Pink Giraffe Card

This card was fun to make.  One of my new fav products are the Rhinestone Jewels (pg 188) that Stampin' Up! now sells.  They are great to add a little bit of bling to a card.  Remember in my last post I had mentioned that I needed to make a baby name frame for one of the Mom's from my daughter's kindergarten class......well here is the card I made to go along with the baby name frame.  I overheard the Mom telling some other Mom's that her new baby's nursery has a giraffe theme to it so when I was making the name frame and the baby girl card I pulled out my Animal Stories stamp set as that stamp set has the perfect giraffe stamp from the projects that I needed to make.  Here is the baby girl's pink giraffe card.  Instead of putting dark circles on the giraffes back I thought it would be better to add some Stampin' Up! Dazzling Diamonds Glitter with my 2-Way Glue Pen.  I like the results of that effect.

Stampin' Up! Supplies used:

Stamp Sets: Animal Stories, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Paper: Crumb Cake card stock, Pretty in Pink card stock, Early Espresso card stock, Whisper White card stock

Ink: Pretty in Pink Classic Stampin' Pad, Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad

Accessories: Big Shot Die-Cut Machine, Perfect Polk-Dots Textured Impressions Folder, Jewellery Tag Punch, Basic Rhinestone Jewels, 2-Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Whisper White 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon

To order the products to make this card, please contact me directly or go online to my Stampin' Up! Demonstrator website. There is a direct link on the left hand side of my blog.

P.S.  I have a question for you....would you like it if I wrote down the step-by-step instructions on how to put each card together.....please provide your feedback as I would love to hear from you.

Happy Stamping!

Michelle B.

Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator

inspire. create. share.
Give the gift of inspiration, creativity and sharing.....become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator & join my Stampin' Up! Team...contact me for further details

Baby Gift!

One of my favourite things to stamp are name frames for babies.  I love stamping their name and decorating a piece of 8.5" x 11" card stock with 2.5" x 2.5" squres to make it look like a quilt.  I then put it in a frame and give it to the Mommy of that baby.  That is definetly one of my fav things to create.  I get such enjoyment out of it, especially if the name is not a common one.  Stamping is a great way to personlize a baby gift for a new mom.  Here is a frame I made for a lady that I work with.  Her daughter is over a year so I choose the Build-A-Bear die cut over top of the front of the quilt.  Too cute.  This is also a great way to get rid of some Designer Series Paper scraps that aren't big enough to fit on a card but still big enough not to throw away.  The alphabet stamp set I used is called Headline Alphabet.  It was retired a couple of years ago.  I bought it immediately when I found out that the stamp set was retiring just for this purpose....to personalize baby gifts.  I hope my co-worker likes her daughter's frame.  I need to make a couple more baby frames.....one for another co-worker's grandaughter and a second one for a Mom who's daughter is in my daughter's kindergarten class...she just had a baby on Wednesday. hehehe  I love babies!  I also need to make another one for my daughter as when she saw this she asked for me to make one for her.   

Stampin' Up! Supplised used:
Stamp Set: Headline Alphabet (retired), Little Angel (2010 Occasions Mini Catalogue)
Paper: Close to Cocoa card stock (retired), Whisper White card stock, Chocolate Chip card stock, Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper (retired), Good Neighbours Designer Series Paper (2010 SAB)
Ink: Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Pad, Chocolate Chip Classic Stampin' Pad
Accessories: Big Shot Die-Cut Machine, Build-A-Bear Bigz Die, Beary Girl Sizzlits Die

Happy Stamping!
Michelle B.
Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator
inspire. create. share.
Give the gift of inspiration, creativity and sharing.....become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator & join my Stampin' Up! Team...contact me for further details

Multicolored Vintage Flowers Card

This is a card I sent to one of my club members.  It is her birthday today.  I hope she got the card in time.  You will see that the flowers are multicolored - I did the Multicolored stamp pad technique with them.  I first stamped the image with staz-on ink on a piece of white felt.  Then I used Rich Razzleberry, Certainly Celery and Pumpkin Pie Classic Re-Inkers and covered the image with a couple of drops here and there with each re-inker.  Then I placed my stamp on the "multicolored stamp pad" I just created and stamped my image on Whisper White card stock.  Voila multicolored vintage flowers.  I really like that technique.  It gives the images you stamp a nice change from normal one color stamp pads.  I was trying to think of what to put in the center of each flower but I wasn't able to come up with anything.  Now that I look back on the card as I am typing this I think I should have used White half-back pearls from my Pretties Kit.

Stampin' Up! Supplies used:
Stamp Sets: Teeny Tiny Wishes, Vintage Vogue
Paper: Whisper White card stock, Peach Parfait (my new fav color) card stock, Certainly Celery card stock, Rich Razzleberry card stock
Ink: Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad & Classic Re-Inker, Cetainly Celery Classic Stampin' Pad & Classic Re-Inker, Rich Razzelberry Classic Re-Inker, Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad
Accessories: Paper Clip from the Clips Assortment, Modern Label Punch, Rich Razzleberry Taffeta Ribbon

To order the products to make this card, please contact me directly or go online to my Stampin' Up! Demonstrator website. There is a direct link on the left hand side of my blog.

Happy Stamping!

Michelle B.
Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator
inspire. create. share.
Give the gift of inspiration, creativity and sharing.....become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator & join my Stampin' Up! Team...contact me for further details

Our Family Scrapbook Canvas (Jan. 2011 Technique & 3-D Club project)

This is a project that I am thrilled to tell you about.  I came across an amazing stamped canvas by a very talented fellow Stampin' Up! Demontrator...Marika Lemay....here is the link to her beautiful canvas.  Wow!  This project was a bit challenging as I couldn't find the same products that Marika used but I was able to get by with what I did find.  I thought this would be a great tribute to my loving dogs being they are now our angels looking down on us.   
Stampin' Up! Supplies used:
Stamp Set: Baroque Motifs, En Francais Background Stamp
Paper: Crumb Cake card stock, Early Espresso card stock, Very Vanilla card stock
Ink: Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad, Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad
Accessories: Kind Thoughts Brocade Small Decor Stencil, Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon, Scallop Border Punch, Vanilla Half-Back Pearls from the Pretties Kit, Designer Label Punch, Silver Designer Label HodgePodge Hardware, Big Shot Die-Cut Machine, Naturally Serif Sizzlits Decorative Die, Stampin' Dimensionals, Log Cabin Smooch Spritz, Glue Dots,

Other products used:
11" x 14" Canvas, Delta Ceramcoat Spa Blue Acrylic Paint, Delta Casmere Texture Magic Dimensional Paint, DecoArt Americanan Dark Walnut Satin Enamels, Paint Brush - these product were found at a local craft store.

Step by Step Instructions:
- Paint canvas with acrylic paint.  Once dry apply a second coat if needed.  (I painted my canvas before bed and let it dry over night)
- Spritz painted canvas with Log Cabin Smooch Spritz all over the front.
- Place Kind Toughts Brocade Decor Stencil on left hand side of canvas.  I tried to position it so that there was an even space between the top of the canvas and the stencil and the bottom of the canvas and the stencil.  Approx. 1-1/2" margin.
- Next squeeze some Cashmere Texture Magic Dimensional Paint in a bowl add some Dark Walnut DecoArt Americana Satin Enamel and stir.  This is how I got the dark brown color for my stencil.
- Next pour the mixture over top of the stencil.  With a spatula type tool (you can buy a # of tools in a pkg.) spread the mixture over top of the stencil.  Make sure to get it all over.  It doesn't really matter if some areas have more mixture then others that gives it dimension. 
- Once you are happy with the amount of mixture you have on your stencil, very carefully lift the stencil up.  It is best to make sure your hands are clean before doing this step.  Leave canvas to dry (again over night is a good time).
- Next ink your En Francais Background Stamp with your Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad and stamp all over your Crumb Cake card stock, covering the whole area.
- Take a piece of Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon and adhere to the center back of your Crumb Cake card stock.  I put a piece of sticky strip on the back side of my canvas to hold the ribbon in place.  Don't peel off the back of the sticky strip just yet as we aren't adhering the Crumb Cake card stock just yet.
- Next cut Early Espresso card stock just a bit bigger than your photos.  Adhere your photos on top of each Early Espresso card stock layer.  Position them on top of your Crumb Cake card stock.  I left about a 1/4" in between each picture.
- Cut a 1-1/2" strip of Early Espresso card stock and make a Scallop Border using your Scallop Border Punch.  Adhere to the bottom of your Crumb Cake card stock.
- Take another piece of Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon and make a classic bow.  (two bunny ears, wrap left ear over right ear and pull left ear through the center).  Adhere bow where Crumb Cake card stock and Early Espresso 1-1/2" strip of card stock meet.  I used a Glue Dot to adhere my bow.
- Next ink your Cherish stamp from the Baroque Motifs stamp set with an Early Espress Classic Stampin' Pad and stamp on Very Vanilla card stock.  Punch word out with Designer Label Punch.  Position words in the center of your pictures.  Poke holes through the Crumb Cake card stock and secure silver brads to the Designer Label HodgePodge Hardware.
- Adhere Crumb Cake card stock on top of your canvas.  I used sticky strip to make sure that it will stay.  You may also remove the backing of the sticky strip on the back of the canvas and secure the Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon.
- Next cut your title out using Early Espresso card stock, the Big Shot Die-Cut Machine and Naturally Serif Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die and adhere to the top of your canvas.
- Take 3 Vanilla Half-Back Pearls from Pretties Kit and adhere them to the center points of the Kind Thoughts Brocade Stencil.  I used sticky strip to secure my pearls.

Voila you are finished your scrapbook canvas.  This is a great way to decorate a room in your house or to give someone as a gift.  When my Sister-In-Law saw mine she asked me to make her one.  It is a good thing that Christmas is just around the corner.

Happy Stamping!

Michelle B.
Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator
inspire. create. share.
Give the gift of inspiration, creativity and sharing.....become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator & join my Stampin' Up! Team...contact me for further details

2011 "Mini" Stamping Technique & Scrapbook Club

Registration is now open for my 2011 Mini Stamping Technique & Scrapbook Club.

Below are the details for my 2011 Mini Stamping Technique & Scrapbook Club.  This club is only 4 months long and gets together every other month.  This club also has only 4 spots for club members.  If you have a group of 3 friends that like to stamp then you can always create your own club. 

What :  Mini Stamping Technique & Scrapbook Club

Each month you will make a double page scrapbook layout using helpful scrapbooking tricks and learn a new stamping technique.  You will also make a technique sheet to put into a technique book so that you can refernce at a later date.

Where:  each month will be at a different hostesses’ house

When:  January, March, May, July

Cost:  a minimum order of $50.00 in Stampin’ Up! product so that the minimum hostess benefits are reached.

Why:  4 Reasons: 1) learn new stamping techniques
                             2) learn new scrapbook layouts and techniques for all of the pictures you have taken
                            3) have a great time out with friends
                            4) receive the hostess benefits (a free hostess level stamp set and free merchandise money to spend on product) when  
                                it is your turn to host.

More Benefits:  Club members receive a discount when they attend my stamping events, a new Idea Book & Catalogue in July as well as mini catalogues when they come out.  You will also receive a "stamped" thank you gift at the end of the club.

Still want to earn free hostess benefits, learn stamping techniques and get out once in a while……then this club is for you!

You can register by contacting me either by email or phone. 
P.S. If you would like to see the projects we made for this year's Stamping Technique & Scrapbook Club please click on the 2010 Club Projects link.

Happy Stamping!
Michelle Blackburn
Independent Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator
http://www.littlemicstamps.blogspot.com/
http://www.michelleblackburn.stampinup.net/

Spooky Halloween September Scrapbook Layout

This double page scrapbook layout was really fun to make.  I was already in the Halloween stamping spirit after making the Spooky Bats and Spooky Skull cards.  I found a card that was in an issue of Stampin' Success that had the spiral punch with circles.  Their ribbon wasn't pulled though.....I add that touch all by myself.  hehehe  This double page scrapbook layout is the layout my club members are making for September.  I know I kind of have my occasions in the wrong months but that is what creativity is all about.  When the occasion bug bites ya, in this case Halloween bug, you need to create.  :)

Stampin' Up! Supplies:
Stamp Sets: From the Crypt (spider image), Wicked Cool, Sanded
Paper: Basic Gray 12" x 12" Textured card stock, Peach Parfait Textured card stock, Very Vanilla card stock, Basic Black card stock
Ink: Peach Parfait Classic Stampin' Pad, Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad
Accessories: 3/4" Circle Punch, Spiral Punch, Basic Black 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Scallop Circle Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch

To order the products to make this scrapbook page, please contact me directly or go online to my Stampin' Up! Demonstrator website. There is a direct link on the left hand side of my blog.


Happy Stamping!
Michelle

Spooky Skull

Here is the second card I will be demonstrating at my September Club.  I saw a card in LaurieF's SCS gallery that I absolutely love.  She has an amazing Bouncing Brayer background with the House of Haunts stamp set stamped in the middle.  I think the Bouncing Brayer technique is a great technique for Halloween cards.  I just love it.  I don't have the House of Haunts stamp set and when I went to order it I changed my mind as I had something like this card pictured with the From the Crypt stamp set.  This card is great for my club as I am teachnig them 2 techniques in one...advanced masking and the bouncing brayer technique.  yeah!  I hope they like it as much as I do.  I had a great deal of fun making this card.

I stamped the Skull stamp set on Whisper White card stock and then again on a piece of scrap paper.  I just cut out the skull not the stuff around it.  I then laid the scrap piece of paper with the skull image stamped on it over top the image I had stamped on the Whisper White card stock.  I then applied the Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive and Rich Razzleberry Classic Inks to my brayer and started the bouncing brayer technique all the while the skull scrap piece of paper was on top of the skull stamped on Whisper White card stock.  When I was finished the bouncing brayer background I lifted up the skull scrap piece of paper and voila a beautifully white skull right smack dab in the middle of my bouncing brayer background.  In other words the "Advanced Masking" technique.  I don't mean to toot my own horn but I am very pleased at the way this card turned out.  I hope they like it as much as I do.

If you are interested in learning new techniques like the ones on this card sign up for my 2011 Stampin' Technique Club.  I will be offering 2 different clubs.....one for 10 month (from Jan to Oct) and one for 4 months (Jan., Apr, July, Sept.).  Please contact me for further details.

Stampin' Up! Supplies used:
Stamp Set: From the Crypt, Wicked Cool
Paper: Old Olive card stock, Whisper White card stock, Rich Razzleberry card stock, Pumpkin Pie card stock, Basic Black card stock
Ink: Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad, Rich Razzleberry Classic Stampin' Pad, Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad, Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad
Accessories: Scallop Trim Punch, Bitty Bag Large Punch, Decorative Label XL Punch, Brayer, Silver Brad, Paper Piercer

To order the products to make this card, please contact me directly or go online to my Stampin' Up! Demonstrator website. There is a direct link on the left hand side of my blog.


Happy Stamping!
Michelle

Spooky Brayer Bats

Before I upload the second card we will be making at my Stampin' Technique & Scrapbook Club I need to upload this one to show you the bouncing brayer background technique.  I saw a card on SCS that I just loved with this type of background....it was done by LaurieF if you want to check hers out.  What a beautiful background she did on her House of Haunts card.  This was a technique that I wanted to demonstrate at my club before it is over.  We end in October.  Ack.  I never look forward to that day as I have so much fun doing this.  There is always next year....my 2011 Stamping Technique Club will start sometime in January.  I will post further details if you are interested.

I used a couple of new products from the Holiday Mini on this card.  The Decorative label XL Punch found on page 25 and the Glimmer Basic Glimmer Brads found on page 36.  I like both of these new products.  The punch is great for bigger words and the glimmer brads a touch of bling when you need some.

Bouncing Brayer Technique
3 different colors of Classic Ink (I used Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive and Pumpkin Pie)
Brayer
Either arrange the 3 colors of ink pad in a line and roll your brayer over them or you can apply each ink individually one at a time by rolling your brayer over top of each one separetly
Tip: apply the lightest color first then medium and dark.  If you do it this way then your dark ink won't end up in your light ink.  You always want to do it in that sequence (light to medium to dark) as you won't notice if a light color goes in your medium ink pad and your medium color goes in your dark ink pad.
Next take a piece of neutral card stock and bounce your brayer over top of it.  Make sure you keep one end of your brayer in the center of the neutral card stock.  Continue to bounce the brayer while rotating the neutral card stock with your free hand.  Re-ink brayer as you need to. If you want you can leave some white spaces like I did or cover everything up with your bouncing brayer.

If you are more of a visual person you can watch a bouncing brayer video tutorial on SCS under the resources link.

Stampin' Up! Supplies used:
Stamp Sets: Wicked Cool (a new fav)
Paper: Old Olive card stock, Whisper White card stock, Rich Razzleberry card stock, Pumpkin Pie card stock
Ink: Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad, Rich Razzleberry Classic Stampin' Spot, Old Olive Classic Stampin' Spot, Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Spot
Accessories: Brayer, Basic Black 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Scallop Trim Punch, Decorative Label XL Punch (Holiday Mini), Photo Corners Punch, Glimmer Basics Glimmer Brads (Holiday Mini)

To order the products to make this card, please contact me directly or go online to my Stampin' Up! Demonstrator website. There is a direct link on the left hand side of my blog.

Happy Stamping!
Michelle

Masking Anniversary Hearts

Ohh I am finished my Stampin' Technique & Scrapbook Club cards.  This month we will be doing two.  Here is the first one featuring the basic masking technique.  I decided against the Make-A-Monster card as I wanted to do two cards featuring the masking technique and that one would only let us do one.  It is kind of a timely card........lots of steps.  Masking is one of my fav techniques the reason being is it is so versatile.  You can mask anything.  There are also different ways to mask....you have a basic mask, reverse mask, and an advance mask where you stamp your image and put a background behind it.  For September's techniques we are doing the basic mask which is demonstrated in this card as well as the advanced mask which will be featured in the next post.  Ohhh I am so excited to teach them the advance mask.  I am still back at the drawing board for the reverse mask.

Stampin' Up! Supplies used:
Stamp sets: I {heart} Hearts, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper:  Peach Parfait card stock, Concord Crush card stock, Pear Pizzazz card stock, Very Vanilla card stock
Ink: Pear Pizzazz Classic Stampin' Pad, Concord Crush Classic Stampin' Pad, Peach Parfait Classic Stampin' Pad
Accessories: Itty Bitty Buttons, Linen Thread

To order the products to make this card, please contact me directly or go online to my Stampin' Up! Demonstrator website. There is a direct link on the left hand side of my blog.

Happy Stamping!
Michelle

In-Color Masking Hearts

Another card I made featuring the Basic Masking technique.  This technique is a lot of fun to do.  You should give it a try if you haven't already.  I love all of the new in-colors.  I also think they look really good together.  To get the polka-dots the way I did I took my Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad and brushed it very gently and lightly across the front of my card.

I was working on a reverse masking card last night but am not pleased with it so I will try again tonight.  Hopefully my idea works and I can upload it sometime tomorrow. 
Stampin' Up! Supplies used:
Stamp Set: I {heart} Hearts
Paper: Crumb Cake card stock, Early Espresso card stock, Very Vanilla card stock
Ink: Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad, Peach Parfait Classic Stampin' Pad, Pear Pizzazz Classic Stampin' Pad, Poppy Parade Classic Stampin' Pad, Blushing Bride Classic Stampin' Pad, Concord Crush Classic Stampin' Pad
Accessories: Big Shot Die-Cut Machine, Perfect Polka-Dots Textured Impressions Folder, Itty Bitty Button, Linen Thread, Scallop Edge Punch

To order the products to make this card, please contact me directly or go online to my Stampin' Up! Demonstrator website. There is a direct link on the left hand side of my blog.

Happy Stamping!
Michelle

Masking Monsters

Hello Stamping Friends!  It is nice to finally be able to post some of the projects I have been working on.  It has been a busy last couple of days.  My son turned 2 last week and I have been working lots.  I have a part-time job and work some evenings and weekends.....this weekend was my weekend to work.  Ahhhhhhh...........Here is a card that I made the other night using the masking technique.  My Club has asked that I demonstrate this technique again as we have some new stampers in our club.  I thought this stamp set would be GREAT for that technique.  You will have to excuse my watercoloring technique as I am not the greatest at that.  I used a blender pen along with Concord Crush, Pear Pizzazz and Peach Parfait Classic Stampin' Pads.  All you do is squeeze the ink pad before you open it, this will put a spot of ink on the top of the ink pad, then you use your blender pen or aqua painter to take a bit of the ink on the tip and apply it to the stamped image.  As you will see in the picture the Peach Parfait Monster is behind the Pear Pizzazz monster.....that is the masking technique.  I also did it with the Concord Crush Monster (who reminds me of Grimise from McDonald's) but I didn't position it enough over top of the Pear Pizzazz Monster.  I have been reading past issues of the Stampin' Success magazine for ideas, inspirations and techniques and have found that there are 3 different ways to do the masking technique.  This is the first way.....

Masking Technique
1) Stamp your image on card stock,
2) then stamp it again on a piece of copy paper.
3) cut the image out of copy paper
4) position it over top of first stamped image on card stock
5) grab a different stamp (in my case Peach Parfait Monster) and stamp just off of the first stamped image.
Voila! the masking technique.

Oh I also used a put Peach Parfait Classic Ink on my brayer and brayed over top of my Background Textured Plates to get the 2 different Peach Parfait tones on the bottom of the card.

Stampin' Up! Supplies used:
Stamp Sets: Make a Monster, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Peach Parfait card stock, Concord Crush card stock, Pear Pizzazz card stock, Whisper White card stock
Ink: Peach Parfait, Concord Crush, Pear Pizzazz Classic, Basic Black Stampin' Pads, Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker, Poppy Parade Stampin' Write Marker
Accessories: Big Shot Die-Cut Machine, Gold Brads, Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plates, Paper Piercer, Stampin' Dimensionals, Blender Pen

P.S.  Keep an eye open for the other ways to do the masking technique.

To order the products to make this card, please contact me directly or go online to my Stampin' Up! Demonstrator website. There is a direct link on the left hand side of my blog.

Happy Stamping!
Michelle