Sunday, September 30, 2007

Christmas gift card holder




Here is a new gift card holder I saw at our demonstrator meeting last night. I think the idea was brought to us from the Hamilton regionals. If someone wants to clarify, plse send info.

It is made with a strip of 4x12 paper scored at 4 and 8 inches. (cut a 12x12 piece of paper at 4 and 8 inches , giving you 3 strips). There is a diagonal score in the middle square from left top to right bottom. Plse note: if you are using textured paper, turn to the plain side to score, otherwise, the pocket will be on the wrong side.
Fold the score and play with it until you get the pocket. Then decorate the front.

I used the wishing you cheer set. Stamped the snowman, coloured him with Sharpie white paint marker. LOVE IT! THen masked it and stamped some trees. Masked those also and stamped some more trees. TOO MANY TREES!! i was making 9 of these cards at once and only completed 5. TOO MANY TREES. I will change this design when I do it for class.
THe pointsettia flower is from the trio flower punch and the sentiment on the bottom "bulb" is from the set. The sentiment is actually longer, I just used the bottom portion and m[punched it out with a 1 inch circle and then the matting circle. Then attached some ribbon I won at Emily's blog with glue dot and popped it up on a dot!



Here is the inside. Used the be merry stamp from the warm words set. Yes, I know it's my bank card in there. NO! I'm not giving that away as a present. But hey, maybe I can trade ya for a $100 Michael's gift certificate. I would win on that one lol

Thanks for looking. I have amny more ideas in my head, just waiting for the time to get out, so more later,

Amanda

Friday, September 28, 2007

Baroque Sympathy



Ever have one of those days when you take over and hour to design a card?? Trying to choose the paper, stamp sets, colours... ack. Then you just end up pulling out your favorite set and colour scheme.
this card is one of those cards.. so I made a whole bunch of 'em and stamped different sentiments on it. At least I feel productive. lol

The mustard paper is textured I had in my pile. No Clue what it is. Ditto for the spotted blue background on top. Both were wheeled with baroque wheel and versa mark. Sky blue and blue bayou paper. I LOVE the blue bayou with clear embossing powder. Rich eh? Ribbon is yellow organza from Fabricland. There were great deals on the ribbon there awhile back. I'll have to go back. BROWN grosgrain,, cheap! Yumm,

off to a Christams stamping party tonight. Yeah me!
Thanks for looking,
Amanda

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Baroque embossed



Here is a card I thought up between church services! The original wasn't embossed, as it was for a class. I didn't have time to bring that stuff out or teach how to do it. So I played with the design a little more later and came up with this.

Used clear EP, and cut the medalion. popped it up. Stamp set is Baroque motif. Paper is sky blu, blue bayou and river rock.

Thanks for looking,
Amanda

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Cricket Birthday



This is a cute b-day card for a bug lover...

The windows are punched out using Marvy Uchida punch and the jump lines are stamped before the paper is adhered to the card base.

Stamps from Garden Thumb, Papertrey Ink. Background stamp is SU Bamboo, retired. Ink is Wild Wasabi and paper is blue bayou.

That's it for tonight, just a little eye candy, not much chatter. To tired zzzzz :}

Thanks for looking,
Amanda

Song to sing



Here is another card using the SU French Flair. Need I say how much I LOVE this stamp? I've used it as waves and plan on using it as snow later. Very versatile.

The music image on the sentiment card is one I bought at a yard sale many, many years ago. Had I only been "into" stamping then. There were a whole group of stampers selling off supplies...ooo.

The sentiment is from a stamping store I visited this summer in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. What a great store and many different stamps in the marine, down east theme.

Colours are pumpkin pie and saffron.

Thansk for looking,
Amanda

oh man, it's after 1 am. I better go to bed. the kiddies won't care that I've been up late when they wake before the light breaks.:}

Monday, September 24, 2007

Autumn bellas

I decided that I was going to dedicate tonight to getting a lot of cards done to send to my sister. I had a great start, have some great cards (which you will see later) and was on a great roll. Then I came downstairs to say goodnight to hubby (he's on midnight shift) showed him my cards, did a little blog reading and here I am! Hopefully I can make some more when I go upstairs. I'd rather pass out to tell the truth.

k, here goes...
All inks more mustard, really rust and pumpkin orange, basic grey- done with blender pens. Paper is creepy crawly.

here is Emmybella. love that retail therapy sentiment. I'm going to buy a sentiment for every bella I have. they are just so cool:} Circles on the background are from petals and polkadots.



And here is Cosmobella. how fun would it be to BE her at a party? Heck, I'd just settle for an invite to the party.. you know, someone thinks I'm THAT with it:} hangin' with the IN crowd lol



After answering a few emails between the beginning and end of this post, I'm gonna go to bed.

Thanks for looking!
Amanda
yeah! I made it past 1000 posts.:} Thanks

Sunday, September 23, 2007

simple thanks

I held my 1st Stampin' Up workshop today. It was fun.. a little stressful before it all, trying to get everything organized, rearranging the furniture, little feet and hands wanting mama. Anyhow, it all came together and ink and paper were flyin'. Thanks ladies.. we'll do again next month. I promise not to burn the chocolate fondue. :}



So here is a card I had in my stash. It is very simple. Basic cardstock and the flourish from the "Baroque Motifs" was stamped in purely pommegranate. The thank you stamp is from a previous hostess set, "tags so much". I stamped it twice.. once in pommegranate and again in chocolate chip. Punched out part of the sentiment with 1 inch circle and strategically placed it over the pommegranate one. Matted with choc. chip paper. Plain and simple to mass produce for my card stash.

Thanks for looking. Gotta go and clean a few stamps and put a few things away:}

Amanda

I've probably spelled this word incorrectly, pommegranate, but at least I was consistent about it.lol

Saturday, September 22, 2007

feela bella



Bella anyone? Here is a bella I made for a package of cards to give to my sister in law.
I was inspired by her favorite colour combo for outfits.. black and white. Then I saw her wear a pink top and thus, the pink accent colours.:}
I heat embossed the image in black and then coloured it with a brush and ink from a mini pad. I didn't have many markers at the time. (Don't you love it when you finally have your studio or collection to the point where you don't have the NEED for things anymore? You know, in the beginning you create, but are stifled sometimes by limited supplies?)
Love the button brads. From my LSS. Can't remember who makes them and I threw away the packaging. Ribbon I think is from a dollar store. oh yes, the dots on the sides were also made before my paper piercing template. Used a ruler for the measurements.

Off to do some preparations for my class tomorrow. Hope I can finally find the dead animal smell coming from my fridge! I've searched everywhere. Probably some dot a spoiled milk behind something else!! blak. lol

Thanks for looking,
Amanda

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Flying witch



2 posts in one night! I must be on a roll... I'll take it when I can.

This is from SU "Booglie Eyes". The "eek spider" is from a previous hostes set "Tags so Much"
Both are stamped in black stazon and cloloured with blender pen in More Mustard, really rust, pumpkin pie and basic grey. The paper is creepy crawly. The background of the cardbase is stamped with versa mark watermark ink with a circle from the polkadots and petals set.
I roughed up the edges with sandpaper and edged the pictures with the basic grey ink. The orange corners on the witch was done with orange marker and the mat pack paper piercer as a guide.

Thanks for looking...
Amanda

Oh yes, I coloured the witch's face with pastels, but it didn't take very well. I find the SU cardstock isn't very user friendly with the pastels. Anyone else? Any suggestions?

Clippies anyone?

these were fun to make and I'll be making many, many more to send down to my sister in Nova Scotia.


Stamps are from Su "Batty for You" set stamped in various colours. Adhered to a large paper clip (not those jumbo ones, but bigger than normal) from the dollar store with runner tape. It seems to hold ok. THe front panel is adhered with a pop up dot.



These glassine bags are from Papertrey Ink. You have to be careful when you stamp on them, as it is very slippery. The thin word stamps are a little easier. I'm still experimenting with some of the word stamps from the Paper Trey spooky sweets set.
I used the double rectangle punch to slip the paper clip in. I'm finding more and more uses for this punch.



Note that the pics on the paper clips are sideways so that they are right side up when horizontal. Tied a little ribbon on the smaller loop of the paper clip.

Note: Yes, I know the candy is red and green aka: Christmas colours, but that's all I had in the cupboard. I've been to the grocery store 3 times in the last 2 days. Think I would remember an important thing like Halloween candy. It's practically in every aisle! Can I still claim baby brain a year after giving birth?? lol

Thanks for looking,
Amanda

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

stacked zoofari




Here is something new! YIPPEE.

It's from Zoofari set. I love how people have been stacking them . What fun. Stamped in black stazon, coloured with SU markers.
Card base is summer sun. Mat and frame is close to cocoa or pumpkin pie. I coloured the image a more tradional way and then a funky way (on the opened card). Sentiments are from "It's your Birthday"

I'm going to do this card for my 1st workshop. The ladies have varying degrees of creative, artistic flair, but I don't know that they have a lot of stamping experience.
What do you think? Should be easy enough? Or too many techniques.. masking, punches, colouring.... Let me know what you think.

Thanks for looking,
Amanda

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

blue sailboat



Ok, I caved.. here is another sailboat. Mostly because I've been working on some things for my upcoming 1st Stampin' Up workshop!!!!! So I'm not ready to share those yet.

This card uses the Quick Kutz sailboat die. THe swirl is from SU French Flair, stamped in almost navy. I masked the birds off. Just layered it all. Nice and clean.

Short and sweet today. Maybe something later.....

Thanks for looking,
Amanda

Sunday, September 16, 2007

bad and good

Here is an example how being out of your comfort zone can lead to not so good lookin' things. AND a lesson in ,"just because you gather many favorite things together, it does not mean it will be purdy." lol

This first layout uses a paper that struck my fancy and the "SO Very" set form Stampin' Up. Ooo, me thinks, this should go well with the great picture my friend Alex took of his wife, Erika and daughter Saige.


I printed the photo to large for my comfort zone. Couldn't get enough on my page to fill it up. I also didn't want to cover the paper too much. Thought the ribbon carried the purple and flower theme and wanted to use the ribbon buckle also. Put them all together, and NOPE, shouldn't have gone there!


SO... I tore it apart and started over.. with a smaller picture. I LOVE this stamp I got at my LSS. I've used it so many times for various relationships between people. I originally bought it for my husband's birthday card. I embossed it with clear EP and got the colour from a chaulk ink. (As you can guess, I'm not upstairs with my supplies, again. SO general talk of stuff)
Chatterbox paper, Cherish stamp and ribbon from SU. flowers from "itty bitty flowers"

My friend got the little symbolism of the growing flower... ah.
Let's take a look.....



So here's a lesson in... if ya don't like it, dump it. And start over.
(there, I did it, I showed you my bad side)

Thanks for looking:}
Amanda

Saturday, September 15, 2007

polkadot sailboat trio




ok, ok, enough with the sailboats already!! lol I'll get my head out of the water soon!

but I just HAVE to share!
These are a little funky. How trendy to bob up and down over the waves in a brown polka dot sailboat.

Paper is by Stampin' Up - spring mini. They didn't bring this colour in the big catalogue. Only in carbon and cerise.
The silboats are using Quick Kutz sailboat die.

I also had fun making little 3x3 sailboat gift cards. I think I'll create a tutorial for making a frame from Marvy Uchida punches to show those.

Thanks for looking,
Amanda

Oh yes, I was hoping to get all these cards in 1 photo, but my new place for taking photos can't fit the 3 cards nicely. 2 maybe. It's in the 3rd floor dormer window. Overlooking the beautiful new roof the neighbours just got. 3 DAYS of mess, noise and men tramping next to my studio. I think they are finally done:} Was that the beginnings of a rant? Thanks for listening..lol

Friday, September 14, 2007

And the Winner IS......

No. 5

Karen Gladney said...
"Congrats on your new blog. Welcome to the blogging world. If I had a choice it would probably be sympathy as I don't seem to have much for that occasion and I always struggle for a design.
Tks for the opportunity"

Thanks everyone for playing. I'll do it again soon.

Karen,
send me your snail mail address and I'll get the card to you at the end of the week.

I'll put a few more sailing cards on later tonight. Hubby is still out and has my cable thingy so that I can recharge the computer. I only have 18% power left and fading fast.

Thanks for looking.. and playing,
Amanda

Thursday, September 13, 2007

5 kiddies




here's another fridge magnet. Actually, I think it was my 1st one!

it's of my good friend, Jen's, 3 kids and my 2. It was taken on Valentine's day this year. My how they have grown. I'll have to take another pic of all of them together. I have to say, whenever we go anywhere, and it's often, we are a force all our own!!! much fun.

I faded the colours in the photo to match the paper a little better. The stamp is from Michael's buck fifty bin. Ribbon from a quick trip to America at Target when Neve was only 2 weeks old. Flower is a prima.

Thanks for looking and don't forget to comment on the previous post. you have until tomorrow night.

Amanda

who are you?

ok, I want to see who y'all are that are readin' my blog. Thanks for your support.

And as a little reward, I'm gonna offer some blog candy. What is that ?
Well, when I hit 500 viewers, I'm gonna give a prize to some lucky reader. All you have to do is respond to this post and leave a little comment on what occasions you would like to have in your set of 4 handmade cards, aka, blog candy. ( birthday- man, woman, child, thank yous, sympathy, thinking of you, Congratulations.. etc.)

I'll draw a winner on Friday night and get them in the mail to you:}

now aren't you glad you stopped by? Don't forget to hit the comment section just below this post.

nite,
Amanda

wow! Silly me, thinking only friends and family were reading this blog.
For fun, why don't you also tell me how you found me!
Thanks..... AP

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Bookmark Card





I made this set with my NEW STAMPIN' UP DEMONSTRATOR STARTER KIT!!!! IT ARRIVED, IT ARRIVED! And I had absolutely NO inspiration or creativity in me. Blah.
So, I looked at examples using this Garden Whimsy set on Splitcoast Stampers.
I found this example from faithyc. Thanks Faith for providing a good CASE:}

Colours are Old Olive, Pretty in Pink and purely Pommegranate. Baroque wheel and Garden Whimsy stamp sets. The sentiment is Papertrey Ink, from the Green Thumb set. Ribbons are Stampin' Up.

I may have some ideas to make Christmas cards in this design for a little something extra for those special people on your list.

Thanks for looking:}

Amanda

Sail boat shirt



This was kinda fun to make..

I'm busy creating cards for the Canadian Albacore Championships this weekend. I've had the paper for some time, but didn't want to use it as a backdrop. So... Here is this cool shirt from Cambria at http://cambriaturnbow.blogspot.com It's called the "Shirt fold tutorial"

Paper is Stampin' Up River rock and blue bayou, the inside mat went through my crimper. The buttons are white button brads that I made red by dipping into the red stazon and heat setting with my embosser. THe ribbon is from Michael's. Eyelets set with my cropadile and silver eyelets.

Thanks for looking...
Amanda

Monday, September 10, 2007

Happy birthday Sam and Evan!





This is a picture of the little darlins.. Evan and Sam. THey turned 1 today and we had a nice party in the park. Thanks Jen. Lovely.

THe cards were complimentary to the scrapped page.

No details tonight, I gotta get more work done. I'm expecting my demo Starter kit from Stampin up tomorrow. Gotta make some room:} yeah me.

Thanks for looking,
Amanda

Sunday, September 9, 2007

Darling Neve



Ok, I just had to show you. I couldn't keep this one to myself. Here is Neve so very proud of finally getting the spoon to herself. I HATE messy, messes and she is a messy eater! Her older brother was MUCH cleaner.
I wasn't sure what to grab, the facecloth or the camera. THe camera won this once. :}

I have a new scrapbook page and a few cards to show you tomorrow. It's for my friend's twin boys b-day. I can't show you now, as she may be reading this. Go to bed Jen!!

Oh yes, I WON blog candy. THanks Emily!! I'm also expecting my Stampin' Up demonstrator starter kit tomorrow or Tuesday, so it should be an exciting time here. Better clean my room!:}

Thanks for looking..
AManda

Saturday, September 8, 2007

Rafael's card




This is a drawing my 3.5 yr old son made for his beloved, Uncle Braggie's, birthday. Uncle Braggie (Dave) is my uncle. It is so great that he and Rafael have such a good friendship and rapport. We Love you Uncle Braggie! Happy birthday!

He drew all of us as a family and always includes U. Braggie. There is an extra person on the bottom with no name. It was to be me originally, but when he drew the mouth, it was kind of a frown. So he looked at me and said, "oh, you look mad, let me draw another one." So, that explains the extra head:}

I used some beigey paper for the cardfront, then Blue Bayou for the card base. Had some Creative memories paper from my mother in law, (thanks) as the mat. The circles on the blue is vera marked is from SU spring mini.

Oh, the other picture is Rafael's 1st and only sleep over so far. He didn't want to call me or even look back to say good night. I'd say he's up for another sleepover eh?

Thanks for looking,
Amanda

Friday, September 7, 2007

Covered tins




These were easy, just a little fiddly with the 2 way tape:}

Found a cigartette tin at Absolute Dollar with big Canadian flag on it.. so, i had to buy it! I like this better than the band aid tins, as you don't have to fiddle with the handle being in the way of adhering the paper on top.

Tore the paper off, there was the same paper underneath, but kind of a sticker instead of the plasticy one at first. I used red line tape as adhesive. AND, proud to say, I used ALL stampin' Up products in case I want to do this in a future class. I have a great idea for these tins. Just have to get a few more things.. like a punch and a stamp set.

I think I hear the baby crying...

Simple



I'm back!
Here is a simple, but nice card. here's a line from my husband, "wonderful, what is the card for?" FOR ANYTHING! He kinda doesn't get the sentiment thing unless it says Happy birthday, thank you, etc.:}

The image is from the Text Box set from Papertrey Ink. Stamped with Color Box, Blue Lagoon chaulk ink.I used the coordinating flower stamp in brown stazon, coloured with close to cocoa, then added dazzling diamonds. The "wonderful" sentiment is from SU warm words set.It is heat embossed with seafoam white EP. Ribbon from Michael's. It was the colour inspiration for the card.I think the brads are also SU. Looks like it by the colour.

Aren't you impressed with my recollection of products used? lol I'm in my stamp room, so I just looked everything up, instead of being lame again:}

Do you like it's simplicity?

Thanks for looking,
Amanda

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

butterlifes




Here are some cards from Papertry Ink's butterfly set. LOVE, LOVE this set.

THe red one uses the spotted butterfly which I stamped in brown stazon on vellum. The shadow stamp is teal. Spotted paper is from a block of paper and the ribbon from Michael's or Target. Can't remember, but it was the inspiratin for the colour scheme.

THe 2nd card uses the line butterfly, also stamped on vellum. Card is from "Little Black Dress".cool envies also. the DP is from Chatterbox and the brad from Queen & Co. Sentiments are both from Papertrey sets.

Thanks for looking,
Amanda

sailing coaster



These coasters were fun to make. I'm happy with how they turned out. They are for a raffle coming up next weekend for the Canadian Albacore Championship.

The coaster is marble tumble tile from Home Depot. The inks are stazon Timber brown and teal blue. The waves are from Stampin' Up, French Flair stamp. I masked the birds so they wouldn't show. The sailboat is from Quick kuts die. I made it in to a stamp by using their foam system.

Thanks for looking.
Amanda

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

gift card holder




here's a little set I made for an end of the year gift.
Just wanted something a little different for the occasion and many people were going to sign it.

It's late, gonna skip the details for now and figure out where I got these ideas from tomorrow.:}

Thanks for looking.
Amanda

Monday, September 3, 2007

Molly



here is a card/fridge magnet I did for wee Molly's 2nd Birthday! It was a lovey day.

The picture was "antiqued" in iPhoto. (Love iPhoto for making these things so easy). Was quite happy to discover this paper in my stash. It is from a block from my LSS. (once again, I should be upstairs with my stuff to find the names. If you really want to know, email me) The reddish embellishments are also from a kit. The RELAX letters came from Joann's Craft store in the US. There were several titles in the package on blue ribbon. I glued it all together, then put it on a piece of magnet. (theDollarama) Attached the magnet to the card front with brads.

Just take the brads off the card and you have a keepsake to display on your fridge. Unless, you have one of those fancy stainless steel ones, hey Sarah!

Thanks for looking,
Amanda

altered tins






Here are a few more tins I altered.
The first was a Father's Day prezzie for my dad. Inside the tin is a dvd of homemade movies of the grandchildren. Every 6 months or so, we compile oll the movies onto a dvd and send it to my parents, as they live far away from us.

The paper is.. I don't know. Surprise! On the back of the diamond paper, the print is similar to the word paper ont he tin. The print is just much bigger. The letters in the scallop circle are done with my Moxie Alphabet from Quick Kutz. The "for you" circle tag is from Stampin' Up. I think it was a hostess set.

The next tin was a prezzie for my mom. The flowers are covered chipboard with the front and flip side of paper from Melanie's tin in a previous post. The centre of the flowers are covered with Crystal effects for the bubble look.

inside the tin as an accordian album of the grand children. Various Chtterbox papers were used. I love these papers. They look delicate. THe "Siblings" label is Moxie Alphabet and the flowers are also from a die set for the Quick Kutz Revolution. I don't own the revolutin (yet), but bought the big dies and punched them one at a time. It was a little extra work, but ok for the project. most of the words are clear stickers from the dollar store. I've also seen them in LSS.

Well, 2 posts in one day to make up for the missing ones.:}

Thanks for looking,
Amanda

baby Neve



Here is one of the few scrapbook pages I've done. I feel overwhelmed with the size of the 12x12 page. I will share some pages I did later that are about the size of a card:} That I can handle.

These pics were taken after Valentine's day at our drop in centre. All of the Valentine crafts were put into the sensory bin. It looked like fun, so I just plunked Neve into it. Her brother was pouring the stuff over her head. They were having so much fun. Neve was 6 months old then.

The picture does not do justice to the colours. I'm looking into making a light box, so hopefully these poor lighting photos will be a thing of the past.

Pink background paper is bazzil, the red swirly paper from Absolute dollar.
All the brads, jewel hearts, ribbons and buttons also from the dollar store. The paper hearts from my LSS, Scrapbooks by Design. (they have online catalogue. check them out....www.scrapbooksbydesign.ca) Probably sizzex or quick kutz. THe stamp set is "So Very" bu Stampin' Up. Some primas layered in the middle and my white signo pen on the top of the page for the hearts.

Thanks for looking.

Have a great Labour Day. Hope you aren't labouring!

Amanda