A Cup of Tea

One of the stamp sets that I received in my “Starter Kit” when I became a Stampin‘ Up! demonstrator was “Define Your Life”. I knew that it would be perfect for scrapbooking pages of my son, and today it proved to be just what I needed to create this card for him. Listening to him prepare his audition music this evening was just the inspiration that I needed to get me out of my creative block. The music on this card is from Alexander Goedicke’s “Concert Etude”. Brady played this piece to perfection last spring, and was named “Best of Center” at the Iowa High School Music Association Solo and Ensemble contest. I “tea” stained the music, stamped blocks, and the Tall Tales Designer Series Paper to “age” them. This technique isn’t everyone’s “cup of tea”, but sometimes it is fun to do something a little different! And as far as Brady’s assessment of the card…we are framing it tomorrow! So, let’s have a little spot of tea, shall we?

  • Prepare a 5-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ card base from Dusty Durango. (I aged the edges of the paper with a Sponge Dauber and Soft Suede ink.)

  • Layer with a selection of Tall Tales Designer Series Paper. I selected the Old Olive tiny circle pattern, which I aged with a wash of Soft Suede ink and water. I then used a blow dryer to dry the slightly damp paper and ironed it flat with a cool iron.

  • Ink the “Create” stamp from Define Your Life with Soft Suede and stamp onto Very Vanilla card stock. Tear the edges, and the age the paper with a mixture of Tea Dye Distress Ink by Ranger and the Soft Suede wash from the previous step. Repeat this process with the “Cc” stamp from Defining Alphabet and the “Violin” image from Music Expressions. Curl up the edges of the images to add texture. (I added just a smidge of color to the Violin image by using Old Olive ink and a Blender Pen.)

  • Next take the sheet music and “paint” it with reconstituted Walnut Ink Crystals by Little Scraps of Time and Tea Dye Distress Ink. Dry with a blow dryer. (Tip: I distressed the sheet music by crumpling it first and then smoothing it out before applying the wash.) I then rolled up two small pieces of the music into two tubes.

  • Punch a section of the sheet music using the Photo Corner Punch, and apply to opposite corners of the card base.

  • Adhere the images to the card base as illustrated. The letter block and the definition block are popped up on Stampin‘ Dimensionals, and are accented with buttons from the Button Latte collection. (Tip: Use a snippet of Dusty Durango card stock to give a finishing touch to the buttons. Plus, Mini Glue Dots are just the ticket to hold the buttons firmly in place.)

I had fun releasing my stress by distressing and aging this card! I guess you would say that I was “de-stressing” by “distressing”! If you have any questions at all about the technique used in today’s card, please Email Me.

Please feel free to leave me a comment and tell me what you think of today’s card. Your comments are very important to me! Until next time…

Order Your Stampin‘ Up! Supplies Now!

Stamp Set: Define Your Life (114950), Defining Alphabet (114952), Music Expressions (113718)
Ink: Soft Suede (115657), Old Olive (102277), Walnut Ink Crystals (Scraps of Time), Tea Dye Distress Ink (Ranger)
Designer Series Paper: Tall Tales (115678)
Card Stock: Dusty Durango (115321)
Tools: Photo Corners Punch (109042)
Embellishments: Button Latte Collection (114333)
Other: Blender Pens (102845), Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430), Mini Glue Dots (103683), Sheet Music

It’s Here

Get your pencils and paper ready, and get started on your Wish List! The long awaited moment is here…The 2009-2010 Idea Book and Catalog has officially arrived!


Just CLICK HERE to download a copy! Be patient…it is a very large file!

Also released is the new Fall-Winter Definitely Decoratively catalog. You cannot believe the exciting new products available. I personally love the Dasher Decor Elements which is available as a Hostess Level 2 award. Check it out on Page 5!


Just CLICK HERE to browse this catalog!

And to make your list making easier, here is your official copy of the Stampin’Up! WISH LIST!

What is in store for you from me? Well, if today’s order is any indication, we’ll see Pendant Park, Medallion, Farm Life, Peace Within, Falling Leaves, Garden Greenhouse and Chic Boutique…just to name a few! If it looks like I went a little overboard, and if my husband happens to read this, I earned free sets through the Stampin’ Start program, an incentive program available for new demonstrators. What better time to redeem them than at the start of a new catalog period!

Thanks for checking in with me today! Now it’s off to create a card or two, and patiently await the delivery of my new stamp sets. Monday should be the Big Day! Until next time…

The More Birds the Merrier

Today’s Splitcoast Color Challenge (CC225) was to use Night of Navy, So Saffron, and Kraft. Since I had not used these sweet little birds from The More the Merrier Hostess Level 3 set, now was the perfect opportunity. With the new catalog going live tomorrow, I know that many of you will be earning your on-line rewards! Combine your orders with a friend or two and qualify for this set. For your convenience, I will have the new 2009-2010 Idea Book and Catalog available on this blog after 12:00 PM (Noon) Mountain Time. I know that we are all anxious to place our orders, but due to catalog transitioning, online ordering will not be available until after noon Mountain Time. Now, back to today’s card. The sketch is quick and easy, and there are several stamp sets that can be substituted until you receive your own “The More the Merrier”!
  • Prepare a standard card base from textured Very Vanilla card stock and score at the top.

  • Layer with textured So Saffron.

  • Cut a strip of Night of Navy textured card stock and punch the edge with the Eyelet Border Punch. Layer with So Saffron Grosgrain Ribbon. Attach to the card base as shown.

  • Ink the “Birds” stamp from The More the Merrier with Basic Gray and stamp onto Very Vanilla. Color using a Blender Pen and the following inks: Melon Mambo (heart), Night of Navy (wings) and So Saffron (beaks). Use a Blender Pen and Going Gray Stampin‘ Pastel to create the shadowing below the row of birds. Mat onto Kraft and adhere to the Night of Navy strip.

  • As a finishing touch, ink the “so happy to have a friend like you” sentiment from The More the Merrier and stamp onto Very Vanilla. Punch with the Large Oval Punch and layer on top of a Night of Navy Scalloped Oval, using a Stampin‘ Dimensional. Offset this onto a Kraft Scalloped Oval. Attach to the card base.

The Stampin‘ Schach Ramblings: Card making is like a steeplechase, with a variety of hurdles to jump. There are margins that need to be equal and straight. Stamps need to be evenly inked. Layouts need to be balanced. And the list goes on! In the case of blogging, the camera picks up details that I never seem to notice with the naked eye. I can’t begin to tell you the number of times that I have finished a card and photographed it only to discover as I was cropping the print that something looked amiss. So back to the drawing board I would go, making changes and trying to salvage as much of the original card as possible. Did anyone notice that yesterday’s card originally started with Turquoise Square Ice Brads? After looking at it in My Gallery for several hours, I decided to make a change. It now has Pink Circle Fire Brads. Although the Turquoise was beautiful in person, in digital they clashed with the Bermuda Bay Scallop Oval. But you know what? Each one of my mistakes is a learning experience. Don’t let your mistakes get you down. Rare is the paper artist who has not made one. Even the most talented of designers have had to stamp a sentiment more than once, so I never feel badly about the two…or…three…or…Oh, alright…the six times I have had to re-ink a stamp. Instead embrace your mistakes for what they are…ways to help you grow in your card making skills!

Are you ready to earn Hostess Rewards? Consider these options: 1) Hold a catalog party…I will be happy to explain to you how you can do this! 2) Start an online Hostess Club! Contact me today, and I will share the details with you! And if you would love to receive your Stampin‘ Up! products at a discount, join me as a demonstrator today. I would love to have you join my group. With the new catalog complete with new products, plus an exciting press release that I will share with you tomorrow, could there be a better time to be a Stampin‘ Up demonstrator? Please Email Me today!

Your comments are very important to me, so please feel free to leave me a comment. I would love to hear from you! Until next time…

Order Your Stampin‘ Up! Supplies Now!

Stamp Set: The More the Merrier (115322 Level 3 Hostess)
Ink: Basic Grey (109120), Melon Mambo (115656), Night of Navy (102977)
Card Stock: So Saffron Textured and Night of Navy Textured (108696—Rich Regals 12” x 12” Textured Assorted Pack), Kraft (102125), Very Vanilla (101650)
Tools: Eyelet Border Punch (113692), Scallop Oval Punch (114889), Large Oval Punch (107305)
Embellishments: So Saffron Grosgrain Ribbon (SAB)
Other: Blender Pens (102845), Stampin’ Pastels (105542), Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430)