Much Love For Die Cut Cards

So here are the Main Course & Dessert projects for my recent Valentine Buffet event. I wanted to showcase not only the Love You Much Valentine Bundle Promotion, but also making cards with our Big Shot dies.

The first card uses the Top Note die--when you run it through the Big Shot, fold it & leave it just a little to the right of where the die cuts so that it cuts out a card still connected on the left side. The ribbon was threaded through the two holes the die cut made when you place the cardstock slightly over like that. I also used the new Sweet Stems Embosslit & 3 Hearts Punch (for the flower) & Raspberry Tart Designer Paper (Gorgeous stuff!!)


The second card uses the Large Scallop circle die with the fold slightly below three of the scallops. I ran the Candy Lane Designer Paper strip at the same time but above the scallops. Then when I adhered it to the card, it looks like a complete circle & you can't see the fold. Hope that makes sense.



Finally, For this card I used the Scalloped Envelope die. My intention was that you could write a love note or I.O.U. on the other side of the pull-out card (like, I.O.U. breakfast in bed). The little ribbon tab is secured by the brad & makes it really easy to pull out the card from the envelope.

Much Love For Die Cut Cards

A Spiritual Bouquet

I just live for the times when I get to make something with special meaning. My friends over at Divine Mercy Care were invited to have an audience with Cardinal Rigali on the occasion of the March for Life on Jan. 22 here in Washington, D.C. They asked me to make a card with a "Spiritual Bouquet" inside to present to the Cardinal. (A Spiritual Bouquet is a collection of prayers that people promise to pray for the recipient or a specific purpose.)



I don't usually make "pretty" cards so I really enjoyed it! I broke out the retired hostess set "From the Garden" & embossed it in white on vellum. I colored that in with Perfect Pearls (a Christmas present to myself). It's actually really easy to stay in the lines because the color just rolls right off the embossing as you paint over it. I used the Perfect Pearls to color the little fabric flowers too. The chance to dip into my Pretties Kit also made me happy--I mean, it's not every day one of my cards is hand-delivered to a Cardinal so I tried to overcome my hoarding ways :-)

A Spiritual Bouquet

Valentine Buffet Appetizer

I'm having a "Valentine Buffet" on Jan. 23 & here's the first offering, the appetizer, if you will.

I wanted to showcase the Valentine Bundle (3 Heart Punch, Love You Much stamp set, Candy Lane Designer Paper), as well as the Big Shot dies. So, first is a candy topper made from the Top Note Bigz Die. I love the look of white embossed on vellum so that's what I did with the big heart stamp.

Next is a Pillow Box (from the Bigz Die) made from acetate (used Sticky Strip to adhere the side--you can see it, but since it's still nice & neat, I don't think it matters). I used 2-way Glue to adhere clear microbeads on the stamp.

Have a great long weekend!

Valentine Buffet Appetizer

A Pin for All Seasons

So, I've been just a leetle busy this week--when not glued to all the fun spoilers about the new Stampin' Up! catalog (coming out Jan. 19)--I've been busy creating these pins for a friend. Yeah, I've been on a little craft high, & it's not from the E6000 glue to adhere the pin backs (although, wow--does that stuff have potent vapors or what?)


She commissioned me to make holiday pins she could wear when volunteering in the school lunchroom & gave me carte blanche to be creative. I was really excited to be able to play with my new "Melt Art" melting pot that I bought myself as a Bday present. A little trial & error, but I'm pretty happy with how they turned out! If you've never seen the melting pot, check out Suze Weinberg's site --she's the Queen of Melt Art. It works by melting Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel Powder & then you can dip or pour it on projects. It's like making your own resin finish or you can even pour into molds to create shapes. I used it to coat my projects to make sturdy pins.

I made the Valentine one first & discovered that adding UTEE Flex to my UTEE in the pot made it a little too yellow for my taste. (Flex is supposed to make the UTEE stronger.) I'd followed the recommended ratio (1 scoop Flex to 4 scoops clear UTEE powder) but in the future I'll put in less Flex. I also learned (by the fourth pin) that it's better to place the pin face down in the pot than dip it (paper scorches on the bottom--duh, right?) Then I let it drip to keep the layer of UTEE thin to minimize the yellow. The cool thing is you can use your Heat Tool to smooth the surface and get rid of bubbles or tweezer dents.

The Valentine pin was made using the new Love You Much stamp set & 3 Heart Punch that are part of the Valentine Bundle promotion going on right now. All the other pins were made by paper piecing together shapes from Stampin' Up! punches. I also put a piece of shaped chipboard behind the little characters to add a better base. For the rabbit, I covered the oval in DCWV Nursery paper.

The Easter one was the biggest Flex "yellow" challenge--really dulled the colors! So, to try to remedy that, I painted over the egg with Perfect Pearls. You can really see the Perfect Pearls on the ghosts too! (By the way, can you tell that's supposed to be the moon behind the ghosts?) Finally, I had lots of fun playing with my many colors of Stickles (have I mentioned how much I lub them?) for eye-catching glittery goodness. Oh & the Valentine one has a smattering of pink microbeads--they stick if you put them on when the UTEE is still hot. If you're wondering how I adhered all the little paper pieces--Tombow Multi glue.

For my inspirations, I have to credit "Memory Lane's" gallery on splitcoaststampers.com for the rabbit, ghost & pumpkin shapes, the Oct. '08 Stampin' Success for the turkey and LW Designs for the reindeer--my personal favorite! I cobbled the leprechaun together from many different sources.

My friend accepted them today on the condition that I charge more for them at craft fairs than I charged her--um, yeah, I think I can do that...twist my arm :) Thanks for the good time, Elizabeth ;-)

A Pin for All Seasons

Retired Accessories & Inventory Blowout Sale!

It's that time again: the Retired Accessory List is out!
From SU!: "Items on this retired accessories list will be available at regular price while supplies last or through January 18, whichever comes first. Products are marked as available or unavailable. If an item is unavailable, our supply is exhausted and the item can no longer be ordered. This list will be updated every day through January 18. Keep in mind that the status of any retiring product may change quickly based on demand."



Some of these items are featured in the Inventory Blowout sale too (click on photo to get the details).

If you want the products as shown in the Fall-Winter 2008 Idea Book & Catalog, now is the time to purchase them!
111377 ACCENTS & ELEMENTS ROOF GARDEN
112012 ACCENTS & ELEMENTS SEASON TO SHARE
112088 ACCENTS & ELEMENTS TRUE ELEGANCE
102782 ALBUM LEATHER BLACK 12X12 Not Available
104188 ALBUM LEATHER BLACK 6X6
105384 ALBUM LINEN POST MELLOW MOSS 6X6*
104516 ALBUM LINEN POST NAVY 6X6
105381 ALBUM LINEN POST REAL RED 6X6* Not Available
103977 BUTTONS BOLD BRIGHTS*
103978 BUTTONS EARTH ELEMENTS
103981 BUTTONS EARTH ELEMENTS & NEUTRALS
105446 BUTTONS RICH REGALS
105445 BUTTONS SOFT SUBTLES
103604 DAYS-TO-REMEMBER CALENDAR 12X12
102174 DAYS-TO-REMEMBER CALENDAR 8 1/2X11
112465 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER BANBURY Not Available
112462 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER GEORGIA PEACH
112463 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER GHOSTLY GREETINGS
112040 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER GREEN TEA
112470 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER HAIKU
112460 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER HAWAII PAPAYA
112469 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER HOLIDAY TREASURES
112458 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER JUNIOR VARSITY
112459 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER MAINE BLUEBERRY
112466 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER MUIRFIELD
112149 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PARISIAN SUMMER
112467 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PRESTWICK Not Available
111355 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER SUMMER PICNIC
112039 DESIGNER SERIES PAPER WINDSOR KNOT
112963 ELEMENTOS PARA TARJETAS DIAS FESTIVOS HECHOS A MANO SIMPLY SENT
106523 ENVELOPE TEMPLATE FIVE-IN-ONE CARD COVER
104104 ENVELOPE TEMPLATE MINI
107298 ENVELOPES CONFETTI WHITE MEDIUM
110695 ENVELOPES OPEN END KRAFT SMALL
109115 ENVELOPES OPEN END VERY VANILLA SMALL
103372 METAL EDGE TAGS ALUMINUM WHITE SQUARE
107925 ON BOARD BITTY BOOK*
109190 ON BOARD CLIPBOARD 9X9*
109180 ON BOARD SIMON UPPER
112086 ON BOARD SOMETHING SEASONAL
107923 PAGE PROTECTORS RING 3.25 X 3.25 Not Available
104942 PUNCH 1/4 INCH CIRCLE Not Available
104943 PUNCH 1/4 INCH SQUARE
107273 PUNCH 3/4 INCH SQUARE
104389 PUNCH DOUBLE CIRCLE*
100391 PUNCH HANDHELD 1/8 INCH CIRCLE Not Available
104830 RIBBON GINGHAM CARAMEL
104829 RIBBON GINGHAM LIGHT BLUE
104828 RIBBON GINGHAM LIGHT PINK
104831 RIBBON GINGHAM MOSS
109037 RIBBON GROSGRAIN MORE MUSTARD 1/4 INCH
110282 RUB ON ANCHORED
111806 RUB ON CHILLS & THRILLS
111805 RUB ON SCHOOL DAYS
111417 RUB ON WORD FLURRIES
110283 RUB ONS TAKE NOTE
112193 SIMPLY SCRAPPIN I WISH
112186 SIMPLY SCRAPPIN PINA COLADA
112068 SIMPLY SCRAPPIN SUMMER HOME Not Available
112043 SIMPLY SCRAPPIN U R SWEET
112061 SIMPLY SCRAPPIN WINTER RETREAT Not Available
112016 SIMPLY SENT CARD ELEMENTS HANDMADE HOLIDAY
109868 SIMPLY SENT CARD KIT LIFELONG NOTES
103647 STAMPIN STORE MINI
105813 WRITE ME A MEMORY FONT CD VOL II

WHEELS:
107212 MATEYS MAP
106749 BRIGHT BULBS
109672 BRONCO Not Available
104100 MAKING TRACKS
108978 SANDY SHELLS
110332 SNOW
101233 SNOWFLAKE
109694 SWEET STARS
111249 TAKE A NUMBER

*This item is discounted and included on the Inventory Blowout.

Retired Accessories & Inventory Blowout Sale!