Tri-Shutter Mini Album

One of my customers requested a scrapbooking class to make a cute little Tri-Shutter Mini Album. After a quick search on the internet, I found a great tutorial at http://scrapthat-myheartmyart.blogspot.com/2009/09/tri-shutter-mini-album-tutorial.html. I believe her name is Dolly.

I used the following:

Stamps: For All You Do, Define Your Life, Defining Alphabet
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Orchid Opulence
Paper: Cottage Wall Designer Series Paper, Old Olive, Whisper White, Orchid Opulence
Accessories: Rhinestone Brads, 2-Step Bird Punch, Organza ribbon, White Taffeta ribbon, Silver Cord, Butterfly and Scallop Envelope dies, Celery Satin Ribbon, Dimensionals, Filigree brads

This is how it looks folded shut: (I know the front looks pretty boring - just not sure if I want to put a title or a photo here)
left side opened:

both sides opened:
flipping some more pages over:
and finally, opened all the way: (Click on the photos for larger images of the details)

St. Patty's Day card with a lot of luck :-)

Here's a quick and easy card to celebrate the Irish in you:

I don't have any sets specifically for St. Patrick's Day and need something for my make-n-take today at Cottage Crafts.

Stamps: Inspired by Nature, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Garden Green
Paper: Garden Green, Whisper White
Accessories: Gold Brads, Modern Label punch, Dimensionals, Mini Glue dots, White Organza ribbon, Heart to Heart punch

(The 4-leaf clovers are made with the smallest heart from the Heart to Heart punch)

"With All My Heart" case

This card was cased with the slightest of changes from Carrie Gaskin whose original can be seen at http://artisticavenger.wordpress.com/2010/02/12/workshop-olympics-event-3/

This was our make-n-take at Cottage Crafts on Monday :-)

Stamps: With All My Heart
Ink: Pretty In Pink, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron
Paper: Whisper White cardstock, Sweet Pea DSP
Accessories: Scallop Trim Border punch, Chocolate Taffeta ribbon

I trimmed off 1/2" from the front of card before using the punch. That way, the DSP inside the card shows.

Happy Valentine's Day!

My husband sent me some beautiful flowers for Valentine's Day :-) No chocolates this year since I'm trying to lose a few pounds before our cruise in April. (Today I was able to fit into a pair of jeans I haven't worn in forever and found $20 in the pocket :-)

I also received some really cute cards from some stampin' friends. The first one is from Christine Frazee and uses the Heart Treat Cups:

This one is from Marilyn and Carolyn Rawlings and uses a retired set (can't remember the name but it's one of my favorites :-):

This one is from Frances Hale and uses the "Sweet Centers" stamp set. She knows I love cats:

I made my husband a little Valentine's Scrapbook - will post those photos later. Have a great day!

Storage ideas

Here's a couple of ideas for storing dies for the Big Shot:


This is the largest size plastic storage case for our stamps. It holds the movers and shapers, sizzlets, embosslits and embossing folders.

I found some DVD storage bins at Target and use 2 of them to hold my Bigz and XL dies:

I stand the XL ones on end and it leaves me plenty of room for the accessory pads and my plastic storage cases for the littler (is that a word?) ones

This one is completely full - time for a 3rd one :-)

I also use a smaller stamp case to store my mat packs and misc little tools

Downline meeting demo's and make-n-take

We had our downline meeting last night (thanks everyone for coming!) and here's our Make-n-take:

Now my sample differs slightly since I used DSP to wrap the mini milk cartons and they stamped theirs with hearts from the "I (Heart) Hearts" set but the overall look is the same :-) I found the original idea and a great (and free!) tutorial from Elaine Schader at http://elainescreations.blogspot.com/2010/01/i-heart-mini-milk-cartons.html

(I changed the measurements just slightly and will post those later)

Here's an idea I shared for St Patrick's Day:

I got the idea for the leprechaun from Terri Ransom at our Stampin' Connection site. I used the Scallop Circle, Small Tag, Word Window and 1 3/8" Circle punches. The DSP is from the "Sweet Pea" paper pack and it's wrapped around a giant peppermint patty :-)

Marcia was the "diva demo" for the night and showed us how to make the little rosettes (above) by punching Whisper White cardstock with the Scallop Circle punch, then cutting it into a spiral, snippin off the little "nub" in the center and then twirling from the center with a Quilling Tool - pretty!

She also demo'd (and everyone got to make one!) of these little ruffled flowers made from romance (not trashy :-) novels:

You punch 5 or 6 times with the Scallop Circle punch, stack them and pierce a hole in the middle to add the brad. Then start squishing the layers separately from the top down.

(you can click on the photo for a larger view of the flower)

Valentine Easel Card

I finally got a chance to make an "easel" card (tutorial can be found at http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/easelcard/


I can't remember where I first saw the idea for putting the hearts in the tree but I'll post as soon as I find it again :-)
Stamps: Season of Friendship, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink
Paper: "Sending Love Specialty" DSP, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White
Accessories: Modern Label punch, Small heart punch, Chocolate Chip 5/8" Grosgrain ribbon, Dimensionals

"thank ewe" case

This card was cased with slight changes from "lisaonthelakeshore" whose original can be seen at http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1488485





Stamps: Pun Fun
Ink: Black Stazon, Pretty in Pink
Paper: Whisper White, Kraft, Shimmery White
Accessories: Black Gingham ribbon, Dimensionals, Small Oval punch




I try to take my pictures outside in the sun (lighting in my house is awful) and I was surprised to find the sun shining for a few minutes (tons of rain last night and tons more on the way) and I noticed the rain drops on one of our trees. Isn't it great that the tiniest things can make you happy? Maybe that's part of getting older - you take less and less for granted :-)

February Stamp Camp projects

Here are some projects (most of them cased :-) for my stamp camp this month. I'll post details in just a few minutes!

This card was cased from "wannabestampin'" whose original can be seen at http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1605843. She credits Jackie Topa whose "Garden Fence Card" can be seen at http://jackietopa.typepad.com/addicted_to_stamping/2010/01/garden-fence-card.html

Cased with slight changes from Terri Mongeon (I believe her blog is at http://stampingwithterri.blogspot.com/)

This was cased with slight changes from Cheri Franklin whose original can be seen at http://stampcrave.blogspot.com/2010/01/brayered-impression-technique.html

This was cased with slight changes from Tamara McCalla (I think this is her blog: http://creativecardinspirationsbytamara.blogspot.com/)

This card was cased from Mary Fish whose original can be seen at http://www.stampinpretty.com/2009/12/stampin-up-masculine-thanks.html

Two-Step Bird Punch Class

Here are samples for my "Bird Punch Class" later this month. I purchased the class directions from Debbie McNeil at http://www.craftyperson.com/ and you can view her class planners at http://debbiemcneill.com/store/?cat=4

I made just the slightest of changes but the overall look is similar:

2 Step Bird Punch item #117191
Preferred Price: $15.95

Punches are a quick and easy way to add interest, dimension, and color to your cards, tags, and scrapbook pages. You can glue punched shapes directly onto your projects or layer a sheet of card stock that has been punched over a coordinating card stock for a reverse effect. The large cutting surface of our punches give you better punching leverage and cutting precision, and the sleeker body makes it easy to store.■ Adds interest to scrapbook pages and cards ■ Has an easy-to-use thumb lever