Valentine from a friend

I wanted to share the Valentine I received from my good friend and fellow demonstrator Kari Downing.  What a smile it brought to me and my husband!  Thank you Kari!

My Valentine's Day Card

Every year, for every occasion my husband will make me a card. He knows that I make cards and would much rather get any type of homemade card over a store bought card from him (seems silly with a room FULL of supplies and even made cards). Usually it is a piece of printer paper folded into fourths and drawn on, and I Love them! This year, without me knowing, he got into the "Dude, Your Welcome" kit to make me a card. Though I did have a good laugh because he gave me the card without an envelope. I asked him why he didn't use one from the kit and he response was, how was he supposed to know that everything he needed was in the kit, it was too complicated LOL! He had actually found a piece of white card stock, cut it in half with my cutter, scored it with my cutter, then opened the kit for the stamp and ink. He used one of my markers, Ridinghood Red (or as he called it little red riding hood one), to draw on the front and write the Very Endearing message on the inside. Like always, the card was the highlight of the gift.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Downline Swap Cards

I wanted to share the cute cards I got from a swap with my Downline.  They are so talented!

 

Jill Perkins

 

Kathy Johnson

 

Carol Johnson

 

Marge McGuire

Happy Valentine's Day

I received this simple but adorable card in a swap at Leadership.  The simplicity is perfect!  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Supplies:
Stamp Set(s) - Hearts of Flutter, Wacky Wishes
Card Stock - Real Red, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Brights Designer Series Paper Pack
Ink - Real Red, Pretty in Pink
Accessories -Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine, Dimensionals, Heart Punch

Emboss Resist Technique

Time is flying isn't it!  I am already doing Valentine's Day cards!  This card is simply beautiful.  I cased my own card for this one (see here).  This card uses the Emboss Resist Technique that I am going to teach you today!

Here is whatcha do:

First Emboss
Rub embossing buddy over cardstock. 

Ink up your stamp with Versamark ink, then stamp onto cardstock. 

Sprinkle clear embossing powder over image, and tap off excess. 

If you look closely you can see the hearts.

Use a heat tool to set image. 

Then Resist
Choose one or more colors of classic ink.  Ink up a sponge dauber and use a light hand and a swirling motion to ink the embossed image.  Continue sponging till the desired area is filled with color. 

You can even stamp over it.

Using a paper towel or tissue, rub the embossed area till the ink is gone.  Stamps will appear to be behind the embossed image.

Supplies:
Stamp Set(s) - Hearts a Flutter, Elements of Style
Card Stock - Raspberry Ripple, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White
Ink - Raspberry Ripple, Versamark
Accessories - Embossing Buddy, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Sponge Dauber

Bordering on Romance

I have to admit, I love the new Adorning Accents Dies and Embossing Folders!  The next two cards I am going to post use these.  I know that these types of dies are not new to the crafting world but they are new to Stampin' Up!  And, as SU always does, they did it one better than what has been done till now.  Not only can you buy these great edgelits that you can use with your Big Shot to cut out borders and trim but you can also emboss the image and stamp the image with the coordinating products!  I think that is what I LOVE the most about SU, how everything coordinates!

This card uses the Adorning Accents Die and the coordinating set, Bordering on Romance, to create a border accent on the card.  This is a simple and elegant card.  As is, it can be used for Valentine's Day or any other occasion.  If you wish, you can add a small saying at the bottom.

Supplies:
Stamp Set(s) - Bordering on Romance
Card Stock - Real Red, Whisper White
Ink - Real Red
Accessories - Whisper White Organza Ribbon, Big Shot, Glue Dots, Adorning Accents Edgelits

Love Valentine's

Valentine's Day is right around the corner!  Here is a quick and easy Valentine's Day card to make for your loved ones.

Supplies:
Stamp Set(s) - Take it to Heart, Outlined Occasions
Card Stock - Whisper White
Ink - Real Red
Accessories - Big Shot, Hearts Collection Framelits, Adorning Accents Embossing Folder, Dimensionals, Real Red 5/8" Satin Ribbon

Valentine's Is Coming!

YIKES!  Where did the time go!  Sorry I haven't posted in a while!  I am back on track and creating some fun projects.  I can't wait to share them with you!  Valentine's Day is coming up and it is another holiday for great cards.  I had a lot of fun making this one, I think it is very cute!

Supplies:
Stamp Set(s) - Take it to Heart, Tiny Tags
Card Stock - Bashful Blue, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White
Ink - Cherry Cobbler
Accessories - Dimensionals, Adorning Accents Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Tag Punch, Cherry Cobbler Bakers Twine, Hearts Collection Framelits, 1/16" Circle Punch

February Birthday

As you should know by now, every month I do a birthday card for each of my birthdays and it is themed around the month.  Here is this months card.  I actually got this idea from a demonstrator in a group I belong to here in Southwest Florida.  We made a card like this a year ago and as I was flipping through my binder of cards past, I saw it and decided to change up the colors and resurrect the idea.  That is why I always recommend keeping I of each card you make for yourself.  It doesn't have to be a hard copy either.  I use this blog as a record of ideas as well.

My little trick technique on this card is the triangle cut of the words banner.  I have a hard time free hand cutting the shape so I use a square punch to do it for me!

Supplies:
Stamp Set(s) - Curly Cute
Card Stock - Rich Razzleberry, Pretty In Pink, Whisper White
Ink - Rich Razzleberry
Accessories - Big Shot, Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit, Scallop Trim Border, 1-1/4 Square Punch (or scissors)

Defining Valentines Day

When I first laid eyes on the Occasions Mini Catalog, I knew I was buying the Valentine Defined set.  I just loved it!  And living in Florida made me desperately want the flamingos!  Its a Florida Requirement.  I dove in when I got it and made this card.  I got the idea from the Stampin Up Demonstrator community from a demonstrator named Michele Reynolds.  I am a huge fan!

It is a fairly simple card but with lots of layers.  The hardest part is the bow.  I actually just taped a hunk of ribbon around the cardstock and then once the card was all assembled, I tied a little bow and attached it with a glue dot.  The small heart at the bottom is punched out of the Red Glimmer Paper.  I am a HUGE fan as I love to add dimension, in this case textural, but hate to actually glitter as it is so messy!

Supplies:
Stamp Set(s) - Valentine Defined
Card Stock - Real Red, Basic Black, Whisper White, Red Glimmer
Ink - Basic Black, Real Red
Accessories - Small Heart Punch, Pinking Hearts Border Punch, 1/8" Black Taffeta Ribbon

Valentine's Day Share

I wanted to share with you the Valentine's Cards my husband and I swapped.

My card came from the Stampin' Success magazine that demonstrators receive.  I saw the fishes and just HAD to do that for my wonderful husband.  I thought they were SO cute and they were super simple and fun to make. The fish were made from the Ornament Punch and Delightful Decorations Set.  The fins were cut off parts of the Scallop Oval Punch.  And the eyes were the 1/2" Circle Punch and the retired 1/4" Circle Punch.  The heart was from the Heart to Heart Punch and both the fish and the heart were attached to the card with Dimensionals.

Now for the best part, my husband knows that I MUCH prefer handmade cards to store bought cards.  So from day one all cards from him have been his own style of card.  I always look forward to a card from him as I know it comes from the heart.  Here is the card he made me this Valentine's Day.

He also does Origami pretty well.  The heart is an origami heart attached to the card.  He is definitely a keeper.  And check out the back.

It is a little bit blurry.  It is a play off of the stamp I use on the back of my cards that says Stamped with Love and Nicole in the middle.

Supplies for the Fish Card:
Stamp Set(s) - Delightful Decorations, With All My Heart
Card Stock - Soft Suede, Rose Red, Whisper White
Ink - Soft Suede, Rose Red, Basic Black Marker
Accessories - Ornament Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, 1/4" Circle Punch (retired), Heart to Heart Punch, Dimensionals, Scallop Trim Punch, 1/4" White Grosgrain Ribbon

All My Heart with Pretties

I am almost done with Valentine's Day cards but I have a few more to show you.  Sorry for the glare on the picture, I forgot to get the pic until After I put and sealed it in a cello bag.

This almost has too much going on for me, but I still like it.  I think the Pretties flower really adds something.  Of course the DS paper has that wonderful glitter on it!  Love it! 

Supplies:
Stamp Set(s) - With All My Heart
Card Stock - Real Red, Whisper White, Specialty DS Sending Love
Ink - Real Red
Accessories - Pretties Kit, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, 1/16" Circle Punch, Sending Love Real Red 1/2" Epoxy Brads, 3/8" Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon

Punched Hearts Valentine

Valentine's Day is right around the corner are you ready for it?  Here is a very quick card that looks just beautiful!  You can whip these up in no time and be ready to go.  I CASEd this card from Dreena, I just LOVE her work!

Start with a white card base. Cut about a 1/4" off the bottom on the front of the card. Punch out the hearts. Attach a piece of DS paper to the inside of the card. The trick is to put adhesive on the white so not to have adhesive show through the punched image. Take a 1" wide piece of card stock and punch out the border. Then attach it to the bottom of the card. Tie a ribbon on top and you're done! Easy Breezy.

An alternative is to cut the DS paper the full size of the card front and then punch the border from it. When you adhere it to the back the color and trim will show on the bottom. I thought of that after I made up a bunch of the card. It would have made it even easier to complete.

Supplies:

Stamp Set(s) - None
Card Stock - Whisper White, Real Red, DS Specialty Sending Love
Ink - None
Accessories - Scallop Trim Punch, Heart to Heart Punch, 5/8" Satin Pretty in Pink Ribbon

Love Bug Valentine's

Another idea I got from cards on the new Demonstrator Stampin' Community.  This community is one more of the many benefits to being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.  Go to my website to learn more about being a Demonstrator and sign up today.  The password is nicolebstampin.

I just love this set.  This is a Level 1 Hostess Set that you can earn when you have a workshop!  As I had about ran out of Real Red and Pretty In Pink making other Valentine cards I decide to make this another non-traditional card.

It came out perfect right until I was all done and was packing up my supplies.  I proceeded to drop one of the stamps and made the mark that you see just above the ribbon on the left (never fails).  Despite the oops, I still love this card.  The little hearts on the top were made using the Heart to Heart Punch.  I also used the Heart to Heart punch after stamping love bugs on the Bashful Blue Heart.  The dots below the bugs on the Pumpkin Pie were made using the Paper Piercing Tool and Mat Pack.  I colored the bugs in with Watercolor Pencils.  In hindsight I wished I would have put the blue love bug heart on with a dimensional.  Let me know what you think of the card!

Supplies:
Stamp Set(s) - Love Bug
Card Stock - Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue, Whisper White
Ink - Basic Black
Accessories - Watercolor Pencils, Paper-Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, Heart to Heart Punch, 1 1/4" Old Olive Striped Grosgrain Ribbon

Valentine's Day Treats

As we are now officially in February (I can not believe it is February all ready!) I thought I would post an easy treat idea for all those parties coming up.  I got this idea from Andrea Walford.  I used this as a door prize at my January Workshops.  They were a hit!

I used the Love You Much set and think it is fun to have the hugs & kisses stamped tag over Kisses candy.  I used the Real Red marker to color just the parts I wanted from that stamp.

Supplies:
Stamp Set(s) - Love You Much
Card Stock - Whisper White, Real Red
Ink - Real Red
Accessories - Real Red 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Big Shot, Two Tagz Die, Cello Bags

Non-Standard Valentine Card

Here is a non-standard Valentine's Card.  I was working with my new set With All My Heart for the current Occasions Mini Catalog and realize that all my cards were with Real Red and Pretty In Pink.  So I visited the new Demonstrator Stampin' Community and found a card that used Bashful Blue and Chocolate Chip.  I fell in love and adapted it to make this one.  Sorry for the glare, I had put it in a cello bag then realized I didnt take a picture! 

Demonstrator Tip.  I love to create 4 or 5 cards made from a stamp set that I am demoing.  I put them in a cello bag with a topper that names the set, tells what page it is on in the catalog, and how much it costs.  On the back I stamp out each of the images that are included in the set.

Supplies:
Stamp Set(s) - With All My Heart
Card Stock - Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Ink - Bashful Blue
Accessories - Big Shot, Two Tagz Die, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, 1/1/2" Circle Punch, Clear Blocks, Scallop Edge Punch, Playground Designer Buttons

January Stamp-A-Stack

Saturday was my monthly Stamp-A-Stack.  I have a great time with my girls.  I absolutely love getting together with others and making a bunch of cards!  Check out this month's projects.
I had a lot of fun making the cards for the class, but I will admit they were all CASEd (some exactly).  I am still learning to trust my instincts so I still use ideas I see from some of my wonderful bloggers I follow.  All these ideas came from one lady, Ruth.  She is very talented.  Check out her blog.

This first card (Butterfly Friends) I found here.  I am in love with the Beautiful Wings Embosslit!  Not only does it punch them out but it Embosses on the too.  I used two different colors, Pretty In Pink and Very Vanilla.  After I used the Big Shot, I rubbed a sponge dauber in Pretty In Pink ink and sponged over them.  The embossing grabbed the ink to highlight it even more.  My customers also had fun with the clear block stamps.  I had precut all the cardstock so they used the clear blocks for stamp the saying.  Everyone got it straight!  It is a little hard to tell from the picture but the DS paper I used had glitter, what a nice touch that adds to the card!

Supplies:
Stamp Set(s) - Vintage Vogue
Card Stock - Real Red, Pretty In Pink, Very Vanilla, Sending Love DS
Ink - Pretty in Pink
Accessories -Big Shot, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Sponge Daubers, Dimensionals, 1 1/4" Square Punch, 1 3/8" Square Punch, Clear Blocks

My Second Card (Life Happens) came from here.  When I saw this card I just fell in love and had to make it myself.  I changed up the colors some from the original.  I LOVE the color blue so it probably helped to draw me to this card.  I want to make a 100 of them and send them to everyone I know; however, the flower is hand cut out so I will not be making that many ;) 

Supplies:
Stamp Set(s) - Vintage Vogue, Very Vintage Wheel Jumbo
Card Stock - Brilliant Blue, Kraft, Whisper White
Ink - Brilliant Blue, Jumbo Brilliant Blue Cartridge
Accessories -Clear Block, Paper Snips, 5/8" Satin Ribbon Bashful Blue, Vintage Brads, Jumbo Handle, Dimensionals, Scallop Edge Punch

The last card (Friends) came from here.  I found this card long ago and loved it so I tucked the idea way for a time when I could use it.  This was the first card I made when I got the Big Shot for Christmas.  It was also the very first time using my clear block stamps.  I was quick and careless and managed to get the saying crooked despite having a flawless method of getting it straight :D  I used the DS paper again to add glitter to the card (LOVE this paper!)

Supplies:
Stamp Set(s) - With All My Heart
Card Stock - Whisper White, Real Red, Pretty in Pink, Sending Love DS
Ink - Real Red
Accessories -Big Shot, Bigz Two Tags, Clear Blacks, 1 1/4 Punch Circle, 1 3/8 Punch Circle, Scallop Circle Punch, 1/16" Punch Circle, 3/8" White Taffeta Ribbon

With All My Heart Card

I am having a great time preparing for Valentine's Day! I love making cards and Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays (right after Christmas). I will be posting many Valentine's Day cards but here is my first one of the season!

I got the Sending Love Speciality Designer Series Paper and I just LOVE it! Every page in the pack has glitter on one side of the paper. It makes adding dimension and bling to cards and scrapbook pages so easy!

On this card you will notice the 'with all my' stamped sideways. Notice that it is perfectly straight? I didn't use the Stamp-A-Majig, I used our new clear blocks and repositionable rubber! They are so easy to use, so convenient, and still the same great Stampin' Up! quality! For the heart, I cut it out by hand and attached it using Dimensionals to have it 'pop' off the card.


Supplies:
Stamp Set(s) - Love You Much, With All My Heart
Card Stock - Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, So Saffron, DS Sending Love Specialty
Ink - Basic Brown; So Saffron and Pretty in Pink Markers
Accessories -5/8" Pretty in Pink Grosgrain Ribbon, Chocolate Chip Corduroy Buttons, Dimensionals

Decor Elements

Stampin' Up! offers a line of Decor Elements. They are Great for home decor. You can view the new catalog here. I have had a great time decorating my home with them. Now you can make Decor Elements your own by creating your own vinyl images using the Decor Elements sheets and your Big Shot or Punches.


Each package comes with 2 sheets of vinyl, along with two sheets of transfer tape (approx. 14-1/4" x 24"). There are 20 different colors available along with chalkboard and clear. They are currently not listed in any catalog; however, can be found online so visit my store today.

For today's project, I used these Vinyl Sheets to decorate a mini mailbox for Valentine's Day. I used Rose Red and Pretty in Pink. This is what they look like when they come to you.


Next I used my punches to punch out some hearts.

Then I cut the transfer paper into squares that would fit my hearts.

To attach the transfer paper you just peel off the backing and then stick to the color side of the vinyl paper images.

From here you remove the back of the vinyl image making sure not to touch the sticky image or have it fold onto itself. Stick the image to where you want to apply it and rub on the transfer paper with the Decor Applicator or Bone Folder.

When you remove the transfer paper you have your image, just as simple as that!

You can decorate all sorts of items! Check out my completed mailbox. I am already to receive Valentine's Day cards!

Supplies:
Card Stock - Decor Elements Sheets - Pretty in Pink, Rose Red
Accessories -Large Heart Punch, 3 Hearts Punch, Decor Applicator or Bone Folder

*I found the mailbox in a dollar bin at Target