Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Holiday Cheer!

Hello!  I am here today with one last November post!  Every month, I have participated in the year long challenge at Sketch For You to Try, where to enter in to win the big gift basket, you have to do Jen delMuro's sketch every single month.  I have done all 10 up to now, so there is no way, I would skip out now.  But, I sure did make it close, considering I only had today or tomorrow to post it and link it up at her blog!  But it is done, and here is my card and the sketch.  Enjoy!



I have looked at this sketch for a few weeks, thinking it looked like a hard one.  Not!  Now, that it is done, I love it!  I used the same set of stamps on today's card that I used on the Center Step Card that I recently taught at The Crafty Scrapper.  To remind you, here is that card ...
I was thinking that I would do several more of these for one of my Christmas cards, and I think I still will.  But, I was also wondering about how it would turn out as just a regular card.  So, that is how today's card came about.  Going with the sketch, the center panel which is the focal point, had to be smaller than the center step card, but I still like it.  How about you?  I'll have to figure out which card, the step card, or the regular A-2 takes more of the pattern paper, and that is the one I will go with for the card to send out.  Because after teaching, I have very little left over paper.  I do also have a 6 x 6 pad though, that could be used, the patterns would be smaller.  You know that could be good for the A-2 card.  I will check it out!

Recipe:

Paper - Jillibean Soup - Christmas Eve Chowder Line: “Salt & Pepper” (both sides), “Dried Green Onion” (both sides), Cardstock White, Dark Brown
Stamps - Hero Arts Reindeer Stamp & Die Cut Set
Ink - Memento Black, Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol
Tools - Reindeer Set, Spellbinders Classic Scalloped Oval Cuttlebug Dot embossing folder
Other - Rhinestones, Quicky Glue Pen, Crystal Glitter

Oh, one more thing, I forgot to talk about his sweater that I created.  You see the stamp is not an open image that you usually would need to paper piece.  Here is the reindeer stamped out:









So, what I had to do to create the sweater was to stamp the middle part of the reindeer on a piece of cardstock and cut this out, so I could create a template.  I adhered the template to the pattern paper and cut out around it and then adhered that over the polka dot sweater part.  I purposely left the sweater bands and colored them in to make sure it kept the sweater "look".  I hope this makes sense.  I can see this is where a visual tutorial would help!   Maybe in the future!  Speaking of tutorials, I realized I have not done one on the Center Step Card for the blog.  I know I will be making this card for at least one of my holiday cards.  I promise to give you a full tutorial at that time!

That's it for me today.  I will see on Saturday for the share. 

Happy Stamping!
Tina

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Saturday's Sketch Share!

Hello!  I am here on the right day ... woo hoo!  I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  We sure did.  Now, let's get to today's cards.  Both Donna & Debbie are giving you one last Thanksgiving creation and me, I am onto the next holiday!  Here is my card, Debbie's card, and Donna's card, plus the sketch we all used.  Enjoy! 

My Card



Debbie's Card

Donna's Card

The Sketches
As you can see, it is one of the weeks, that we got a choice between the square or round card.  Did you see all the cutouts on my card: holly, leaves, etc?  I just couldn't resist getting this new Tim Holtz die from Sizzix.  It was a little bit of a challenge putting all the pieces together to make it look good and not a jumbled mess.  But, I think it came out alright!  Debbie's card is a small square -4 1/4 x 4 1/4, which is a nice size, but something I never think about doing.  And I love the fall tree that Donna used on her card!  Great job girls!

Enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend.
Happy Stamping!
Tina

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hello!  I hope everyone is having a wonderful day!  I am actually writing this on Tuesday night, as tomorrow my hubby & I and the pups are heading up to his daughter's, who lives in St. Joe, for a few days for Thanksgiving.  I am not sure if we are coming home on Friday or Saturday.  I am telling you this because it could affect when you see the Saturday sketch share.  So, if you are here and it's Saturday, check back later today or Sunday.  Now, I do have a card to show you today.  It is my Thanksgiving card that I made for a few.  I love how it came out.  Let me show you.  Enjoy!



And here is the pic of the "parts":


Yes, I did some major paper piecing! But, the end result is soooo cute!  I added the pumpkin shape first, then the arm and then covered that up with the dress.  The tip is just to remember what is in front and place the pieces that way so it looks realistic.

Take a little time today to count your blessings.  I am blessed as I know you are too! 

Happy Stamping!
Tina 

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Saturday's Sketch Share!

Hello!  I was very, very long winded yesterday, but today this will be short!  I am back today with the share.  First I will be showing you my card, Debbie's card and the sketch we both used.  Enjoy!

My Card

Debbie's Card

The Sketch
 Just a couple of notes on my card.  Can you see the embossing folder I used in the background?  I picked it up recently at the little scrapbook store out here ... .love it!  It is by Cuttlebug and it is called Musical Flourish.  So pretty!  The other thing is I think this is the first time I have ever combined twine and ribbon on a card.  Love the look!  I liked this sketch.  Kinda fun!  What do you think?

Have a great weekend!
Happy Stamping!
Tina

Friday, November 18, 2011

Excuses & Chit Chat, A Couple of Tips, & A Couple of Cards!

Hello!  I want to start out by saying this is a long post.  Lots of chit chat. Thanks in advance for reading!  I can't believe it is already the 18th and this post marks only my 5th for the month.  That is so awful!  Yes, you always get the Saturday sketch shares, and tomorrow will be no different, but I am speaking of all the other posts you usually get in between!  And the crazy part to me is that I feel like I have been out in my stamp shack non-stop.  It's those classes ... not complaining, just stating the facts!  The prep always seems to take so much longer than I think it will.  Take this week.  On Sunday, I spent about 3 hours getting the class kits ready, Monday about 6 hours, Tuesday about 8 to 9 hours.  And then Wed. morning I was up at 7 a.m. to put all the pieces into each clear envelope for the kits, which took another couple of hours.  Yep, it does take time.  But, once I am there at the store and enjoying the company of the ladies, I totally forget about all the prep time!  Last year, I made a bunch of different Thanksgiving cards so I could have each one on the blog for a different day.  This year, with time constraints, I am making one card x 20.  I will show you that card, but it will probably be next week, before I do.  I am using the MFT girl holding the pumpkin with some great paper piecing.  (You know that is my favorite thing to do!) So, I have been cutting out different pieces while watching t.v.  I finished all the cutting last night and so I am now working on the card bases.  Next on my list to get to, is a mini gift project for my stamping friends.  Last year, I made desk calendars for them and this year I am making a companion item to go along with that.  The fun part is that I had on my computer the desk calendars I made last year and so this year I found out which one I made for each person, as they were the same design but different papers.  So, I will be making the companion piece in each of those same colors.  I scouted out my paper drawers yesterday and I think I found enough scraps for each to make my idea work!   I am not going to elaborate any more than that, as "they" read my blog!  The Monday after Thanksgiving I have to do more prep work for two cards that I am teaching at the little local scrapbook store out here.  This is the second time I have taught a class there and only the second time they have ever had an outside teacher.  So, let me show you those cards ... enjoy! 



Both cards use the same set of stamps and as part of their class fee, they get the set of stamps to take home.  The store's classroom is set up in the middle of the store, and they have room for 6, but she sold 9 kits!  So, I guess, some will be sitting at a card table!  Reminds me of my first store location!  Anyway, you can see the first card is similar to the one I am teaching this week at The Crafty Scrapper, but the sketch layout is different on the front of the card.  At the store, I picked out this group of papers to use from Bo Bunny called Blitzen, but then when I was home, I had a lot of trouble with the colors, because the designer paper doesn't have a true red or green that would match the inside honeycomb.  In the end, I only used one of the papers along with the dot papers from Bo Bunny, the blue and the red.  And then adding the green ribbon, which I think allows it to flow with the green inside.  I added the black as an accent to get it to pop.  Funny, how adding black, can work like that!  The second card is called a Criss Cross Pocket card.  I taught the card type a couple of months ago at The Crafty Scrapper.  It is such a fun card.  Maybe I will make one of those for Christmas and I can show you all the steps to make it then!

 Also, on my list of to-do's is my Sketch for You to Try card by the end of this month, and one more class prep early in the week of 12-4.  That will be my Treat & Tag class I am teaching at The Crafty Scrapper.  Every year by Thanksgiving, it is a goal of mine to know what card I am making for Christmas or at least have ideas of what stamps you want to use.  Thanksgiving is next week, and I don't know.  I might repeat a couple of the class card ideas or ... well, I have to get my thinking cap on!  I prefer not to mass produce, so I might try to make one card and make 4 to match.  The problem is that week in Dec. that I am prepping and teaching, it is unlikely that I will have to time to create too.  But even so, there are still 20 days, give or take, before Christmas cards need to go in the mail, so surely 12 of the 20 I could make a design.  I was also thinking of making a couple of gifts, but that might not happen.  Enough of my yada, yada, yada, excuses,etc.!  Let's go on to something else ...
I have a couple of Tina tips to share!  Woo Hoo!  The first is about making the honeycomb pads go further ... I recently found out that I could get more stamped trees out of one honeycomb pad if I flipped the pad over and stamped the tree upside down.  The key is just to make sure that the horizontal arrow that is on the clear stamp is going the same way as the arrow on the pad.  Here is a pic of the trees stamped on the honeycomb pad (part of the pad is cut off)...


Tina tip two is about when you are die cutting and you need the die cut to stay exactly where you put it while you are running it thru the machine.  I used to use tape, but it was kinda of a hassel, so I recently saw this trick and tried it and liked it ... use a post it note!  Easy to grab and it works!  Here is a pic:

And last but not least, sometimes you need a very slim strip of paper and your paper cutter dosen't allow you to get a straight cut when you are doing such a small piece.  See the strip on this card under the nativity? Here is a pic ...
A lot of the border punches will give you this strip after your border is punched.  The punch I am showing you is made by Fiskars, but many others will do the same.

O.k., well I still feel bad about not doing more blog posts, but I feel somewhat better just knowing that I have let you know what is going on in my little stamping world!  I will show you cards and projects as they get finished.  And, I will be back tommorrow with the Saturday sketch share.  See you then!

Happy Stamping!
Tina
  


Saturday, November 12, 2011

Saturday's Sketch Share!

Hello!  Sorry I am a little late in posting today.  Better late than never ... I have three cards to show you from Donna, Debbie, and I, plus the sketch we all used.  Let's get to it!  Enjoy!



My Card

Donna's Card


Debbie's Card

The Sketch

I actually like the sketch this week.  It really has a lot of layers and pieces that make it very interesting.  What do you think?  I do want to make one note about my card.  I love the little pumpkin I made with 3 Spellbinder ovals, an embossing folder, a hand drawn stem, and then I used a MFT Dasiy die to create the leaf.  So creative ... I love stuff like this!  

I have to be honest and tell you that next week is my class kit making week, and so that means I might not have too much time for my random cardmaking, which is what gives me most of my blog posts.  We will see how it goes.  Have a great weekend!

Happy Stamping!
Tina 

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

December Class Share!

Hello!  Yesterday, I showed you November's class.  Today,  I want to show you my project and tags for my December class.  I wrote the class description before I started working on the samples.  In my class description, I put that the class would include 10 tags.  But, oh my goodness, when I started working on them, I thought .... 10?... what was I thinking?  It was like creating 10 different cards, mini yes, but still 10 different ones!  But, I did it and I love them all!  So, let me show you what you will be making in the class... Enjoy!




Are you saying "wow"?  First, everyone will make the treat box.  For those of you that can't come to the class, I will give you the directions and measurements after the class is taught, around the middle of December.  All 10 tags were made from a die from My Favorite Things and all tags are similar to the above backside of one of the tags.  I love how they all came out!  I tell you, this is a class that is definitely worth paying for because every tag used a different piece of DP, as well as lots of embellishments.  If you happen to be interested in either coming to the class at The Crafty Scrapper or getting a class kit, here is the description and details: 

Treats and Tags - Wed. Dec. 7th 11:00 a.m. and Sat. Dec. 10th 2:30 p.m. $25
In this class, you will make a treat box to hold handmade goodies for gift giving and you will complete ten very creative and unique tags for your holiday packages. Your completed treat box will hold all your tags to take home. Stamps from our favorite stamp companies will be used, along with lots of holiday papers and supplies. Please bring adhesive, small pop-dots,detailed scissors, your preferred coloring medium (Copics, colored pencils, etc.). Also, we will be sharing Barn Door Red Distress Ink, so if you have one of those, it would be helpful if you bring it. All other supplies provided.

Even though I haven't been doing a lot of blog posts, I have been out in my room a lot.  Yes, it is true, all these card classes take time, and they do take away from my random cardmaking that constitutes the daily blog posts. You know you will see me on Saturday for the sketch share, but I hope I can get time in the next few days so I can have a blog post before that.

Happy Stamping!
Tina




Monday, November 7, 2011

November Class Card Share!

 Hello!  I finally have all three card samples made for my class at The Crafty Scrapper for next week.  I got the third sample made yesterday, as I having been waiting for the store to get in the Hero Arts Reindeer set.  I picked it up when I was there on Friday.  I am hoping that me not having the third class sample done has not kept the ladies from signing up and if they were on the fence, I am hoping the third sample will get them to sign up now!  It is my favorite!  And, I might just have to make more of them for some of my own Christmas cards!  Let me show you.  Enjoy! 



The first card is another one of the Honeycomb pop-up cards from Inky Antics.  Wow, I love the tree pop-out, don't you?  For my second card, I redid my favorite Christmas card I did last year, this time, with cute polka dot papers from Pink Paislee.  The third card is the one I talked about above.  It is a Center Step Card.  I have seen this type of card on lots of blogs but I had never looked at the instructions, thinking it looked difficult!  It is not!  Two cuts, six small scores and it is done!  After the class next week, I will give you detailed instructions here on my blog.  I do have to borrow a different type of paper cutter to make a bunch of these easier though.  I only own a guillotine cutter.  I do not own one of those sliding type ones, but that is definitely what is needed here.  I made my card sample the old fashioned way ... with a ruler, pencil, and exacto knife.  And it works, but I will be borrowing Donna's to make my class kits!  Here are the class details, if you are interested:

Holidaze Card Creations - Wed. Nov.16th 11:00 a.m. and Sat. Nov. 19th 2:30 p.m. $25

Christmas cardmaking would not be complete without cards from our favorite stamp companies. In this class, you will complete three very creative and unique cards, including a Christmas honeycomb pop-up card, a darling card using one of the Pure Innocence girls, and a card using a new Christmas Stamp and Die-Cut set from Hero Arts. Please bring adhesive, small pop-dots, an X by Xyron (if you have one), a glue stick, a pencil, detailed scissors, and your preferred coloring medium (Copics, colored pencils, etc.) All other supplies provided.

The class participants will also get a bonus card, if they want to do it.  I had an idea for a religious card but I wasn't sure if I should make this one of the three cards, so I am making it an optional bonus kit.  And, I am not showing the card here ... just a sneak peek ...



I love all the cards for this class.  It is so fun to share my cards with class takers and class kit takers!  I also finished my samples for my December class, but I will wait until tomorrow to show you.  See you then!

Happy Stamping!
Tina

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Saturday's Sketch Share!

 Hello!  I bet you wondered what happened to me this week.  I think on Monday I said I would be back in a day or two to show you my class shares.  And I did not come back ... you see, I am short one card for the first class.  I have been waiting for the store to get in their Hero Arts order.  Well, they got it in and I got the stamp set I need for the third card last night, so I will be working on that sample.  In the mean time, I was busy in my room this week getting the second class samples done.  I promise to have both class shares, cards for my November class, and the project for my December class (wait until you see!), on my blog early next week.  Both classes are the ones I will be teaching at The Crafty Scrapper.  Now, that I have given you my excuses for being absent this week, I will get to today's share!  I will show you my card, Debbie's card and the sketch.  Enjoy!


My Card

Debbie's Card


The Sketch

I like this sketch, but I thought my card needed something, but I never figured out what, so I just went with it!  Did you see ... I did a fall card ... I guess it is a kick-off!  Enjoy your weekend!

Happy Stamping!
Tina

P.S. Reminder "fall back" on daylight savings time Tonight!

 
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