Furever Valentine

First day back at work after two weeks off and I feel like I never left...hmmm...

Fortunately I did enough stamping over the weekend to provide enough blog material for the week.  Today's post is another card I did using the Friends Furever set.  I'm starting to do Valentine-themed cards in preparation for this month's classes and workshops.  So here is one candidate...

Cute Valentine using Friends Furever set and Playdate DSP!

Close up of the little doggie with his Valentine

Sentiment and retired epoxy brads I purchased during the online Clearance Rack Blitz!

Inside of card

Close up of sentiment from the Valentine Defined set in the new Occasions Mini.

I like this card because it is one you could send to pretty much anyone.  I also like that it is clean and simple...something I haven't done much of lately!  Here is what I did:

I started with a small piece of watercolour paper on which I stamped the images using Staz-On ink.  (I had to mask the dog to get the Valentine to look like he was holding on to it.)  I coloured the images using my blender pen and ink pads in real red and basic grey.  I sponged all the way around the edges of the watercolour paper with real red ink and then adhered it to a slightly larger piece of basic gray cardstock.  Then I took a piece of basic gray cardstock and layered the heart patterned paper from the Play Date DSP pack on it.  I then adhered the focal image using dimensionals.  The I added the brads and then adhered the whole thing to a real red card base.  The sentiment is stamped using basic gray ink on whisper white cardstock and is punched out with the medium jewelry tag punch.  I adhered it to the back of the middle brad with a glue dot.
For the inside of the card, I adhered a 4 x 5 1/4" piece of whisper white cardstock to the inside of the card and then added a narrow strip of the DSP along the left edge.  I stamped the sentiment in basic gray, cut it out using my paper trimmer and sponged the edges in real red ink.  I stamped the first part of the sentiment again, inking it with my real red marker, and then punched it out with the word window punch.  I adhered that piece to the basic gray sentiment using dimensionals.  I layered the whole thing on a decorative label punch out in real red, popping it up again with dimensionals.  Then I glued the whole thing inside my card.

This was a quick and easy card, even with the bit of colouring and masking.  It may just make my monthly card class line-up!  Tomorrow is my team meeting, so I likely won't have time to post, but I'll be back on Wednesday with more Valentine ideas.

I Can't Believe its over!

How is it that two weeks can fly by so quickly when one is on holidays, yet they crawl when one is at work?  I simply can't believe I have to go back to work tomorrow!  I could SO use another couple of days to get caught up on all those household jobs that never seem to get done when one is working (you know...cleaning out closets, reorganizing etc).  I had a huge list and haven't even touched it!  Between Christmas preparations, visits with family and a wedding to attend, my list will have to wait until March break, I'm afraid.
I did manage to get some stamping time in and have some things to show you.  I'll start where I left off a couple of posts ago and show you the card my son and I did for my mom's birthday.  Well, he chose the stamp set and paper, I did the rest!

Card for grandma from my 3 year old using Friends Furever set

Close up of the cute little doggie focal image.

Inside of card with what my son told me to write to his Grammy.  This is a recordable sound card, hence the "press here" at the bottom.  We recorded my son singing Happy Birthday...my mom will LOVE it!

When the new catty came out last July one of the first sets that jumped out at me was Friends Furever...I just loved the little dogs and all the accessories that make this set so versatile.  I recently earned some free stamp sets through the Stampin' Start program and I finally got my hands on this sweet set.  When I asked my son to choose stamps to make Grammy's birthday card I was mighty pleased that this was the one he chose!  He also chose the Play Date DSP which made this card really easy to put together. Here is what I did...
Because I was using a recordable sound card, I began with a 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" piece of tempting turquoise cardstock.  I then layered a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of the DSP, which I had wrapped with a piece of so saffron grosgrain ribbon (left over from SAB 2 years ago!), on top.  For the focal image, I stamped the images on watercolour paper in black Staz-On and then coloured them using my blender pens and Stampin' Pastels.  I have to say I'm not the greatest when it comes to shading and colouring, but my mom won't notice!  I layered the coloured image on slightly larger pieces of so saffron and real red cardstock and then adhered them to the cardfront using dimensionals.  The sentiment is from the new Create a Cupcake set in the Occasions Mini.  I stamped it in tempting turquoise ink on whisper white cardstock, punched it out with the word window punch and then sponged the edges.  I adhered that to another word window punch out in real red and then adhered it to the card using dimensionals.  To add a little whimsy, I added a little real red button for the wheel of the wagon and three old olive buttons to the ribbon.
For the inside of the card I started the same way with tempting turquoise cardstock and Play Date DSP.  I then stamped the images on a larger piece of watercolour paper (the cakes are from the Birthday Bakery hostess level 1 set), and coloured them in the same way.  The sentiment is from another level one hostess set called Afterthoughts.  I punched it out and mounted it in the same way I did the sentiment on the front. 
My son was very pleased with how this turned out and must have played the recording of himself singing 15 times before I made him stop for fear he'd kill the battery before my mom even got the card!  I think she'll love it!

A sad start to 2011...

This morning we had a phone call from my husband's sister...they were supposed to be coming today for dinner.  She called to tell us that she had lost her baby...she was 21 weeks pregnant and had had a stillbirth.  We are all so sad...the loss of this little tiny baby came on the same day as my husband's late father's birthday.  If you are the praying-type, please keep my sister-in-law and her husband in your thoughts...they are struggling to make sense of it all. 
At times like this it is hard to know what to do, so I did what I do best...I made a card to send.  I know it won't even begin to heal the loss, but I hope it will remind them that they are not alone.  Here is the card I am going to send...

Card made using items from the new Occasions Mini including Clearly For You set

Close-up of focal image...the tiny butterfly for me represents the tiny baby

Inside of card...the two faded butterflies represent the grieving parents.

I actually made this cardfront the other day while at my upline's house playing with my stampin' buddies.  At the time I was just playing around with the new products, but when we got this news, I knew this was what I had made the card for.  I love the new Clearly For You stamp set...it has so many gorgeous images that are set off perfectly by the new beveled windowpanes.  The little butterfly signifies the tiny baby that will never take a breath or spread its wings. 
The inside sentiment was chosen by my husband.  I had wanted to use a sympathy sentiment, but my hubby, who experienced the loss of both his parents while still in his 20's, chose the simple "thinking of you" as  being one his sister would appreciate.  I stamped the two faded  butterflies to represent my sister-in-law and brother-in-law as they struggle to find meaning in their sadness. 
I really hope this brings them some small amount of comfort.  Please do send them comforting thoughts...

Happy New Year!!

Hello 2011...glad you're here!  Can't wait to see what surprises this year holds!  I hope you all had a great evening doing whatever you chose to do to see out 2010.  My husband and I were in bed by 11:30!!  Ever since we had our son we prioritize sleep over fun anytime of the year!  Good thing, 'cuz our little darling was up at 5:00 am!!
Now on to something interesting...a card using new products to start the new year.  I made this one for my mom's birthday which is coming up this week.  I think she'll like it because she is a real garden/outdoorsy person.

Card for my mom's 68th birthday using the new Nature Walk set from the occasions mini.

Close up of the gorgeous images in this set!

Inside of card with sentiment from another new set called Create a Cupcake.

This card is LOADED with new products, all of which will be available starting January 4th...just 3 days away!  For starters, I used the new Framed Tulips embossing folder.  This folder is perfectly sized  for a cardfront, but also works with slightly smaller sized layers, as I did on this card.  After embossing the crumb cake cardstock I ran my distressing tool all the way around the edges and then sponged lightly with crumb cake ink to highlight the pattern.  I then stamped the floral image which I had inked using my marina mist and old olive markers.  I added the Chantilly lace trim and tied it in a knot.  I layered this piece on a slightly larger piece of early espresso cardstock and  then adhered the whole thing to a marina mist card base. 
The bird is stamped in early espresso on very vanilla cardstock.  I cut it out and then lightly sponged it with crumb cake ink to soften the image slightly.  I adhered it using dimensionals.  The sentiment, from a retired set called Watercolour Trio,  is also stamped in early espresso on very vanilla cardstock and then punched out using the large oval.  I sponged the edges lightly using early espresso ink and then  layered it on a designer label in marina mist and a wide oval in early espresso.  The entire thing is adhered to the card using dimensionals.  The final touch is one of the big designer buttons that I threaded with marina mist 1/8" taffeta ribbon and adhered over the knot in the lace trim using Tombow glue.
For the inside of the card I embossed another piece of crumb cake cardstock with the Framed Tulips folder.  I then sponged it using early espresso ink and adhered it inside the card.  I stamped another floral image and then stamped again without reinking to get a shadow effect.  The sentiment is from the new Create a Cupcake set and is stamped in early espresso on very vanilla.  I punched it out using the wide oval, sponged it with more early espresso ink and then layered it on decorative label punch-outs in marina mist and early espresso.  It is adhered to the inside of the card using dimensionals.
I hope my mom likes this card...now I need to get busy making a card with my son for her!  I hope your first day of the new year is quiet and relaxing!

A Winter Wedding...

One of my colleagues at school is getting married tomorrow evening.  She is a wonderful teaching partner and friend and I am so excited and honoured to be attending her wedding.  I was also very honoured when she asked me to help her design her wedding invitations last spring.  She came over one afternoon and we played with some ideas until we came up with something she liked.  She then went off and made ALL of her invitations herself.  At the time she was a novice stamper but has certainly earned her stripes with this undertaking!  Check out this gorgeous invitation:

Winter wedding invitation using the Medallion background stamp.

Reverse side with reply cards and event information tucked neatly in.

Embossed snowflake from the retired Patterned Pines hostess set.

Didn't she do a terrific job on these?!?  I was so proud of her!  Her wedding colours are Soft Suede, Crumb Cake and Very Vanilla, so, knowing this, here is the card I made for her big day:

Wedding card using the Style Beautiful set

Close up of sentiment from Occasional Quotes Hostess set.

Close up of focal image and background.

Close up of vanilla rosettes and crumb cake seam binding ribbon (available Jan. 4th in the Occasions Mini!)

Inside of card

Close up of sentiment from a retired set I can't remember the name of right now!

So, I wanted this card to be as special as the recipients.  I started by creating the background for the focal image.  I basically followed the same technique as for the faux-mother-of-pearl technique in my previous post, but used champagne shimmer paint instead of white.  I sponged crumb cake and soft suede ink over the dry shimmer paint.  The result almost looks like marble, though the photo doesn't quite capture that!  I then stamped two of the images from the Style Beautiful set using timber brown Staz-On ink and layered it on a piece of brushed gold cardstock.  I added some pearls to give it that wedding-y elegance. I adhered that to a piece of very vanilla that I had embossed using my Big Shot and a texture plate from the Backgrounds #1 set and then lightly sponged with crumb cake ink.  Before adhering the whole thing to a textured soft suede card base, I wrapped some crumb cake seambinding ribbon and Chantilly Lace trim around opposite corners.  The sentiment is stamped in soft suede ink on very vanilla cardstock, punched out with the wide oval punch and then layered on a decorative label punch in brushed gold.  It is adhered using dimensionals and embellished with more pearls.  The final touch on the front of the card is the cluster of vanilla rosettes I embellished with still more pearls.  They are adhered using Tombow.
For the inside of the card, I used a piece of Elegant Soiree DSP and sponged the edges.  I then stamped one of the flourishes I used on the front of the card in soft suede.  The sentiment is stamped in soft suede on very vanilla cardstock and then punched out using the decorative label punch (can ya tell I REALLY like that punch?!?) and matted with two more decorative labels in brushed gold and soft suede.  Because I am addicted to embellishments, I had to add a few more pearls inside the card too.
I hope she likes this card and understands how much care went into it.  She will be a beautiful bride and I know it is going to be a great evening.  What a way to say good-bye to 2010!

Oh, what fun it is to play...

...with my stamps on Christmas Day!
Merry Christmas everyone!  I hope your day has been filled with loved ones, good food and good company.

Christmas in the Girsa household is a day I look forward to all year.  We are as low-key as it gets.  Our 3 year-old is  still working on unwrapping his presents...and it is nearly 6 pm!  He just has to play  with every single thing he opens and there is NO rushing him!  We've been asking him all afternoon if he'd like to open some more presents and we keep getting a polite "no thank you" in reply.  We will be unwrapping presents on New Years at this rate!  None the less, we have had a quiet day at home, no one has gotten out of their jammies and it has been absolute heaven!  No place to go, no one expecting us, just a calm, relaxing day at home.  Ahhhh....

And then there's the stamping...

Today was the first time in months that I have been able to just sit and play and boy, did I have fun!  While my son and husband played air hockey (one of many gifts Santa brought) behind me, I played with some of my neglected and unloved stamps.  I completed a few projects but I have to save some for later.  Here is my favourite of the bunch...

Card using faux mother-of-pearl technique

Close-up of new trinket keys from the Occasions mini...oooh I love 'em!

Close up of mother-of-pearl background and my fudged embossing that I actually kinda like!

Inside of card with sentiment from the Notably Ornate set.

Close up of inside sentiment

Ok, so remember how I mentioned my stampin' buddy Christine came over to play last week?  Well she showed me this cool technique that apparently is "everywhere" but I somehow missed.  It is called Faux-mother-of-pearl.  It looks so cool IRL, the photos just don't do it justice.  Here is how to create it:
Start with glossy white cardstock.  Using a bunched-up piece of plastic wrap (the kind you wrap your leftover turkey in) dab white frost shimmer paint randomly all over the cardstock.  Let the paint dry COMPLETELY and then sponge your choice of classic ink all over.  You can also use a brayer, but mine is currently dirty, so I used a sponge!  For this card the ink colours I used were Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink and Perfect Plum (in that order).  I love the soft, aged look that results. 

For this card I did a 3 1/2" x 3 1/2"  mother-of-pearl panel and then stamped the flourish image from a new set available FREE during Sale-a-bration called "Bliss".  I have to say that I am in L-O-V-E with this set!  Anyhow I digress...I stamped the flourish in Versamark and then embossed it with silver EP.  I forgot to use my embossing buddy (REALLY important because the shimmer paint is quite tacky and the EP sticks to it!!).  I tried to brush off as much as I could and then went ahead and heated it.  The result was a less-than-perfect image I actually quite like.  I think it works quite well with the background.  I mounted that on a brushed silver cardstock mat.  To put the card together I used Concord Crush cardstock and the DSP that comes in the Level One hostess pack.  The little flourishes on the Concord Crush at the bottom are from the Tiny Tags set and are stamped using White Frost shimmer paint again.  I like the way they tie in with the focal image.  My favourite thing about this card are the embellishments.  I love the shimmer brad (from the subtles set, available in the current and the up-coming Occasions Mini), the Basic Gray satin ribbon (retired from last summer's mini) and most of all, the trinket key (also available January 4th in the Occasions Mini.).  The keys are beautiful and so detailed...a truly lovely addition to any project.
As most of you know, I like to make the insides of my cards as pretty as the outside, so I stamped the same flourish vertically in concord crush that I had stamped off once.  The sentiment is from the Notably Ornate set and is stamped in full-strength concord crush, punched out with the modern label punch and then layered on a wide oval and a decorative label.  To add a bit of sparkle to the inside I added a couple of basic rhinestone gems. 
Not exactly a quick and easy card, but one I would love to give (and receive!).

Tomorrow we are heading to my parents' place up north for a couple of days, celebrating a belated Christmas with family.    No boxing day sales for me this year! 

Season of love...

As we finish last-minute preparations for the BIG day tomorrow, I have a card for the other season of love...Valentines Day!  This was made with more items from my Occasions Mini pre-order...check it out!

Valentine's Card made using the new Love Impressions DSP & Valentine Defined set from the Occasions Mini

Close up of the sentiment...I love this 'cuz its perfect for just about anyone.

Close up of inside sentiment

Full view of inside of card

Isn't this cute?  I am not big into Valentines Day...beyond making a card for my hubby and my son, I really don't do much.  But the new Valentine Defined set may just change that!  I like that this set has something for everyone, making it easy to create cute Valentines projects for friends and family.  This set and the coordinating DSP go on sale January 4th when the Occasions Mini goes live.  This mini is full of great new products.  If you still need a copy, drop me a line and I will send you a copy for FREE!

In the meantime, good luck finishing that last-minute wrapping and have a wonderful Christmas Eve!

Woohoo...my pre-order has arrived!

Buh-bye Christmas cards...hello Occasions mini!  I am so done with Christmas and ready to move on to new and exciting things...like my pre-order stuff from the Occasions mini and Sale-a-bration!  Mr. UPS dropped a big box of goodies off on Friday and I was so busy with Christmas baking on the weekend my poor box sat unopened until today!  (A crying shame, I know!)  When I finished with dinner tonight I wasted no time in getting down to my stamping corner and inking up some of the GORGEOUS new stamps from the upcoming mini and Sale-a-bration.  Check this out!

Ooh...so pretty!!  I am in L-O-V-E with the new DSP

Close up of focal image.  Stamps are from Clearly For You and Bliss sets.

Inside of card.

Close-up of inside sentiment

Well, where do I start?  The new mini is full of terrific new products and I've used many of them on this card!  Here is a list of some of the new goodies you have to look forward to:
Clearly For You stamp set, Bevelled window panes (coordinate with images in Clearly for You set), Nature Walk DSP, Crumb Cake seam binding ribbon (yes, same stuff as is in the Holiday mini but in fresh, new spring colours!), ribbon rosettes.  The butterfly image is from a Sale-A-bration set called Bliss.  This set is so beautiful I actually paid to get it on pre-order (even though I will most certainly earn it during SAB!!) 

There is just so much to love in both the upcoming mini and Sale-A-Bration, you won't want to wait to receive your catalogues!  If you'd like me to send you one of each for free, drop me an email with your contact info and I will put one in the mail!  Don't forget, the last day to order from the Holiday mini is Jan. 3rd and the Occasions mini goes live Jan. 4th.  Sale-a-bration starts Jan. 25th, so call and book your workshop early before my calendar fills up!  You could earn all of the great products I used in the card for free!