Wow!  Have I been MIA or what?  Well, I got a brand new computer and have been busy getting it all setup with the programs I can’t live without.  I now have Windows 7 (love it!) and 8GB of RAM.  That’s double what I’m used to so I’m in hog heaven right now. 

So, we’re going to celebrate!  But not only because I got a new computer.  Brenda’s birthday is next Tuesday and that’s a huge reason to celebrate!  We’re going to have a sketch challenge/competition and Brenda will pick the winner on her birthday.  Keep reading below for all of the details.

How to Enter:

Create a project using the sketch above and upload it to your blog or our sketch challenge gallery.  You don’t have to follow the sketch exactly either – turn it, flip it, reverse it, etc.  Then, leave a link to your post using the Simply Linked form at the bottom of this post so everyone can check out your creation.  Put your name in the Link Title field.  Leave us a valid email so we can contact you if you win.  If posting on your blog, please provide the link directly to the post that contains your entry.

Deadline:

Although you can continue to use the sketch above, we have to close entries at some point so we can choose a winner.  So, for the challenge, we’re continue to take entries until midnight (ET) next Monday night, March 22nd.  That way Brenda can wake up on her birthday and choose a winner!

Prize:

The lucky winner will receive the Vintage Labels Clear Mount Stamp Set shown here which will only be available until the end of this month through Sale-a-Bration!  That’s right, you can’t buy this set.  You have to either win it, or place a $50 order to get it for free before the end of the month.  This set works with several of the Stampin’ Up! punches, which to me makes it even more desirable because you don’t have to cut it out!

I’ll be posting my own example within the next couple of days.  I hope to see lots of entries!  Join us today and make Brenda’s birthday an awesome one!

Happy Stamping!

Lianne Carper
CS partner and DTM for Brenda Cook
Independent Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator

 
This is cutie a for sure! Make sure that you have the Sending Love designer paper in your January Stampin’ Up! order – you will be disappointed if you don’t. Remember also that for every $50 of Stampin’ Up! product that you order through March 31 will entitle you to Sale-A-Bration freebies. And, who doesn’t like free stamping goodies!

I created this card for an upcoming card swap here at CARDScraps, but I wanted to share the preps with you. Here is how I did it.

Make a Very Vanilla card base and layer the background designer paper on top. Then I took another one of the Sending Love designer papers and cut out 4 hearts with the heart punch. I sponged the edges of each petal (heart) with Regal Rose Classic Ink.

I used the Big Shot and the Sizzix Little Leaves die and cut the Old Olive stems/leaves.

I used dimensionals on the back of each petal (heart) and placed them on the front of the card. I took the stems/leaves and placed them behind the popped-up petals (hearts). Then I trimmed them down, as needed, and used the glue stick on the back of each leaf/stem and stuck them under the petals (hearts). I attached the button with a glue dot and took the Signo Gel Pen and imitated thread and then applied Crystal Effects – faux stitching – my type of stitching! LOL

Lastly, I stamped the sentiment on Very Vanilla and punched it out with the Large Oval Punch and adhered it to a Chocolate Chip scalloped oval and placed this grouping on the card front. You could easily change the sentiment and have a birthday, friend, thank you or whatever type of sentiment that you need.

Brenda Cook
Independent Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator
Tarboro, NC

Supply List – all supplies are by Stampin’ Up!

Stamp:  Short & Sweet
Paper: Sending Love DSP, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla CS
Ink: Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip
Other: Big Shot, Sizzix Little Leaves Die, Heart, Large Oval, Scalloped Oval Punches, Button, Sponge, Snail, Glue Stick, Dimensionals, Glue Dot, Crystal Effects, Signo Gel Pen

Here we are at the final sneak peek in this series.  This is the third card made for the class Brenda will teach at the nursing home next month although this is the stepped up version.  Theirs won’t be too different though as the only thing I did to step this up a bit was add the paper piercing.

Some of you may have noticed that at the end of the previous two posts, there was more than one item number for the new stamp sets.  Are you wondering why?  Have you heard?  Stampin’ Up! is finally going to offer unmounted stamps that you can use with acrylic blocks.  I am soooooo excited.  You will now have the option to get either the standard wood mount or the clear mount.  The clear mount have a special cling backing that adheres to your acrylic blocks.  However, none of the quality is sacrificed as they are still rubber stamps.  The stamps come in dvd sized cases, so you can be sure this is going to save a ton of room!

Something else making it’s debut in this card is a new border punch.  Stampin’ Up! is releasing all sorts of new punches with the new 2010 Occasions Mini Catalog and they are a new design which makes them much more storage friendly.   I know you’re going to be excited to see those as punch storage is always a hot topic.  Want more excitement?  How about the fact that you’re going to be able to get this one for FREE during Sale-a-Bration!

Here’s how I did it:

1. Glue a 5-3/8″ x 1-1/4″ piece of the green floral print designer paper from Flock Together to the top of a standard A2 (5-1/2″ x 4-1/4″) So Saffron card base.  Glue another strip the same size to the bottom of the card base.
2. Cut a piece of So Saffron card stock to 5-3/8″ x 2-7/8″.  Use the Scallop Trim Border punch on both long edges.
3. Glue a 5-3/8″ x 1-1/2″ piece of Very Vanilla card stock to a 5-3/8″ x 1-3/4″ piece of Tempting Turquoise card stock.  Glue these to the scalloped strip created in Step 2.
4. Tie a piece of So Saffron Ribbon around the strips as shown.  Use a paper piercer to punch holes along each long side approximately 1/8″ from the edge.  Glue to the card base overlapping both of the green print designer paper.
5. Cut a 2-3/4″ circle using the Circle Scissors Plus out of Very Vanilla card stock.  Stamp the hat image from Garden from the Heart stamp set using Basic Black Classic Ink and color using the Stampin’ Write markers.
6. Cut a 2-7/8″ circle from Tempting Turquoise card stock and a 3″ circle from So Saffron card stock and layer as shown.  Use the paper piercer to punch holes around the outer edge.  Attach to the card front using Stampin’ Dimensionals.
7. For the interior, I used scraps of Tempting Turquoise to cut two 5-3/8″ x 1/8″ strips.  I glued these on the outside of a 5-3/8″ x 2-1/2″ piece of Very Vanilla card stock.  On the bottom edge, I glued a 5-3/8″ x 3/4″ piece of green print designer paper.

I hope you enjoyed this little sneak peek series!  I’d love to get a few comments from you.  Also, don’t forget that you need to comment on Brenda’s New Year’s card before Jan 1st for a chance to win some Blog Candy!

Happy Stamping!

Lianne Carper
CS partner and DTM for Brenda Cook
Independent Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator

Supplies:  (all Stampin’ Up!)

Stamps:  Garden from the Heart (WM#117004 – CM#118568)
Paper:  So Saffron, Tempting Turquoise and Very Vanilla card stock, Flock Together designer series paper
Ink:  Basic Black Classic Ink
Other:  So Saffron Ribbon, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Circle Scissors Plus, Paper Piercer, Glue Stick, Stampin’ Write Markers, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I figured before Sale-a-Bration comes to an end here in the next few days, I would share one more card with you made primarily with FREE products.  The ribbon and designer paper can each be obtained FREE with a $50 order before the end of the month.  The cupcake stamp and the sentiment stamp are each available for FREE as a hostess gift which you can get by either hosting a party or by placing a $150 order.

Although it’s hard to tell from the picture, the scalloped bottom border is actually the bottom of the card front.  The designer paper and sentiment below that are actually on the inside of the card.

Anyway, if you’re wanting to grab any of the Delicate Dots Designer Paper or the  Ribbon Bundle (20 yards of glorious ribbon!), you need to place your order quickly because this special ends at the end of the March!

Supplies: (all Stampin’ Up!)

Stamps: Darling Dots; Ink: Basic Gray Classic and VersaMark; Paper: Delicate Dots Designer Paper; Kraft, Whisper White, So Saffron card stock; Other: Stampin’ Write Markers, Scallop Edge, Scallop Circle, 1/16" Handheld Circle punches, So Saffron Grosgrain Ribbon, Crystal Effects, Glue Stick, Snail Adhesive, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Thanks for looking!

Lianne Carper
CS partner and DTM for Brenda Cook
Independent Stampin’ Up! demonstrator
Tarboro, NC

There’s no better time to join the Stampin’ Up! family than right now.  From now until April 30, 2009, you can purchase the starter kit using 3 easy payments.

PLUS – if you hurry and sign up before the end of March, you can get it at the discounted rate of $169 instead of the regular $199! AND.you also get to choose any retail stamp set (a value up to $47.95) from the current catalog when signing up by the end of March during Sale-a-Bration!

Please note – this option is not available online.  In order to take advantage of the Three Easy Payment option, your paperwork must be mailed directly to Stampin’ Up!  So, if you’re interested in signing up, make sure we have enough time to get the paperwork mailed in by the deadlines posted above.

Contact me today and we’ll get started!
Brenda Cook
(252) 641-0857
brenda@cardscraps.com

Payments Breakdown for the Sale-A-Bration Starter Kit Price
(March 13-31, 2009)

Payments Breakdown for the Regular Starter Kit Price
(April 1-30, 2009)

*Payments indicated are for the cost of the Starter Kit, and, if selected, the Stampin’ Memories add-on, including shipping. They do not include and any applicable state taxes. (Please note that any applicable taxes for the total amount of the Starter Kit and, if selected, Stampin’ Memories add-on, price will be added to the first payment.)

The other day, I saw this beautiful card created by Susanna Boyd where she had created these beautiful flowers. I just knew I had to give it a try so last night, I set out to create this card. I absolutely love the way it turned out although this is one of those cards that you can’t really send through the mail unless it’s packaged in a box. The flowers are pretty substantial and a little stiff, but would never stand up going through the mail system…even in a padded envelope.

I’m extremely pleased with the way the sponging turned out on the flower pot. The sponging was necessary to create depth on the pot since there is so much depth in the flowers.

Geraniums Flower Card Tutorial

Supplies (all Stampin’ Up!):

• Stamps: Petal Pizzazz, Best Yet (retired but can be exchanged for other sentiment set)
• Paper: So Saffron, Whisper White, More Mustard and Pink Pirouette card stock; Delicate Dots Designer Series Paper
• Ink: Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Gray
• Other: Silver brads, Key Tag Punch, 1″ Circle Punch, 1/16″ Handheld Punch, Ticket Corner Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Corner Rounder Punch, Glue Dots, SNAIL, Stampin’ Dimensionals, 2-way glue

1. Cut card base from So Saffron (4-1/4″ x 11″). Fold in half to form vertical card base.
2. Cut Whisper White matte at 4″ x 5-1/4″.
3. Cut 3-3/4″ x 5″ matte from blue Delicate Dots DSP (free from Sale-a-Bration catalog with $50 order). Use the Ticket Corner Punch on all 4 corners. Attach to Whisper White matte using SNAIL adhesive.
4. Using the 1/16″ Handheld Punch, punch a hole in all 4 corners of the matte. Insert a Silver Brad into each hole. Attach finished matte to card base using SNAIL.
5. Cut 2-1/4″ x 2-3/4″ piece from More Mustard card stock for flower pot base. Cut sides at an angle. Using Pumpkin Pie ink, sponge sides and bottom of the pot. Drag the color from the edges toward the center to create dimension.
6. Cut 1″ x 3-1/4″ strip from More Mustard card stock for the flower pot rim. Round the corners with the Corner Rounder Punch. Sponge edges with Pumpkin Pie ink. Attach to the flower pot base using SNAIL adhesive.
7. Stamp the leaf stamp from Petal Pizzazz onto Whisper White card stock using Certainly Celery ink 8 times. Cut each of the leaves out and set aside for now.
8. For each flower, punch six Scallop Circles and one 1″ circle from Pink Pirouette card stock. With scissors, cut between each “petal” of the scallop circles approximately 1/4″ towards the center. Spritz with water and crumple the flower tightly but being careful not to tear off any of the petals. If you accidentally tear off a petal, do not worry about it as you’ll never be able to tell. Flatten out each flower. On 5 of the flowers, apply 2-way glue to the center and fold in half. Apply more glue and fold in quarters and then again to fold in eighths. Add glue dots or sticky strip to the folded point of the flowers and adhere them to the circle with the points meeting in the center. Add a glue dot to the back of the 6th flower and attach it to the center covering the points of the previously glued flowers. Fluff and squinch (technical term..lol) the petals into shape. Repeat for 2 additional flowers.
9. Arrange leaves and flowers at the top of the flower pot and adhere with SNAIL or sticky strip.
10. Using Basic Gray ink, stamp sentiment onto So Saffron Delicate Dots DSP. Punch out using the Key Tag punch. Punch a hole in the end using the 1/16″ handheld punch and insert Silver brad. Adhere to the card using Stamin’ Dimensionals.

Enjoy!

Lianne Carper