As we wrap up the last few days before Valentine’s Day, I wanted to show you a quick card I made today.  Although it is very simple, I think it turned out beautiful – in fact, I think this may be the one that I give my sweetie this year.  He’s not fancy, so the card for him shouldn’t be fancy either. 

This card literally took me about 10 minutes to make.  It took me longer to decide what paper I wanted to use than to make it.  I was inspired by a card created by Michelle Wooderson – at least my layout was.  The rest just kinda fell into place.  I still have some of the printed circle embellishments that we gave away in the last CARDScraps Gazette newsletter, so that’s what I used for my main embellishment. By the way, you can sign up for in the top left corner under Newsletter Signup.  I simply punched out a larger circle from Real Red cardstock and then cut a Kraft circle with the Circle Scissors Plus.

I used the new Sending Love Specialty designer series paper and then embossed hearts from the I {Heart} Hearts stamp set on the Real Red cardstock strip on the left side. The bottom image here shows the sparkly Iridescent Ice embossing powder really well.  I finished it off with a beautiful Real Red satin bow.

I hope you like it and if you have any questions, feel free to ask!

Happy Stamping

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

• Stamps:  I {Heart} Hearts (WM #117010 – CM #118571)
• Paper:  Kraft, Real Red, and Very Vanilla cardstock, Sending Love Specialty designer paper
• Ink:  VersaMark
• Other:  Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder, Circle Punches, Circle Scissors Plus, Real Red Satin Ribbon, Dimensionals, Glue Stick, Scallop Trim Border Punch, I {heart} you embellishment (printed from free download in February CARDScraps Gazette newsletter)

OK..you know my secret, I {Heart} Hearts has quickly become one of my favorite stamp sets and I just LOVE the heart with LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!  I will try to showcase another one of these fabulous stamps in this set, for my next blog post. LOL

This is another one of those 10 minute quick cards. You could use any of the stamps within this clear mount set (or wood mount, if you prefer) and just change up the size of the square mats behind the heart, if needed. This is a simple format. All you have to do is change the papers and the stamp and you will have an entirely different presentation.

Here is how I did it:

I started with a Very Vanilla card base and used the En Francais background stamp and stamped the front panel with the Sahara Sand Classic Ink Pad.

Then I cut all of my cardstock and designer paper pieces. Layer the top pieces first and be sure to wrap your twine around them before adhering to the card base. Then take and layer your square mats and place on the card front. Last but not least, stamp your heart and punch out using the 3 heart punch and attach to the card front, utilizing dimensionals to pop it up.

Brenda Cook
Independent Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator
Tarboro, NC

Supply List – All items are by Stampin’ Up!

Stamp:  I {Heart} Hearts, En Francais
Paper:  Cottage Wall DSP, Very Vanilla, Rich Razzleberry, Orchid Opulence, Pink Passion CS
Inks:  Rich Razzleberry, Sahara Sand
Other:  Natural Hemp Twine, 3 Heart Punch, Snail, Dimensionals

 
Hopefully by now, you have the Sending Love designer paper in your hands and you are ready to create your own Valentine cards. If not, you can get in touch with me and I will help you get it ordered from the Occasions mini catalog, which expires April 30, 2010. Don’t think it is just for Valentine’s Day though – it is dreamy. full of floral designs, versatile and popping with color. And, don’t forget..the Sale-A-Bration promotion runs through March 31, 2010, which allows you to earn free goodies for every $50 that you order in Stampin’ Up! products.

I used the new clear mount “I {Heart} Hearts stamp set, along with one of my favorites, “Baroque Motifs.”  The Polka Dot background stamp that you see is retired, but I still keep it handy.

I never get rid of stamp sets because I love them all. One day though, I am going to have to think about selling some of the older ones that are retired. Lianne and I counted up the other day and between us both, we have approximately 300 Stampin’ Up! stamp sets and I have only been a SU demonstrator for about 16 months. What does that tell you…we LOVE Stampin’ Up! stamps!

Brenda Cook
Independent Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator
Tarboro, NC

Supply List – All products are by Stampin’ Up!

Stamps:  I {Heart} Hearts, Baroque Motifs, Polka Dot Background (retired)
Paper:  Sending Love DSP, Barely Banana, Bravo Burgundy, Whisper White CS
Ink:  Bravo Burgundy, Versamark
Other:  Bravo Burgundy 1/4″ Grosgrain Ribbon, Heart Punch, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Sponge Dauber, Snail
Techniques:  Embossing, Sponging

Welcome back to another day of Stamping with Kids.  Today I’m going to show you another card that my 6 year old daughter Alexis (Lexi) made along with my version of it.  Now keep in mind that her card is made from card kits that we make up for the ladies at the nursing home who Brenda teaches to make cards.  I create one for them to copy which is the one that she copied.  Then I create a “stepped up” version that I share here on the blog.  Both versions are simple, just different.

Before she even began working on her own card, she looked at mine and said that she thinks it could use a little bit of sponging around the edges.  I asked her if that’s what she wanted to do to hers and she said yes.  I didn’t even show her how to sponge – she did it all on her own from watching me the day before making the Love Bug card that I showed yesterday. 

Now, she got a little carried away with her stamping of the leaves.  With the leaf stamp being a smaller stamp, it was too easy for her to rock it when she stamped.  So here and there you’ll see some smudges.  That’s ok though – all part of it’s charm.  This is something to keep in mind with beginner stampers though – smaller stamps rock easier.  We did talk about it after it happened a couple of times and I held her hand and showed her what she was doing to make that happen and how to keep it from happening.  All part of the learning process. On her card, she punched hearts using the Heart to Heart punch and adhered them to the card using small pieces of Dimensionals.  I had to teach her some restraint.  If she would have had her way, you wouldn’t be able to see the tree.lol. 

Also, I wanted to point out that my daughter also helped with the embossing of the background.  I got it all setup and in the Big Shot and held it steady while she turned the crank.  It’s these small things that they get to do to help that get them so excited about doing crafts.  Of all of the different crafts I’ve done with her, it seems she can concentrate on making cards longer than any other craft.  She loses interest in the others much quicker.

On my card, I used some heart shaped buttons that I had in my stash.  I stitched them on using white thread and then sewed some messy stitching over the ribbon loops in the bottom left corner. 

Now, the bottom right corner still needs something and the cards that the ladies at the nursing home will be doing will have something there.  Theirs will have the “I {Heart} you, friend” sentiment from Picture This which is a new Level 1 Hostess Set in the 2010 Occasions Mini Catalog.  I don’t currently have that set, but Brenda does, so she’ll have to add that to my sample that she takes there for them to copy.  Their hearts will be popped up like Lexi’s and they’ll put a heart over the heart in the sentiment as well.

Here’s our cards, one more time – side by side.

I hope you enjoyed my 2-part series of Stamping with Kids – maybe I’ll have to make this a regular segment of our blog.  I’m sure Lexi would love it as she’ll get to make a lot more cards.  I hope this inspires you to get crafty with your kids.

Happy Stamping

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

• Stamps:  Season of Friendship (WM#111776)
• Paper:  Real Red and Whisper White card stock
• Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Real Red, and Pretty in Pink Classic
• Accessories:  Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plate, Big Shot, Heart to Heart Punch, Dimensionals, Grosgrain Ribbon, Heart Buttons (from stash), Sponges

Before we talk about the cards I’m showing today, I’d like to give you a little history – or a little insight anyway.  I come from a long line of crafters.  My grandparents were crafters, my aunts are all crafters, my mom is a crafter.  As far back as I can remember, my mother was teaching me some sort of craft.  I learned to crochet, sew, weave, paint, draw, do needlepoint, rug hook, sculpt, cross stitch, you name it.  When I was a kid in the 70’s, my mother sold for a direct sales craft company called Arts & Crafts Concepts and to this day, I still have some of the needlework kits in my sewing box.  So, of course, it’s only natural for me to want to teach my daughter all things crafty!

For the last couple of Christmases, she has gotten crafty kits.  Beading kits where she makes her own necklaces and bracelets, Perler bead kits where she lays out the little beads on trays and we melt them with the iron, her very own stamping kits, rug hooking kits and she has even made her own tied fleece blanket and throw pillow.  A few months ago, she turned 6 and has stepped up to play with my stamps and tools now – with my supervision, of course.

For about the last 6 months or so, Brenda and Lexi have been sending cards back and forth.  Lexi just loves getting cards from Brenda – I can’t tell you how excited she gets.  And when it comes time to make a card, you ask her who her card is for and it’s either for Brenda or her dad.  I rarely get a card, however, most of the coloring book pages she colors are for me.  So I’m not left out totally.LOL.  The last time Lexi went to NC with me to visit Brenda, auntie Brenda bought her her very own scrapping bag!  We’re not talking some kid size bag either – this is an adult scrapping bag.  So every now and then, I pick her up some supplies to go in her own bag – and it’s FULL now!

Anyway, the other day I started working on the card kits for the nursing home and she wanted to make some cards.  So I figured I’d let her make one from a kit and I would make a stepped up version of it to show here on the blog.  You can see mine above – it has the Rich Razzleberry Grosgrain Ribbon.  You can see hers to the right with the Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon.  I did stamp her bug and her sentiment and cut all of the papers for her, but all  of the assembly and coloring was done by her.  I think she did a fabulous job.  She made the decision to flip the designer paper in the middle over to the other side to show the light lavender print and she also decided that she wanted her stamped image on the bottom half of the card.

I was so impressed with how even she got her designer paper strips lined up.  It’s not an easy task for an experienced crafter and while they are not perfect, they’re pretty darn good! 

She asked me if I was putting my card on my website and I told her yes.  She asked me with the cutest little expression, “Can you put mine on there too?”  How can I say no?  I was going to anyway because I was so proud of her but her asking was just too cute.

Here’s a shot of our cards side by side.   You can click on the images to view them a little larger.  If I hadn’t told you, would you think the one on the right was made by a 6 year old?  I don’t think so.

Oh – here’s a quick tip.  If you don’t have any matching floss or twine for your buttons, you can carefully tie tiny strips of paper through the button holes.  Since these buttons are glued on and not sewn on, the paper threads are only decorative so they don’t have to be strong.  Click on the picture to zoom in and get a closer look.

I hope you’ll join me tomorrow for Part 2 when I show off another card that my 6 year old daughter made with me.  If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Happy Stamping

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

• Stamps:  Love Bug (Hostess Level 1 Set – WM#115233) and Teeny Tiny Wishes (WM#115370)
• Paper:  Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Whisper White card stock, Cottage Wall designer series paper
• Ink:  Jet Black Stazon, Rich Razzleberry
• Accessories:  Sponges, Crystal Effects, Rich Razzleberry Grosgrain Ribbon, Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, Signo White Gel Pen, Dimensionals, Word Window Punch, Oval and Scalloped Oval cut with Cricut, Buttons (from stash)

A few days back, I came across a card created by Dawn McVey that utilized similar colors as my card trio here.  It didn’t utilize Stampin’ Up! stamps or colors, so they weren’t exactly the same.  Anyway, I was intrigued by it but didn’t really give it another thought.  Until today when I dozed on the couch.  When I woke up, this color scheme was stuck in my head and the first thing I did was grab my Card Stock Sampler and pull these colors out – Bermuda Bay, Real Red, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White and Kraft.  Yes, I dream about card making – don’t you?

I planned the Kraft card first.  But I couldn’t stop there.  By the time I was finished, I had a cute little card trio perfect for Valentine’s Day, love notes to your sweetie or even to let a friend know how much they mean to you.  Because there isn’t a sentiment other than “friend” on the one card, you can use them anytime of the year.

These cards are very simple to make so I’m not going to go into the details.  If you have any questions, just let me know.  I utilized the new I {Heart} Hearts stamp set as well as the two new border punches released in the 2010 Occasions Mini Catalog.  I tell you – if you have this stamp set, you’ll never need another heart stamp!  So many different designs – 10 total!

Hope you like them! 

Happy Stamping

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

• Stamps:  I {Heart} Hearts (WM – #117010, CM – #118571)
• Paper:  Bermuda Bay, Pretty in Pink, Real Red, Whisper White and Kraft card stock
• Ink:  Real Red and Bermuda Bay Classic Inks, VersaMark, Whisper White Craft Ink
• Accessories:  Bermuda Bay Grosgrain Ribbon, Hemp Twine, Pinking Hearts and Scallop Trim Border Punches, Big Shot, Stampin’ Up! Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plates, Sponges, Buttons (from stash)

 
Let’s get started with your Valentine cards early! I know that you must have at least one special person in your life that you want to show your love in the form of a card, along with other sweet treats.

Shortly after Lianne’s visit in December, I decided that I wanted to experiment a bit more with using fabric on a greeting card and came up with this cutie pie. I used the Big Shot and cut a scalloped square, which I sewed to the Whisper White card base. Then I took and cut out a heart of another fabric and layered on front of the scalloped circle, which was also cut with the Big Shot. I used the “Join in the Cheer” die and cut out the Love – I did have to detach it from the connecting letters, which was no problem – I just snipped it apart with my handy dandy Stampin’ Up! paper snips.

In this photo, you will see how the card opens up, allowing you to use the inside of the scalloped circle for your sentiment or journaling. I also snipped the edges of the fabric on the Whisper White card base, as I was trying to give it a ragged look. Pretty cool, huh!

On the scalloped circle, I cut the paper and folded it in half and when I placed it on the die for cutting, I moved it slightly down below the top scallops so that it would not cut my fold. You could actually use this for a card base without adding any paper behind it.

This card could be used for Valentine’s Day or any other occasion where you want to express your love.

Brenda Cook

Brenda Cook
Independent Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator
Tarboro, NC

Supply List:

All supplies are by Stampin’ Up! unless noted otherwise.

Paper: Garden Green, Whisper White CS
Ink: Real Red
Other: Big Shot, Peace Love Joy, Billboard, Heart and Scalloped circle dies, Fabric & Buttons – My Stash, Sponge, Snail, Glue Stick, Sewing Machine

Technorati Tags: Stampin’ Up!,card,Valentines Day,love,Peace Love Joy,Very Thankful,Brenda Cook

Ahhhh – Winter vacation is over!  The Christmas decorations are put away, the kids are back in school, Mom and hubby are back to work and I once again have the house to myself and can get back to stamping!  Heaven I tell ya!  I look forward to the holidays every year and get very excited when it’s time to pull out the tree, but I have to admit that it’s nice to have peace and quiet again once they’re over.  Oh – and guess who knocked on my door this morning?  My UPS man with another delivery from Stampin’ Up!  Can the day get any better?  I think not!

Anyway, I wanted to show off the cards I made this morning.  I played with a lot of the new stuff from the 2010 Occasions Mini Catalog.  I am IN LOVE with the new Sending Love Specialty designer series paper.  Every sheet is glittery!  Unfortunately, it’s hard to see the glittery details in my photos but it reminds me of embossing with the Iridescent Ice embossing powder by Stampin’ Up!  In fact, I added some Iridescent Ice to the heart my raccoon is holding and he matches perfectly!

The whimsical raccoon stamp I used makes this playful card perfect for one of your kids or a lighthearted love note to that special someone.  The slide out is ready to be personalized with a stamped or handwritten sentiment.  Don’t forget that you can click on any of the pictures to view them larger.

FYI – One of these cards will be in the Love or Valentine’s Day card swap here on CARDScraps.  Signups are closing today, so you’d better hurry if you’d like to participate.  If not, there are always new swaps going on and we’d love to have you participate!  Just check out our card swaps forum.

Here’s how I did it:

Note:  The photos show two different variations.  The tutorial will be for the one shown here on the right – the version without the buttons in the bottom right corner.

1. Score a 4-1/4″ x 11″ piece of Kraft card stock at 5-1/2″ and 1-1/2″.  Fold the card base in half and then fold back the flap.
2. Sponge all of the edges using Very Vanilla Craft Ink including both edges of the folded flap.
3. Glue a 4″ x 2-1/4″ piece of the red floral designer paper to the bottom of the card base leaving a 1/8″ border around the edges.
4. Glue a 4″ x 1-1/4″ piece of the small vanilla print designer paper to the flap.
5. Using your sewing machine, sew a straight stitch along the two sides and the bottom.
6. Tie a piece of Regal Rose Grosgrain Ribbon around the flap.
7. Cut a 2-3/8″ square of Very Vanilla card stock and punch all four corners using the Pinking Hearts Corner Punch.  Glue a 1-3/8″ square of Pretty in Pink card stock to the center just inside the punched hearts.  Glue a 1-1/2″ square of Real Red card stock on top of the pink card stock.
8. Stamp the raccoon and sentiment from the Love Bandit stamp set using Basic Black Classic Ink onto a 1-3/8″ piece of Very Vanilla card stock. Color the image using Close to Cocoa and Real Red Stampin’ Write markers.  Using the Versamarker, color over the heart and emboss using Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder.  Glue the stamped image to the Real Red card stock layered in Step 7.
9. Attach the layered image to the card front using Stampin’ Dimensionals as shown.
10. Cut a 3-5/8″ x 4-5/8″ piece of Very Vanilla card stock and round the top two corners using the Corner Rounder Punch for the card insert.
11. Use the Round Tab Punch to punch out a tab from Real Red card stock.  Fold in half and glue to the top edge of the insert.  Use a standard stapler to add a staple to the center.  This is mainly for decoration, but it will also add to the stability since it will be used to pull the insert out of the card.
12. Cut a piece of Kraft card stock to 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″ and glue to the back of the card.  This covers the stitching as well as the ribbon ends if you didn’t tie your ribbon all the way around your card.
13. Use the Corner Rounder Punch to round the top two corners of the card.

I hope you enjoyed these two cards.  If you have any questions, just let me know.

Happy Stamping

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

Supplies:  (all Stampin’ Up! unless otherwise noted)

Stamps:  Love Bandit (WM#117086 – CM#118577)
Paper:  Kraft, Very Vanilla, Pretty in Pink and Real Red card stock, Sending Love Specialty designer series paper
Ink:  Basic Black Classic Ink
Other:  Regal Rose Grosgrain Ribbon, Round Tab Punch, Corner Rounder Punch, Pinking Hearts Corner Punch, Glue Stick, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Stampin’ Write Markers, Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder, Sewing Machine and Stapler (non-Stampin’ Up!)

 
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