Good-by to Summer…No Card Today

The last day of summer vacation has always been bittersweet. I love returning to school and my students. I love the organization and the daily routine. I have always said that I could have been a “professional student”. Yet the end of summer vacation also means an end to spending time with my family. Brady will be off to Western Illinois University for his sophomore year by week’s end, and Missy the Boxer will be left to guard the house alone. I will miss the time that I have spent with them. Hours of doing whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted will now be replaced with preparing for classes and in my case, grading papers.

I am also saddened as I will no longer have as much time to create my cards and share them. I remember when I first became a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator. I had no desire to maintain a blog or post daily. But with the encouragement of Mary Fish, I entered into “blogland”. Making a card daily and posting have become second nature, as has communicating with you, my readers. Brady, bless his heart, has tried to come up with suggestions as to how to balance stamping and teaching, none of which would meet with the approval of my administrators. As much as I would like, I don’t think I can justify teaching about the chemistry of ink, complete with stamping lab, or how rubber is processed into stamps, also with lab! (Leave it to Brady!)

But, my sadness only lasts for a day. As soon as tomorrow morning rolls around, I will be stepping back into what has been my routine since 1976. And when I meet my students on Thursday, it will be as if I have never stepped foot outside of the classroom. So bear with me for a few days, as notebook paper replaces designer paper and report cards replace card stock!

As always…

Fall is in the Air

With my school year starting Monday, I decided to spend my last Saturday of summer vacation celebrating my favorite season…Fall. Autumn Splendor, available September 1, is a beautiful stamp set, perfect for watercoloring. This time I paired the Maple Leaf image from this set with Autumn Traditions Designer Series Paper. The very versatile sketch is Splitcoast’s Sketch Challenge #241. A quick card to create, it features doubled buttons, wood cuts, and ink distressing. Doesn’t it just exude autumn in all of it’s colorful glory?

  • Prepare a standard card base from textured Really Rust. Distress the edges using a Sponge Dauber and Chocolate Chip ink.
  • Round opposite corners of the More Mustard pattern from Autumn Traditions Designer Series Paper with a Corner Rounder, and layer onto the card base.
  • For the wider vertical element, ink distress the “Small Maple Leaf” pattern from Autumn Traditions Designer Series Paper and layer onto Always Artichoke. Do exactly the same for the narrower element, this time using the “Stripes” pattern from the same Designer Series Paper. Adhere these vertical mats onto the card base.
  • For the image, ink the Maple Leaf stamp from Autumn Splendor with Basic Brown and stamp onto Stampin’ Up! Watercolor Paper. Color using Blender Pens and the following inks: Rose Red, Close to Cocoa, Dusty Durango, Always Artichoke, Summer Sun. Ink distress the edges and mat onto ink distressed Wood Cuts, followed by Really Rust. Wrap with Linen Thread and pop onto the card base with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
  • For the finishing touch, prepare three button accents using selections from the Playground and Button Latte collections. Adhere to the card base as illustrated with Mini Glue Dots. (Tip: My buttons were created by using flat Real Red buttons and sewing on the tiny flower buttons with Linen Thread.)
Autumn Splendor is one of my favorite sets from the Holiday Mini Catalog. I love it paired with either of the new “Autumn” Designer Series Papers. Whether it’s Autumn Meadows, which is especially lovely with the Oak Leaf stamp or Autumn Traditions with the Maple Leaf stamp, you have the combination for a winning card!
Have you “Played @ PPA” yet? Are YOU the next PPA “Artist Pick”? Check out the action at Pals Paper Arts. But before you say good-bye, please leave me a comment. And, if you have any questions about a card that I may create or a technique I might use, please drop me an email. Your comments and emails are important to me! Until next time…

Please Click to Order Your Stampin’ Up! Supplies Now!
Stamp Set: Autumn Splendor (116503—Available September 1)
Ink: Basic Brown (104315), Ruby Red (102259), More Mustard (103162), Close to Cocoa (103139), Always Artichoke (105219), Really Rust (102549), Dusty Durango (115654), Chocolate Chip (100908)
Designer Series Paper: Autumn Traditions (115668)
Card Stock: Really Rust textured (), Always Artichoke (105119), Stampin’ Up! Watercolor Paper (105019)
Tools: Corner Rounder (109047), Blender Pens (102845), Sponge Dauber (102892)
Embellishments: Linen Thread (104199), Playground Button Collection (116313), Button Latte Collection (114333)
Other: Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430), Mini Glue Dots (103683)

Ornament Trio


If you are in need of a quick and easy holiday card, then reach for Delightful Decorations! Non-traditional holiday colors of Rich Razzleberry, Bermuda Bay, and Old Olive team up to create a fun and festive card that will surely stand out in the crowd! Stampin’ Up!s Jumbo Snowflake Punch is used to accent the sentiment, while little snowflakes from Merry and Bright Rub-Ons accentuate the ornaments. And of course, what holiday card would be complete without a little bling, this time in the form of Clear Rhinestone Circle Brads! Sneak peeks abound in this “Trio of Ornaments”!
  • Prepare a 5-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ square card base from textured Old Olive card stock. Using a Corner Rounder, round all four corners.
  • Ink the trio of ornaments from Delightful Decorations with the following inks: Bermuda Bay, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive. Stamp onto Whisper White card stock and punch out using the Ornament Punch (available September 1st). Embellish each with a Clear Rhinestone Circle Brad.
  • Pop the ornaments onto textured Very Vanilla card stock which has been matted onto Old Olive card stock, followed by Bermuda Bay and Rich Razzleberry. For added interest, the Rich Razzleberry has been punched with the Eyelet Border Punch. Adhere to the card base.
  • Using the tool provided, add a sprinkle of rub-on snowflakes from the Merry and Bright collection (available September 1st).
  • Add a snippet of Rich Razzleberry Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon as illustrated in the photograph.
  • Punch a snowflake from Bermuda Bay using the Jumbo Snowflake Punch and adhere to the card base with a Mini-Glue Dot.
  • Ink the “Warm Winter Wishes” sentiment from The More the Merrier Hostess Level 3 set in Rich Razzleberry, and stamp onto Very Vanilla. Punch out with the Modern Label Punch and adhere on top of the Bermuda Bay snowflake.
I love these colors together! With the new Ornament Punch, available September 1, cards like this will be a snap to make. Of course, being able to pre-order Delightful Decorations and the Ornament Punch, as well as creating your own sneak peeks, are just two of the many perks available to you as a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator. I would love to have you join my group. There is still time to take advantage of the $85 demonstrator special. Click here to learn how you can join my downline! I provide support to my downline every step of the way, from placing your first order to setting up a blog! I also help you keep abreast of all the Stampin’ Up! news. As an added incentive, I am offering a set of the new In-Color Stampin’ Write Markers to the next three recruits who join me before August 31st! I will also provide you with a retired stamp set of your choice from this past year’s Sale-A-Bration, while quantities last! Please email me if you have any questions, or would like my recruiting password!
Update on Yesterday’s Card: If you were wondering if yesterday’s Non-Traditional Snowflake card was a success, yes it was! My friend was very happy with it, and will be placing an order for Serene Snowflakes and Night & Day Designer Paper just as soon as it becomes available on September 1st.
As always, your comments and emails are important to me! Trust me…I am plotting and planning on a way to reward you…and you know what that means! Details will be coming very soon! So get into the habit of leaving those comments when you stop by! Until next time…

Click Here to Order Your Stampin’ Up! 24/7!
Stamp Sets: Delightful Decorations (116517—Available September 1), The More the Merrier Hostess Level 3 (115322)
Inks: Bermuda Bay (115655), Rich Razzleberry (115658), Old Olive (102277)
Card Stock: Old Olive textured (108697—Earth Elements Assorted), Very Vanilla textured (108693—Neutrals Assorted), Whisper White (100730), Old Olive (100702), Bermuda Bay (115317), Rich Razzleberry (115316)
Tools: Ornament Punch (116794—Available September 1), Jumbo Snowflake Punch (116628), Modern Label Punch (116630), Eyelet Border Punch (113692)
Embellishments: Clear Rhinestone Brads (113144), Rich Razzleberry Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (115613), Merry and Bright Rub-Ons (116801—Available September 1)