Blossom Bunch

This is a cute card that is nice to have on hand for those unexpected occasions.  The flower is two punches with the new Blossoms Punch.  The first is glued flat on the card.  The second, I rolled the petals and attached with a couple glue dots just in the middle.  The final touch is the center dot, stamped with Mixed Blossoms set, punched with 3/4" Circle Punch, attached with a Dimensional.  The center is then covered in Crystal Effects makes it look slick and shiny.

 

Supplies:
Stamp Set(s) - Mixed Bunch
Card Stock - Whisper White, Twitterpated DS
Ink - Basic Gray
Accessories - 3/4" Circle Punch, Crystal Effects, Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Blossom Punch, Big Shot, Adorning Accents Embossing Folders, Adorning Accents Edgelits Dies

Snowy Night

Out of all my Christmas cards I have made this year.  I think this is one of my favorite.  And it is much easier than it looks, just a little messy.  It is a little hard to tell from the picture (much more beautiful when your holding the real thing) but it is entirely coated in Dazzling Diamonds Glitter and sparkles like the beautiful wintry nights.
 

Here is a better picture of the sparkle.

Now for how to create this beauty.  First stamp your images on Whisper White.  Lots of sets will work, however, I used trees from Plant Hope and Lovely As A Tree to create my forest.

Then punch out of scrap paper a 1-1/4" circle to use as a mask.

Using a Sponge Dauber and Night of Navy Ink, sponge your entire card EXCEPT your circle mask.  Be sure to keep your sponging ABOVE the snow line that the trees create.

Your mask creates the moon and your snow line creates the ground.  Don't worry about imperfections in your sponging as the glitter will hide most of that.  It is very important that all your stamping and such is completely done by this point.

Now take the Multi-Purpose Adhesive Sheets.  Cut them a 1/4" larger than your Whisper White.  Peel the backing off of the sticky sheet being careful not to touch the glue as much as possible because it will come off of the paper onto your fingers.

Place your stamped cardstock face down onto your Multi-Purpose Adhesive Sheet.

If you rub your finger along the edges of the Multi-Purpose Adhesive Sheet the extra glue will ball up and come off.  This saves you from having glue messes later.

Pour some Dazzling Diamonds Glitter into your Powder Pal.
 

 
Lay your stamped cardstock, glue side down, into your glitter.  Move it and shake it around to make sure the entire front side gets covered with glitter.
 

 If you have the brush that comes with the Powder Pal, it is good to use to brush off the excess glitter.  Now all you have to do is adhere it to the Night of Navy cardstock and your done!  Be sure to step back and admire this one :)

Supplies:
Stamp Set(s) - Lovely as a Tree, Plant Hope, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Card Stock - Whisper White, Night of Navy
Ink - Night of Navy
Accessories - 1-1/4" Circle Punch. Sponge Dauber, Multi-Purpose Adhesive Sheets, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Powder Pal

Give Thanks

Before we move into Christmas, I wanted to give you at least one Thanksgiving card.  I have to admit that Thanksgiving often gets over looked in my craft room.  Once I wrap up Halloween, I am just so excited I just straight into Christmas!  But this year, I did slow down and make a Thanksgiving card.  I had to as I was so inspired by the wreath in the Warmest of Wishes set!  Plus I had a perfect scripted saying from the Hand-Penned Holidays set!

(sorry the colors are so bad in this photo)

I used my markers and inked the leaves individually.  It takes time but gives a great fall look!

Supplies:
Stamp Set(s) - Warmest of Wishes, Hand-Penned Holidays
Card Stock - Soft Suede, Naturals Ivory, Lucky Limeade
Ink - Markers: Early Espresso, Soft Suede, Pumpkin Pie, Always Artichoke, Daffodil Delight
Accessories - Dimensionals, 2-3/8" Scallop Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder

Halloween Bat

I swapped for an adorable card like this at Convention.  I knew immediately I needed to do this for Halloween.  So Cute!

The bat is actually very easy.  The body and eyes are from the Owl Punch (just trim those feet off).  The wings are the 1-3/4" Circle punch cut in half and then punched at the bottom three times each with the 1/2" Circle Punch.

Supplies:
Stamp Set(s) - Teeny Tiny Wishes
Card Stock - Crumb Cake, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink - Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie
Accessories - Word Window, Modern Label, Big Shot, Spider Web Embossing Folder, Dimensionals, Owl Punch, 2-Way Glue, 1-3/4" Circle Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch

Halloween Pumpkin

I made this card with a Halloween Birthday in mind but then quickly realized you could change the Basic Black to Early Espresso or another shade of Brown and it becomes a Thanksgiving card!  How will you use it?

The pumpkin is as easy as punching out 5 ovals and glueing them together.  I sponged the edges of each of the ovals first for some added contrast.  The stem is a stamp from the Pines and Poinsettias set.

Got to LOVE the Boho Blossoms!  I distressed them by bending a lot to give them dimension and the glued them all together with single glue dots to allow the petals freedom.

Supplies:
Stamp Set(s) - Pines & Poinsettias, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Card Stock - Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black, Pear Pizzazz
Ink - Pumpkin Pie, Pear Pizzazz, Basic Black
Accessories - Sponge Daubers, Large Oval Punch, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, 3/16" Corner Punch, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

For Baby

I have several friends having babies so I set out to make a baby card.  Kids and babies are not my forte I must admit, but this is just adorable.  I took the idea from a card from convention.  I adjusted the card for a boy or a girl (forgot to take a picture of the pink one).  I think it is super cute!

Supplies:
Stamp Set(s) - Easy Events
Card Stock - Pool Party, Wild Wasabi, Naturals White
Ink - StazOn Black, Wild Wasabi, Pool Party, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red
Accessories - Powder Pal, 2-Way Glue, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, White Baker's Twine, 1-1/4" Wild Wasabi Stripe Ribbon, Dimensionals, 2-1/2" Circle Punch, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, Blender Pen

All Occasions Card Swap - Birthday

Prior to convention, I signed up for several organized swaps.  This card is for an All Occasions Swap which just means that your card could be for any occasion.
As I have been playing with the new In Colors, Wisteria Wonder has quickly become my favorite color.  Paired up with Elegant Eggplant it is to die for!  This card also features a favorite technique of mine, Emboss Resist with Embossing Folders and the Big Shot.

First you have to create your resist image.  I used Stampin' Up's Original Die, 3" Circle.  I used this die to cut a circle in chip board.

Once you have your image that you want resisted cut out, lay the Embossing Folder over the chip board to position where you want it.  Draw marks around the corners so you remember where it goes then remove it and put down removable two sided tape.

Position the Embossing Folder back to where you want it using the marks you drew.

Insert your paper inside the Embossing Folder.

The Big Shot should be set up so that you are on Tab 2.

Then place the chip board and Embossing Folder and finally a Cutting Board.  (So you will only use one Cutting Board).

When taping down an embossed image, it is best to put tape on the regular cardstock and then adhere the embossed image.  This will keep the pressure from flattening the embossing.

Supplies:
Stamp Set(s) - Aviary, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Card Stock - Elegant Eggplant, Wisteria Wonder, Whisper White
Ink - Wisteria Wonder, Early Espresso
Accessories - Rhinestones, 3" Circle Die, Big Shot, 2-3/8" Scallop Circle Punch, 1-3/4" Circle Punch, Word Window Punch, Lattice Lace Embossing Folder

Convention Swap - Always

Tomorrow I will be flying to Salt Lake City for Stampin' Up!'s annual Convention for its demonstrators.  While I am there I will be swapping cards with fellow demonstrators.  I am going to post up each of the swaps I created for conference along with a tutorial on how to make them.  I hope you enjoy them and I will post a full report on the conference when I get back.  For snip-its and pictures during the conference follow me, nicolebstampin, on Twitter.

This card is a swap that I created to swap with demonstrators I meet while out and about.  This is a very elegant card that would be great for weddings.

First Stamp the saying on Whisper White and punch it out using the Large Oval Punch.

Then punch out a Scallop Oval from Basic Black and adhere the saying to it.

On your Whisper White cardstock stamp 5 designs with Basic Black.

Tie 5/8" Basic Black Satin Ribbon in a knot and cut it so it is long enough to wrap around the Whisper White.

Tape the ribbon on the back with scotch tape, this saves ribbon.

All that is left is to assemble the card and add a small pearl on the saying for added elegance.

Supplies:
Stamp Set(s) - Always Elegant
Card Stock - Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink - Basic Black
Accessories - Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Basic Pearl, 5/8" Satin Black Ribbon

For Animal Lovers Everywhere

We recently adopted a beautiful kitten in need of a good, safe home.  Her name is Fidget.

As you can see, she is a special little girl with only three full legs.  But dont think that even remotely slows her down!  She is giving my other girls a run for their money.

After adopting her, I wanted to send the vet a card to thank her.  I made this card from an example I saw at Regionals.

A perfect tribute to animal lovers!  And the postage stamps are a great tutorial.

First Stamp your image on the cardstock.

Then, using a 1-in Square mask, Sponge color over the image.

Finish the image off with some color and a blender pen.

Punch the image out with the new Postage Stamp Punch!  I LOVE using the set Every Little Bit with the Postage Stamp Set as all the images fit perfectly and cover a variety of occasions!

Supplies:
Stamp Set(s) - Every Little Bit, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Card Stock - Whisper White, Basic Black
Ink - Stazon Black, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, More Mustard, Old Olive, Bashful Blue, Rose Red
Accessories - Postage Stamp Punch, Spounge Daubers, Blender Pen

Another tribute to a retiring stamp set, Simply Said.  This elegant card came from Stampin Connection, a wonderful site that is a community of Stampin' Up! Demonstrators to share wonderful ideas.  Just one of the many perks to being a demonstrator!

This card is made with one of my favorite color combos, Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive!  The cute accent flowers are made with Itty Bitty Bits set and coordinating punch set.  With a little Dimensionals they pop right out at you!

Tip - to get the flowers in a straight line, put a piece of paper over the cardstock before stamping.  The overlap will go on the paper and looks like you worked hard to line up the stamps!

Supplies:
Stamp Set(s) - Itty Bitty Bits, Vintage Vogue, Simply Said
Card Stock - Rich Razzleberry, Very Vanilla
Ink - Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry
Accessories - Itty Bitty Punch Pack, Corner Punch, Dimensionals

Time To Say Good Bye

Every June Stampin Up posts a retiring list.  this list contains all the stamp sets and products that will be officially retired July 1st.  As we move closer to that July 1st date I want to remind you to get your orders in ASAP.

Retiring Stamp Sets
Retiring Accessories
Retiring Definitively Decorative
Link to my site to place your order today!  http://nicolebstampin.stampinup.net/

Today's card is made with a stamp set that is retiring, Happy Together.  I just love these Quails.  The "white" in this card is actually Naturals White.  I am also featuring the new Triple Layer Flower Punch!

Supplies:
Stamp Set(s) - Happy Together
Card Stock - Marina Mist, Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, Naturals White
Ink - Marina Mist, Old Olive, Cajun Craze
Accessories - Three Layer Flower Punch, Dimensionals

Birthday for Men

Here is a great masculine birthday card for you.  I actually made this for my husband for his birthday.  The white layer is popped off the paper with dimensionals.  The red dots are from the Cupcake Punch.  Simple, fun, and looks delicious! 

Supplies:
Stamp Set(s) - Create a Cupcake
Card Stock - Early Espresso, Whisper White, Real Red, DS Brights Pattern Pack, So Saffron
Ink - Early Espresso, Real Red
Accessories - Cupcake Punch, Hearts Border, Itty Bitty Punch Pak, Demensionals

Father's Day

Here is another great masculine card and a Father's Day card.  I found this cute card on my Stamping Connection that is available just for demonstrators.  There are so many great ideas and so much support available!
This cards is pretty quick and easy.  Using the 1-1/4" Square Punch, I punched out Chocolate Chip and Bashful Blue squares.  The Bashful Blue was run through the Lattice Lace Embossing Folder first.  I attached the sentiment with Demensionals to get it to pop out over the squares.

Supplies:
Stamp Set(s) - All Holidays
Card Stock - Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue, Whisper White
Ink - Chocolate Chip
Accessories - Dimensionals, Big Shot, Lattice Lace Embossing Folder, 1-1/4" Square Punch

Sparkle and Bloom

This is the last quick and easy card I have for you using the Touch of Kindness set.  This is a little different as I have also used the Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch which is Fantastic!

The Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch gives you tons of combinations with three punch images from one punch!  Just set the button to the punch you want and punch!

Here are the three punches that result.  Two of the punches you get a flower and a ring!

I have jazzed it up with some Rhinestone bling!

Supplies:
Stamp Set(s) - Touch of Kindness
Card Stock - Daffodil Delight, Marina Mist, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Whisper White
Ink - Basic Black Marker, Stazon Black, Old Olive
Accessories - Blender Pen, Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch, 1/16" Circle Punch, Fire Rhinestones, Ice Rhinestones, Dimensionals