All products can be purchased here. 

A Super(hero) Birthday

My granddaughter is turning 14 on Tuesday.  Of course she is now at the age when buying a gift can be difficult.  She gave my daughter an extremely detailed list of "wants", including photos and links to sites...just too much for me!  Especially when I know she changes her mind every 45 seconds...like every other 14-year-old!  LOL!

So I took the easy way out...I'm sending her some money and she can buy just what she wants.  But in typical "grammy" fashion, I couldn't just send her money...I had to dress it up!  So here is Isabella's card and gift:

 

I had a lot of fun with this.  Because she is a "super" kid, I went with Calling All Heroes, a limited-release stamp set from Stampin' UP!  It's got the cityscape and lots of ways to create a retro-superhero vibe!

Inside:

Now because this great set is no longer available, I won't waste your time describing the details, but if you happen to have it, and want more info, please feel free to contact me.

Off to the packaging:

I once again turned to my fabulous Popcorn Box Thinlits dies!  Using some retired Go Wild Designer Series Paper, I quickly created the box, including the scallop top.  Then it was time to decorate.

I used my Ovals Framelits, and stamped 14! around the edge, then added some stars (Black Glimmer, Silver Foil and Silver Glimmer) cut with the Stars Framelits.  I also snuck in a little Silver Thread.

I took a 2" x 8" Cello bag, added money and some silver confetti strips I had lying around, and tied it all up with a piece of Silver 1/8" Ribbon.  That silver "fluff" thing sticking out the top was from an old pillowbox set; it's on a wooden stake and inserted into the top of the cello bag.  Then, using the Popcorn Thinlits dies with the coordinating Ready to Pop stamp set, I stamped and cut a tag, tying it on with a piece of Whisper White Thick Bakers Twine. 

Izzy's a super creative young lady, so I know she'll appreciate her gift and card.  And she'll enjoy shopping too!  :)

Stamps - Not just for Stampin'

I have a friend and customer who has taken stamping to a whole new level.  Nancy is an avid crafter who loves to stamp, but she is also a fabulous jewelry maker.  And she just showed me a necklace I  have to share!  Take a look:

Nancy used the Petite Petals stamps, and actually made this gorgeous flower necklace with an amethyst in the center.  Isn't that beautiful?

This sterling silver flower is one of the stamps from this set, and it is so lovely!  She has used other stamps and embellishments for rings and earrings, but she blew me away with this.

You can have one for yourself; contact Nancy at geminid.designs@gmail.com

And leave her a message here--I know she'd be thrilled to hear your comments. 

Love this Anniversary Card

Today I wish my daughter and son-in-law a Happy 4th Anniversary!  They were married on a beautiful July 7th overlooking a vineyard in Temecula CA.  Just gorgeous!

So today I have a special anniversary card for them:

This card has NO stamping on the front.  I let the new Sunshine Wishes Thinlets do all the work, along with some fabulous designer series paper!

That cute heart and the "love" were cut using my Big Shot and the Sunshine Wishes Thinlets.  I used Melon Mambo for the heart, taking my cues from the Pop of Paradise DSP--see those adorable pink and white hearts?  Although difficult to see, I actually cut the "love" twice--once in Whisper White and again in Basic Black--they are layered, slightly offset, to give it a little lift and definition.

To make this card:
1.  Start with a Basic Black base, 4-1/4" x 11", and scored at 5-1/2"
2.  Add a 4" x 5-1/4" piece of Melon Mambo
3.  Adhere a piece of the DSP, cut 3-7/8" x 5-1/8"
4.  The 3-1/2" x 4" piece of Melon Mambo was run through the Big Shot with the Elegant Dots embossing folder
5.  Prepare your Whisper White (3-1/4" x 3-3/4") with the heart and "love".  Place some Mini Glue Dots on the back; wrap Silver Thread around your fingers, squish it up and stick it to the Glue Dots, allowing the thread to hang over the sides.  Adhere to the card front.
6.  Add two Brights Enamel Shapes in Melon Mambo

Inside:

I stamped the sentiment from Timeless Love on the inside with Melon Mambo ink, and added one more enamel heart.

Happy Anniversary, Aly and Brandon!

Have you shopped the new catalog yet?  Not done, are ya?  Cuz Stampin' UP! has a special offer  starting today!

From now until the end of July, for every $50 spent on Stampin' UP! products you will receive a $5.00 Bonus Coupon for use towards your order in August.  There is NO limit to the number of Bonus Coupons you can receive; spend $100, get TWO coupons!  Then go shopping again in August (it's OK--your husband told me so!)

Be sure to list your e-mail on your order--the coupon will be sent via e-mail, so DON'T lose it!  Then redeem it starting August 2!  Place your orders here.

More Tags

Yesterday I showed you the Card Candy we made at my Open House.  (here)
I had such fun creating all the tags, that I kept going.  I needed some little "thank you" tags to place in packages, and I quickly sat down to create these:

They came out so cute!

I used the new Layering Squares Framelits to cut the Dapper Denim and Whisper White squares.  And I used the Swirly Scribbles Framelit to cut just one "swish" of Dapper Denim.  Then I cut this into pieces for my little tags.

I stamped the boat from Swirly Bird using Dapper Denim,  Real Red and Cucumber Crush inks.  The sun, also from Swirly Bird, was stamped in Crushed Curry.  And the Thanks, from Designer Tin of Cards, was in Dapper Denim.  I just added the "swish" of ocean and I was done!  Fast and easy.

Here they are:

Wouldn't you love to get one of these in a package? 

Pardon My Absence!

First of all, Happy 4th of July to all my USA friends!  I spent the day like any other Davisite:

watching the Davis bike races, and:

riding my bike to the park to watch the fireworks with my hubs!

But where have I been?

Well for the last two weeks, I've been prepping for my annual Customer Appreciation Night, and I held it this weekend.  I put quite a lot of work into appreciating my customers, so let me show you a few things we did.

First was the entry table--I had catalogs, wish lists, envelopes for their projects and packs of Whisper White Note Cards and Envelopes, along with a treat:  Popcorn Boxes filled with kettle corn from our Davis Farmers Market.  Look how cute these were:

I love these boxes!
Then there was a display of new catalog items:

(they actually looked nicer at the beginning of the night!), and a table for Make & Takes:

I had Card Candy this year--everyone got to make 10 tags for ready-to-go cards.  Once made, the guests just needed to add them to card fronts (that's what the packs of Note Cards were for) or gifts, and they were all set to go.  Here is a sampling of the tags they made:

And here is all 10 of them:

And of course, there was shopping--I had a whole room full of retired product:

A busy, but fun weekend!  I hope you enjoyed your 4th!