For Love of Paper

Too busy to attend traditional stamping classes?

 Do you get frustrated every time you think you’ve squeezed out a little time for yourself only to have something come up?

Then my new Virtual Technique Club is for you!

Watch the video to learn more and see a complete sample Technique Class on water coloring using Classic Ink Pads.

 

Greeting Card Kids Valentine Quick Reference Sheet

 

Click here to join now!

 

Here's what past Technique Club Members are saying.

"Chris is inspiring and offers lots of creative ideas!  I was a "newbie" to the card making world when I started her technique club.  Chris thoroughly explained the hows and whys of each new technique we were learning.  She gives you lots of tips and doesn't limit the crafting to cards/scrapbooks; she extends the crafting to lots of mediums.  I absolutely enjoyed it and would do it again!"

Terri S.

"I loved technique club. It was a great opportunity to learn new and different ways to use products, or how to use tools that I may have never tried before. I liked that I could look at techniques online, but then ask you to add it to technique club so that I could get a chance to try it and learn more about how to do it. Sometimes I'd even learn a better or easier way to do things! You are very good at explaining how to do projects in a way that I find easy to understand."

Jen J.

Click here to join now!

International Customers & SU! Demonstrators

If you are an international customer or fellow SU! Demonstrator I will be announcing a way for you to get access to these projects without purchasing product.

Hurry, one day only!

Get over 200 card samples FREE!

Today only, receive a FREE copy of my latest CD, Creative Inspiration for Card Makers: Volume I, with any online order of $50 or more.

What is "Creative Inspiration for Card Makers"?

• A CD that can be played on your computer or TV through a DVD player containing over 200 card samples created by yours truely using only Stampin' Up! products.

This CD will save you tons of time and money.

• You'll no longer spend hours searching the internet or hundreds of dollars on magazines looking for inspiration. On this CD you'll find card samples for nearly every occassion plus they are neatly organized into categories.

The Creative Inspiration for Card Makers: Volume I CD normally sells for $19.95, but today only you'll receive it FREE with any online order of $50 or more (before tax and shipping).

It's still not too late to get supplies to make holiday cards and gifts or to purchase supplies for your favorite paper crafter.  

Click here to place your order and get your FREE inspiration CD today!

Joy at Christmas: How to turn a nice card into a WOW card.

I just love this card. It was created by my awesome downline Jackie K. Can you believe she made about 40 of these? This was one of her swaps at the Stampin' Up! Regional Convention in Ft. Worth.

While the general layout of this card is simple and straight forward, it's the extra touches she put in each step that make it stand out.

Here's what I mean.

• The Cherry Cobbler CS on the top was embossed with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder.
• The Vanilla Seam Binding was rouched.
• The stamp used for the focal point (Perfect Punches) was stamped twice, once in Cherry Cobbler and once in Always Artichoke, then punched and layered using Stampin' Dimensionals.
• Instead of adding another layer of plain cardstock to the bottom she chose one of the wonderful patterned papers from the Deck the Halls Designer Series Paper.

More often than not adding little touches like these are the difference between a nice card and one that makes you say "WOW!"

The next time you feel something isn't quite right on your project try stepping up one or two areas. I bet you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Supplies

Stamps: Perfect Punches

Inks: Cherry Cobbler and Always Artichoke

Papers: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler and Deck the Halls DSP

Other: Vanilla Seam Binding, Sticky Strip, Stampin' Dimensionals, 1 3/4" Scallop Circle and 1 3/8" Circle Punches

Make Over Monday: Simple Tissue Paper Flower

I hope everyone enjoyed the nine days of Father's Day Frenzy! I have to say I have really enjoyed the week. As the days went by I thought of even more Father's Day ideas. I think I probably could have done Father's Day Frenzy Month, lol. But I figure after so many days of masculinity yall might enjoy something with flowers which brings me to todays Make Over Monday card.

I was inspired by this card created by Starla Nelson. For some time I've been seeing flowers made by scrunching up tissue paper. Then when I saw Starla's card the vision hit.

This card was so fast. One stamp, a little punching, ribbon and embellishments and viola a ten minute miracle.

How to make a tissue paper flower:

To make the flower just punch 6 to 8 layers of tissue paper. The easiest way to do this is to put about four layers of tissue paper between two sheets of copy paper or notebook paper and punch. Then punch or poke a hole for the brad through all the layers of tissue, insert the brad and scrunch, squish and fluff the flower.

The brad in the center of the flower is a combination piece. First I inserted a 5/8" silver brad and then used a couple mini glue dots to attach the large flat backed pear from the Pretties Kit.

As I was working on this blog post and looking at Starla's card again I got to thinking it would have been a nice touch to stamp a little swirl or something on the red tissue with some gold or silver Encore ink to give it a bit more texture. This usually happens. Once I finish a project I think of something I could have done to make it just a little better. Sometimes I'll take it apart or remake it and other times I just tuck the thought away for another project.

My challenge to you for the day is to do something simple.

 

Supplies

Stamps: Pretty Petals (111008)

Inks: Basic Black (101179)

Paper: Very Vanilla (101650) and Basic Black (102851)

Other: Eyelet Border Punch (113692), XL Fancy Flower Punch (118073), 5/8" Jumbo Brad (112533), Pretties Kit (109114), Valet Ribbon Originals (retired)

Where to find card making ideas.

When people find out I make cards they often comment that they couldn’t do that. They automatically assume every card I create is something I came up with but the truth of the matter is anyone can make cards and you don’t have to come up with the ideas yourself. The world is full of ideas and inspiration and lots of them for little or no cost. So where do I find ideas and inspiration?

Click here to read more.

Father's Day Frenzy

I wanted to let everyone know next week I will not be doing my regularly scheduled blog posts and instead will be posting a Father's Day Frenzy of ideas. Beginning tomorrow, Saturday, May 15th, for nine consecutive days I will be showing you examples of things you can make for dad. Be sure to come back each day for new ideas to show dear old dad just how much you love and appreciate him.

Leave comments & win!

Be sure to leave comments each time you visit. For every comment you leave you will be entered into a drawing to win a pick from my stamping goodie basket full of stamp sets.

Get the instructions for all nine projects!

Also be sure you're signed up for my monthly INKspirations Newsletter. At the end of the nine days I will be sending all newsletter subscribers links to directions on each project.

Do you need some inspiration to get your creative juices flowing?

How about over 200 ideas all conveniently located in one place using the products you love?

 

Don’t you just hate it when you finally have time to sit down and create only to find yourself spending most of your precious time stuck, wondering where to begin. Often times we just need a place to start, a jumping off point. Would one CD with over 200 starting points get your creative juices flowing?

The new “Creative Inspiration for Card Makers” CD contains over 200 card samples all created by yours truly using only Stampin’ Up! products and supplies.

For less than ten cents per card sample you will have all of these ideas on one easy to maneuver CD. Saving you lots of time. No more searching the internet or though magazine after magazine looking for inspiration.  

With so many card samples you’re sure to find plenty that fit your style.  

If this sounds great but you're thinking to yourself I need inspiration right now you're in luck. As soon as you place your order you'll have access to 10 bonus card samples right away.  

Click the button below to order your copy of “Creative Inspiration for Card Makers” and immediately receive your 10 bonus card samples.

Creative Inspiration for Cardmakers: Vol I on CD

$19.95

Make Over Monday: Vintage Daisy

What is Make Over Monday?

Each Monday I choose a card, project or scrapbook page created by someone else and recreate it using only Stampin' Up! supplies I have on hand.

One of the great things about Make Over Monday is that it often forces me out of my comfort zone. If not for challenging myself to recreate this card done by Alice Wertz, I never would have put these papers together. Especially not in this manner.

As you can see my card isn't a direct copy of hers. I chose to leave off the butterfly and to attach my Top Note Die Cut onto a regular size card in Kraft. Remember if you see something you like you don't have to copy it element for element. Just use it as a jumping off point.

While my card is different I love the cute vintage feel it turned out to have.

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Thank You Kindly

Inks: Basic Black and Close to Cocoa Classic Ink and Stampin' Write Marker

Paper: Kraft, Sweet Pea DSP, Whisper White and Certainly Celery

Other: Sizzix Big Shot, Top Note Die, Birds & Blooms Sizzlits (leaf), Scallop Circle Punch and Jumbo Chocolate Brad

My challenge to you is find a card, project or scrapbook page you like but is a little outside of your comfort zone and make it your own.

Make Over Monday: Stitched Flower Card

One of the hottest trends in paper crafting is sewing. (Hmm, that sorta sounds like an oxymoron.) Anyway, when I saw the original card done by Melyssa Connoly I was immediately attracted to the stitching.

I decided to use two types of stitching on my card. Both started with piercing holes using the Mat Pack as a guide. The holes I had pierced for the flower stems I actually stitched using a needle and embroidery floss. The red stitching around the outer edge of the card isn't actually stitching at all. The wholes left from the paper piercer were just connected using a Real Red Stampin' Write Marker. 

Stitching on paper can also be done using a sewing machine. It's super easy and very quick if your sewing machine is already out. I remember in middle school home economics class we were taught to sew first on paper and then moved up to fabric, so it has to be easy.

Be sure to stop back tomorrow. I'll have a quick tutorial on the Mat Pack and adding stitching to your projects.

Supply List

Stamps: Whimsical Words

Inks: Bashful Blue, Crushed Curry, Basic Black and Certainly Celery Classic Ink, Real Red Stampin' Write Marker

Paper: Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery and So Saffron

Other: Sponges, non-SU buttons, white crochet thread, green embroidery floss, Sizzix Big Shot and Stampin' Up! Birds & Blooms Sizzlits, Mat Pack and hole piercer, 1/4" Red Grosgrain Ribbon and Large Oval Punch

More Sale-a-bration Extravaganza Photos

I thought yall might enjoy seeing a few more photos from our Sale-a-bration Extravaganza Event. It was great fun. This is the second year we've held this event and we're sure to do it again next year!

 

One of my favorite customers, Alice with my mom, Belinda

This card was created by fellow demonstrator, Melissa Smith and features the 2 Step Bird Punch. A very versatile tool!

Another Scallop Square Rag Purse done by fellow demonstrator Carol Bardin.

Wonderful layouts done by fellow demonstrator Lisa Besler. She created these using My Digital Studio.