For Love of Paper

Happy Birthday to Happy Birthday Blog Candy

I was recently told that today is the birthday of the well known song "Happy Birthday to You". I thought to myself, "hmm . . . birthdays. . . presents. . . I should give away some blog candy!" And what better blog candy than a birthday stamp set.

So anyone who leaves a comment on this post will be entered to win the Birthday Whimsy Stamp Set (now retired). I will announce the winner next Friday, July 3rd. 

More info on "Happy Birthday to You"

For those of you who would like to know a little more about the origins of the song "Happy Birthday to You" it all started when two sisters, both teachers of preschool, kindergarten and Sunday School created a little song to greet their students each morning as they arrived for school. The two teachers were Mildred J. Hill and Patty Smith Hill, both from Kentucky.

In 1893 Mildred wrote a little melody and her sister Patty added the lyrics to come up with their song "Good Morning to All". No one is certain who adapted the lyrics for "Happy Birthday to You" to the melody written by Mildred, but today the song "Happy Birthday to You" is the most recognized song in the English language.

More info on the Happy Birthday Human Card

This card features lots of new goodies! Three of the six new In Colors were used; Bermuda Bay, Dusty Durango and Crushed Curry. As always I'm quite excited about the new In Colors. I love finding new color combinations. The stamp set used is new as well. It's called "Lots of Bots". My son christened it for me by making a birthday card for his friend Hayden, whose party we will be attending today. It's a dino dig party and it's only supposed to be about 104 degrees here today. So if I stop posting, I've melted!

I can't take credit for the card design in the slightest. It is totally CASED from another stamper, Renee Van Stralen. She did such an awesome job I didn't need to change a thing.

If you'd like to make one of your own here is the list of supplies you'll need to order when the new catalog goes live on July 1st. Just click on the links below to get a printable copy of the card recipe.

Happy Birthday Human Card Recipe (one per page)

Happy Birthday Human Card Recipe (four per page)

Are you looking to save money this holiday season by giving hand made gifts?

Now through the end of the year I will be offering a series of classes specifically geared toward holiday gift giving.

So many of us want to create beautiful hand made gifts from the heart, not only because they tug at the heartstrings of the recipient more than a mass produced store bought gift but also because they often cost less.

Beginning in July there will be a different gift giving class offered each month through October.

• Four Seasons, Saturday, July 18th
• Stampin' Jewelry, Saturday, August 15th
• Family Album, Saturday, September 19th
• Gifts Galore, Saturday, October 3rd 

Click here to get a printable list of all classes now through December.

Taking one or all four of the holiday gift classes provides you with inexpensive hand made gifts. Saving you both time and money.

Prepay for all four classes by Monday July 13^th and save even more. Pay only $75 and come away with seven completed gifts ready to go by the beginning of October for about $10 each. Plus you’ll have full color, written, step-by-step instructions to make more of each project on your own.

Sign up for any of the classes individually or save even more by signing up for all four classes today!

Four Seasons $20

Stampin' Jewelry $20

Family Album $25

Gifts Galore $25

ALL FOUR $75

Fluff-fly Girl . . . Flying Fast!

This wonderful page was created by one of my customers, Belinda Z., aka my mom. She did an awesome job combining the Parisian Breeze Specialty Paper and the Beautiful Butterflies Sizzix Die.

The page is about our little neighbor and my son's playmate Reese, who just moved back to Vermont.  She loves butterflies, but because she is only two she calls them fluff-flies. This page makes for a great memory of Reese's personality and my son loves to see people he knows in pictures.

If you love this paper as much as I do be sure to order it quick, quick, quick.  It is on the retiring list, meaning it is only available until June 30th or while supplies last.  Lots of the Designer Series Papers have already sold out and I don't expect this one to be around until the 30th.

Parisian Breeze Specialty DSP
113993 $11.95    p. 158 (SS 09 Idea Book & Catalog)

Beautiful Butterflies Sizzix Die (SU! Exclusive)
114507 $21.95    p. 196 (SS 09 Idea Book & Catalog)

Order Online Anytime 24/7!

Don't run out of time this year . . .

Do you always want to create handmade holiday gifts but end up running out of time?

Then get started now!

So many of us say to ourselves, "this year I'll make some of my holiday gifts." But we get busy, the months get away from us and before we know it Thanksgiving has come and gone and the holidays are here.

The Four Seasons Class will be the first in a series of classes designed to get you started on making holiday gifts with plenty of time to spare. In this class we'll begin with a square glass plate and turn it into a beautiful piece of home decor that can be displayed all year. The center of the plate will be covered with a 6"x6" stamped work of art featuring the tree from the Branch Out Stamp Set. During class you'll create four different centers, one for each season. The recipient of your gift will easily be able to change out the center of the plate using the hook and loop tape on the back of each center.

 

The Four Seasons Class allows you to create a beautiful hand stamped piece of home decor perfect for holiday gift giving.

Receive 20% off the Branch Out Stamp Set if you preorder it when you register for class.

Get a head start on your hand made

holiday gifts by signing up today!

Four Seasons Class

Saturday, July 18th 9am to Noon
$20

RSVP/Prepayment due by Monday, July 13th

Look what's in store for the July Technique Club!

If you'd like to get more from the stamping supplies you already own and try out some new ones before you purchase them the monthly Technique Club Class is perfect for you.  Each month three new techniques are featured on three cards/projects.

Here is what's in store for July . . .

1. Brayered Roses

2. Hodgepodge Hardware Bookmark

3. Stamping on Twill Tape

July's Technique Club Class will take place on Saturday, July 11th from 9am to Noon and again on Tuesday, July 14th from 6 to 9pm.  If you'd like to join the class please RSVP by Monday, July 6th.  The $5 supply is due at class.

Classes are held at my home in Leander, TX.

June Swap Cards

Each month members of the Technique can choose to participate in a swap with a little challenge attached to it.  June's assignment was to create a card using Designer Series Paper or to create your own DSP using stamps.

As usual everyone did a fantastic job!

By Anna V.
Featuring the Raspberry Tart DSP and Tres Chic Background Stamp.

By Becky T.
Becky made her own DSP using the Boho Backgrounds Stamp Set.

By Belinda Z. (aka my mom)
Belinda also made her own patterned paper by stamping the small flower from Blooming with Love and then coloring the flower petals with the Signo White Gel Pen. Great background not to mention the phenomenal water coloring.

By Chris Twing, ME
This card uses both the Parisian Breeze DSP and some I created using the outline flower from Heartfelt Thanks (on the retiring list, get it before it's gone) and the white gel pen for accents.

By Deborah M.
Featuring the Puns from the Past Stamp Set.

By Retta M.

Featuring the Summer Picnic DSP and sentiment from the Heard from the Heart Stamp Set.

By Tani J.

Featuring Urban Garden DSP and my favorite little butterfly from the Great Friend Stamp Set.

Catch the Wave . . . Technique.

Andrea Walford came up with this awesome Wave Technique a few months back and I love it!. It always amazes me at the inventive, out-of-the-box ways, stampers use tools and supplies.

This technique is definitely wowie, but as with most techniques, it is fairly simple.  To make the wave you'll need your Big Shot, the Swirl Sizzlit and the necessary cutting pads.

1. Cut a strip of paper 3-4" wide and up to 12" long.
2. Run your paper through the Big Shot with the Swirl Sizzlit.
3. Remove the Swirl and snip the ends to separate the inverse (normally the trash part) into two pieces. You should now have three pieces as shown below.

The inverse/trash pieces are what create the waves.

Note: I did notice anytime I ran a strip 12" long through the Big Shot with the Swirl Sizzlit it came out wavey, the paper itself was no longer flat. But when I sent it through in shorter pieces, like 8" long, this didn't happen. So unless you need the entire 12" length as I did in my Pool Pals layout, I suggest using the shortest piece that will work for your project.

One of the great things about this technique is if your a card maker you get lots of wave pieces from one pass through the Big Shot.

If you'd like to make a wave or two yourself here is the recipe for this card.

Catch the Wave Card Recipe (one per page)
Catch the Wave Card Recipe (four per page)

Swirl 113456 $19.95 pg. 198 of the Spring Summer 2009 Idea Book & Catalog

I'm so proud . . .

Why am I so proud you ask? Well I finally got back to scrapbooking. I find myself in the same predicament as most moms.  We really have the desire to scrapbook but just have trouble finding the time.

Well I decided to put the things I really should have been doing on hold for a few hours and made this awesome page, if I do say so myself. Even though I really did have other things I needed to get done; I always feel great when I take a little time to do something I "want" to do, rather than what I should be doing.

I used a few patterned papers from the Hoppy Memories SSK (Simply Scrappin' Kit), along with cardstock, the Life's A Breeze Stamp Set (no longer available after June 30th) and the Big Deal Alphabet (also retiring June 30th).

The real WOW in this page is how I made the waves at the bottom of the pages, but that shall remain a secret for a little while longer.

Check back soon for a card using the same stamp set and the Wave Technique (originated by Andrea Walford). I'll have step by step photos of how to create your own waves.

Pool Pals 12x12 Double Layout Recipe Card (one per page)
Pool Pals 12x12 Double Layout Recipe Card (four per page)

June Technique Club

The first half of Technique Club met last night and really enjoyed the projects.  The second half of Technique Club will meet this Saturday morning from 9am to Noon.  Please email or call me if you'd like to attend Saturday, everyone is welcome even if you don't belong to the club and the cost is only $5.

These water color roses have been hot, hot, hot among the stamping community in the last couple months.  Everyone is so amazed once the rose dries at how beautiful it turned out. The secret to this technique is lots of water and Stampin' Ups! Shimmer White Paper.

Water Color Rose Card (one per page)
Water Color Rose Card Recipe (four per page)

I love this card! It is so fun. Though I used different stamps and paper I CASED this card from Candice Aguilar. If you like it as much as I do be sure to get the stamp set and wheel asap, they are both on the retiring list.

Click here to order them both (113504) Life's A Breeze and (116260) Somethin' Fishy online. 

Pocket Gel Card Template

Sun Fun Gel Card Recipe (one per page)
Sun Fun Gel Card Recipe (four per page)

So this card doesn't appear to have any fancy techniques, but looks can be deceiving! The top of the card is done using the Friendly Word Jumbo Wheel and so is the sentiment, "you've got a friend in me". This look is achieved by getting a second Friendly Words roller, peeling it from it's base and cutting the phrases out.  From there you can follow my unmounting tutorial to add the sticky to the back of each phrase stamp and use them with an acrylic block.

Double Friendly Words Card Recipe (one per page)
Double Friendly Words Card Recipe (four per page)

Don't forget to call or email me to reserve a seat in Saturday's Technique Class and you can complete all three of these gorgeous cards for only $5.

512-259-5575 or chris@forloveofpaper.com

Get'em before they're gone!

It's that time of year again! A brand new Stampin' Up! Catalog will be released on July 1st and to make room for the new we have to say good bye to some of our old favorites. The links below will take you to the Retiring Stamp Sets, Accessories and Decor Elements.

The items on these lists are available while supplies last or until June 30th.

Order your favorites before they're gone either online or by calling 512-259-5575 or emailing me chris@forloveofpaper.com.

Retiring Stamp Sets (Alphabetical)

Retiring Stamp Sets (Numberical)

Retiring Accessories

Retiring Decor Elements