Stamp Act

Cuttlebug and Quad Flap Fold Tutorials.....

Here are the two tutorials I promised!  Remember, you can ALWAYS ask questions so if something isn't clear, please send me an email and I will answer your question the best I can!  I made another card similar to my card from May 12th.   Here is the end result ~

The card base is Whisper White and is 5" square.  The decorative papers are from Melissa Frances and can be found HERE!   The way I did the scallops on the bottom was to first cut the decorative paper with my cheap old scalloped scissors and then cut a piece of Basic Black with the same scissors.  When I adhered them together, I offset them.  The ribbon is light blue satin with grosgrain edges and the black  white polka dot ribbon is May Arts and was in Lindsey's store but it looks like she is currently sold out.  I used my horizontal slot punch and then tied the ribbons on.  Here is how the focal image was done!

Step 1 ~ I used a 3 1/4" square of Whisper White cardstock, stamped my image a little high, not centered so the sentiment can go underneath.

Step 2 ~ Use a 1 1/2" square, line it up ON THE BACK of the focal piece and centered.  I held my stamped piece up to the light and could see the image through, held my template in place on the back and then made pencil marks in each corner.  These are the points you will want to score from.  Here is what it looks like~

Step 3 ~ Use your scoring tool (I used my Scor-pal) and score from pencil mark to pencil mark to make a square.  I then scored another square just outside my first square by using my first square as a guide.  You don't have to do this of course.  Here is a picture of what it will now look like ~

Here is what it will look like on the front when you are done scoring ~

Step 4 ~ Get your Cuttlebug folder (I used Swiss Dots) and start at any point except the bottom.  Here is how I did mine ~

I lined up the bottom dots with the score line and ran it through the CB.  Here is the next side ~

I again lined the bottom dots up with the score line as well as the dots I had already embossed.  When you run this through the CB, it will smash a few of your dots down but don't worry, we'll fix those in the next step!  Here is my next side ~

Here comes the technical part!!!  LOL!!!  If you are fortunate enough to have the dots line up (so far this has not happened for me!) then you are in luck but if you aren't, this is how I did the final embossing ~        

Line up your dots as you would AS IF you were going to run this through the CB but instead of running it through you are going to press the folder together MANUALLY (this means use NO tools, just your hands!! LOL!!!).  Only press where you want the dots to fill in.  You do have to press pretty hard and I am sure you could even lay it down on the table and use the palm of your hand but you don't want to overlap the dots on the right side so be careful of where you are pressing.  This is how it will look when you are done ~

Step 5 ~ Take this piece, turn it over on top of a cushioned mat and then take the small end of your stylus and emboss the polka dots on the back a little deeper to have them show up more.  I also used the stylus to poke the dots out that got flattened.  When you look at my piece closer, you will see that the bottom dots do look different but it isn't too apparent.  Here is a close ~ up of that ~

I will try the table thing next time.  I didn't want to chance screwing this one up since I was taking pictures and knew that doing it by hand definitely worked!  OK, on to my next tutorial!!!

This is very short.  I just wanted to show you how you fold the cardstock for my card from Tuesday ~

You will need 4 pieces of cardstock that measure 5" square.  Score each piece in half at 2 1/2".  This is how the first 2 pieces will be laid out (you will ultimately be making a cross with these 4 pieces) ~

Here is how your third piece should go ~

and here is how your fourth piece should go ~

OK, the way you fold it is to start at the bottom and work your way around ~ like this ~

Your final white fold on the right will be tucked under the purple and your end result will look like this ~

You can check out how I decorated the inside by going HERE! 

Don't forget, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask~!

~Lynda

Hoooo's Thinking of You?????

I REALLY like the layout of my card!  I wasn't sure at first but I am so happy with how it came together!!  The layout is from Lauren's Sketch Saturday.   No, no original thought today!

The base of my card is Whisper White but I completely covered it with a blue from some old Chatterbox decorative paper I had.  I used my scalloped scissors to cut the bottom and added a small piece of Chocolate Chip cardstock to the bottom.  All of the decorative papers are from Chatterbox and were matted with Chocolate Chip cardstock.  The focal image is the owl from this DARLING Playful Animals stamp set from Hero Arts.   I stamped the owl using Chocolate Chip ink on Whisper White cardstock.  I then cut and embossed the circle using my Nestabilities.  I then cut a scalloped circle, also with my Nestabilities, to mat the owl on.  I added another circle under the scalloped circle of Chocolate Chip cardstock.  I colored Mr. Owl using my Prismacolor Pencils and then added glitter to the owls eyelashes and edges of the leaves using my Sakura Stardust Clear glitter pen.   I mounted this on the front of the card using dimensionals.  The flowers are from Prima and the blue rhinestones are Hero Arts Light Blue Gemstones.   Oh, the sentiment is also included in the Playful Animals set!  You can find all of the stamps and accessories (except the flowers & Nestabilities) at Stampers Dream.

I hope to have my tutorials ready tomorrow for you so be sure and check back!  I hope you have a great day!

~Lynda

Jacksonbelle Design Team BASIC GREY Challenge...

Good Morning!!!
This week's design team challenge is to use Basic Grey.  Now that isn't hard is it???  I chose Sugared for my project today!  BTW ~ Lindsey JUST received her new shipment of Inkadinkado Stamps which includes restocked stamps she sold out of as well as some BRAND, SPANKIN' new ones!!!  On this card I used the Inkadinkado Cupcake set.  This is a picture of the card closed ~

This is actually more like a little package than a card.  I cannot take credit for the layout ~ I found it in one of my old Card Creations magazines.   It takes 4 ~ 5" squares of cardstock which are then ALL scored in half.  The squares are then laid out in the shape of a cross.  It is hard to explain so what I will do is a little tutorial on it in the next few days!  I will use better colors because the white was really hard to get a good photo of!  I will also show you how I embossed my swiss dots from yesterday's post.

I used Shimmer White cardstock for my base.  As I mentioned above, each square is a different pattern of paper from the Sugared Collection.  Each square is matted using a piece of the pink paper also included in that collection.  For each of the Cupcakes I stamped them on Shimmer White cardstock using Chocolate Chip ink and then used my circle Nestabilities to cut and emboss the edges.  I then matted each cupcake on a pink circle cut from my Creative Memories circle cutter.  I stamped the cupcakes again on one of the decorative papers, cut out the cupcake holder and glued it on each cupcake.  I did not color the frosting just used Elmer's glue and my white Martha Stewart glitter.  I then added Cotton Candy Stickles to each heart and little stars.  These cupcakes are mounted on each square using dimensionals.  The sentiment is also in the Cupcake set and was stamped on Shimmer White using Chocolate Chip ink.  I then used my square Nestabilities to cut and emboss the edge of this piece matted with a floral piece from the Sugared Collection.  I added a little pink flower jewel I got from Target in the upper corner BECAUSE I smudged brown ink in that corner and I had to cover it up!!!  LOL!!!

Here is a close-up of one of the cupcakes ~

For the inside, I used a 5" piece of Chocolate Sugared paper and then a 4 1/2" piece of pink Sugared paper.  I then made a little pocket using another of the decorative paper and just cut the top using scalloped scissors.  I used adhesive on just the edges of the pocket to adhere it.  I then used a thin strip of the striped decorative paper and ran it through a silver buckle from my SU! Hodgepodge kit.  I added the same Cotton Candy Stickles to the inside of the flower on the buckle.  I used a glue stick to adhere the strip on the front of the pocket.  I then made a tag using more of the decorative paper, added a silver eyelet on the top and used THIS and THIS May Arts Ribbon.  Here is a picture of the inside ~

Be sure to check out what the other girls have created for this challenge ~

Lila

Erin

Amber

Maren

Kisa

Elizebeth

AND, don't forget our fearless leader ~ Lindsey!

Thanks for stopping by!!

~Lynda

Just Imagine.....

Hi!
I hope you all had a really nice day yesterday, I did!!  The weather was really rainy and cold so we just stayed in and I got to stamp!!!  Here is a card I did yesterday and it is not based on any challenge ~ can you say ~ ORIGINAL THOUGHT????  I actually did this one on my own and all because Michelle sent me a sample of this beautiful May Arts ribbon.

The base of my card is Basic Black and is 5" square.  Under the Whisper White scalloped piece is Tempting Turquoise (a color I don't EVER use).  I cut the scalloped using my Martha Stewart scalloped border punch.  I added SU! black flower rubons at each scalloped point and then added Waterfall Stickles to the centers of each flower.  The black and white polka dot paper is from KI Memories and then I added my May Arts Ribbon.  I just ran the ribbon around the card and used Scotch tape to tape it under my focal image.  I used my horizontal slot punch to punch the side of the focal image and tied another piece of ribbon in a knot.  The butterfly is from Starving Artistamps and is called a Small Freak Butterfly.   I stamped the image first on the Whisper White large piece and then again on a scrap piece of Whisper White using Basic Black ink.  I colored both butterflies using Prismacolor Pencils and cut the butterfly out that was stamped on the scrap piece.  I also added some turquoise Pearl Ex to the butterfly to add shimmer.  Here is a close up of that ~

Before I adhered the second butterfly on top of the first, I used my Scor~pal to emboss a box around the butterfly and then I added the SU! rub on sentiment.  I then took my Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder and embossed around the edges of the square.  I then used a glue dot to adhere my second butterfly, used my horizontal slot punch to punch the side and add the ribbon and then mounted the Whisper White piece on top of first Basic Black cardstock and then Tempting Turquoise.  I used dimensionals to adhere this to the top of the card.

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you all have a great day!

~Lynda

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Happy Mother's Day!
I hope you all are having a fun day!  I was able to take a little time and stamp this morning so that makes for a really nice Mother's Day!!  Today's featured stamper is my friend Jennifer.   I love everything that Jen does but I had to narrow my choices down to just 1, for now!!!  The card of Jen's that I decided to CASE is HERE!   I changed everything except the layout.  Here is my card ~

The base of my card is River Rock.  I then took a mat of Basic Black cardstock, added a small Whisper White edge of cardstock on the top and then added my decorative Cider decorative River Rock paper on top.  I used my Martha Steward scallop punch/embosser along the bottom of the polka dot paper.  I then added Hero Arts Black gemstones at each "flower" along the bottom.  I stamped the large flourish from Inque Boutique ~ Nightingale stamp set on top of the polka dot paper using River Rock ink.  I added SU! black grosgrain across the top and then added this UNBELIEVABLY beautiful ribbon from May Arts to add some color.  The only problem is that there is actually brown, not black, in the ribbon but it doesn't look bad and I REALLY liked the color it added!!!  My card tomorrow was TOTALLY based on the blue version of this ribbon ~ that's how much I liked it!!!

I stamped the bird from the same Nightingale set on Whisper White using Basic Black ink.  I colored the bird using a blender pen and Rose Red and Old Olive ink pads.  I added some glitter to the birds top knot and ends of the swirls using my Stardust Clear glitter pen.  Here is a close~ up ~

The 3 dots were first stamped using another stamp for the Nightingale set.   I then added these cool Clear gems from Hero Arts that look like bubbles.   The sentiment is from Gina K and was stamped on Whisper White using Basic Black ink.  I then used a flourish from the Nightingale set and stamped over the top of the sentiment using Rose Red ink.  I stamped off 2 times first to get a pale Rose color.  I then used my circle Nestabilities to punch it out and emboss around the edge.  I then cut a large circle from River Rock cardstock and then a scalloped circle from Basic Black cardstock.  I mounted this on the front using dimensionals. 

You can get most of the supplies I used from Michelle at Stampers Dream.   

Stamps ~ Inque Boutique ~ Nightingale and Gina K. ~ Rectangle Greetings   Ink ~ Basic Black, Rose Red, Old Olive and River Rock  Paper ~ Basic Black, Whisper White, River Rock & Cider DP   Other ~ Hero Arts ~ Black Rhinestones and clear bubbles, scalloped circles & regular circles ~ Nestabilities, dimensionals, May Arts ribbon, black grosgrain, Martha Stewart scalloped punch/embosser, Stardust clear glitter pen, blender pen   

Thanks for stopping by!!!

~Lynda

Sharon's Stamp Simply Challenge #34 ~ Stitches!!!

It has been a LONG time since I have done one  of Sharon's ~ Stamp Simply Friday challenges!  Today, I did it!  The challenge was to sew on your card.  That's easy enough!!  I got a Janome Sew Mini for my birthday last month and this is just the second time I have used it.  I found that I did much better this time! 

The base of my card is Whisper White.  The decorative paper is from Melissa Frances' Ambiente Collection.  I used my scalloped scissors on the top green & blue piece and then just left the blue striped as is on the bottom.  I added a small strip of the striped blue DP, which I cut a scalloped edge on the top, just above the scalloped edge green & blue piece.  I then added Celery and Bashful Blue grosgrain ribbon.  I then sewed around the entire card.  I punched a scalloped oval, using my Giga scallop punch, from Whisper White cardstock.  The image is from Memory Box's ~ Vintage Garden Set.  I stamped the stem and "grass" using Celery ink.  The flowers were stamped using Bashful Blue ink in which I inked up the stamp and then stamped off on a scrap piece of paper.  After I stamped off, I used my Brocade Blue marker and inked the edges of the flower, huffed on the stamp and then stamped.  I added some bling, for a change, from Prima.   I also added a Clear Prima Dragonfly.   I then used my Creative Memories oval cutter to mat the scalloped oval with a piece of Bashful Blue cardstock.  I sponged the edges of the blue with White Craft ink to tone the color down a little.   Don't forget that Sunday is the last day for Mothers and Daughters Creations sale so stop on by!!!

I hope you all have a great weekend!

~Lynda

Limited Supplies Challenge ~ NO STAMPS ALLOWED!!!!

Hi!
I am back ~ not that I went anywhere ~ but should I say, back to stamping!?!?!  My Mojo left earlier in the week about the time my Allergies because really bad so with that said, I could not come up with a darn thing so I just did other things.  NOT that there are other things to do around here but LUCKY for me, I was able to find a few!!!  I will share with you later what happened to one of my projects!!!  Anyway, this card is for todays Limited Supply challenge which was to make a card and use NO stamps!  I do this every once in a while but of course today, I had trouble with it but I guess that is why it is a challenge.....

The base of my card is Going Gray cardstock with a mat of a light Grey piece of decorative paper from the Basic Grey Boxer Collection.   The next layer is (from the bottom up) first Basic Black cardstock and then a red piece of patterned paper from the same collection.  I used my Cuttlebug corner die cuts and what I did was cut them 2 times each, first with Basic Black cardstock and then the Grey decorative paper.  The black corners I kept the cutout pieces inside by just using my glue stick on the back of it and then adhered it in the corner.  I then poked the cut pieces out of the Grey decorative corner and used a glue stick and stuck that right on top of the black so it would show up better....  I added Hibiscus self adhesive rhinestones as well.  The focal image is first a mat of Basic Black and then a thin mat of Going Grey cardstock.  The sentiment and frame are both from Basic Grey but different collections.  I rubbed them on the Grey decorative paper and again added the same rhinestones.  This piece is popped up off of the card by using Pop Dots (I am out of dimensionals!!!). 

I won't give a recipe since this was a really simple card and all of the materials are outlined above!  My daughter's class is having a Mother's Day Celebration so I do need to get to that shortly!  Before I go, I want you to see the kind of stuff I have to put up with........

I bought some beautiful Petunia's, planted them in 3 pots that look like this ~

They were really heavy so I left them on the OUTSIDE of the pool fence figuring I would move them in later using a hand truck or my husband would.  Well......last night Chris and the kids went out to swim and WHO did they see in my flower pots???? 

Who me?????  This is BC.  The kids refer to her as BC or "Best Customer" because she comes running when you go out with food and she just pushes her way to the front of the line ~ always!!!  Well, the B for Best was not the B word I was thinking!!! LOL!!!  I guess she decided she would scratch INSIDE my planters for bugs.  You know, Virginia in the Spring/Summer doesn't have ENOUGH bugs for this chicken!!!  I used dirt from our compost pile so there were bugs in there but this is the SAME compost pile that they have unlimited access to since it is right outside their coop!!!!  It is really difficult to reason with a chicken....  Here is what was left ~

Don't worry, she won't be dinner!!! LOL!!!  We don't eat our chickens, only the eggs.  I love all of my animals and this is just what happens when you have animals AND kids!!! LOL!!!

I have another card to share so when I get back, I will post it! 

~Lynda

Jacksonbelle Embellishments FIRST Design Team Challenge!!!

Good Morning!
The following card is based on our FIRST Jacksonbelle Embellishments Design Team Challenge!  The challenge was to use the colors Pink, Green and Grey.  You can play along too!!!  Check out Lindsey's forum on SCS HERE!   Also, be sure to check out what the other design team girls have made!! 

• Maren
• Beth
• Kisa
• Amber
• Elizebeth
• Erin
• Lindsey
  

Also, we were fortunate enough to have  Trudee play with us too!!!

I really had different plans for this card and am not really sure if I like it or not but since I have now run out of time and need to post, this is the card I will show you!!! 

You are probably thinking that I didn't follow the instructions AGAIN but let me assure you, I really did this time!!!  There really is green on there!!  The base of my card is Basic Gray with a mat of Rose Red and then the Cosmo Crickett Fleuriste decorative pink paper.  I did sponge Basic Gray ink on all pieces of paper and cardstock and also used my distressing tool on all edges.  I also paper pierced around the entire card.  The strip across the bottom is first Rose Red and then Always Artichoke (this is my GREEN!) and then another decorative paper from the Fleuriste pack.  The flowers are from my Lizzie Anne ~ Jolies Fleurs.  I stamped the small flowers on the polka dot paper using ALWAYS ARTICHOKE GREEN INK and then again on Whisper White cardstock using Basic Gray ink.  I colored the flower part using my Watercolor Crayons and a blender pen.  I cut them out and adhered them on top of the flowers I stamped first.  I stamped the large flower 2 times on the decorative pink paper and cut out the entire flower on one and just the center flower on the other.  I colored the inside of the large flower petals using a blender pen and my Basic Gray ink pad.  I then added glitter on top of it using my Copic Spica clear glitter pen.  I added a Making Memories decorative brad to the center of the top flower, mounted it on top of the larger flower using a dimensional and then mounted them both on the strip using another dimensional. 

I have another item to show you that I made using another piece of the Fleuriste decorative paper.  I made this for my friend Lynn who was supposed to have it MONTHS ago but in my normal fashion, have procrastinated!!!!  Finally, I am done and Lynn will get it!!!

I am not sure if I like the sentiment so I may change that but it is stamped on the same paper and then punched using the key tag punch, added a pewter eyelet and adhered it on the handle using some pewter Making Memories key chain.  The purse is from Bare Elements and what I did was just layer multiple colors of acrylic paint using a couple different sponges.  I just kept layering until I got the color I wanted.  I then added the decorative paper on the top in which I glued down using a glue stick.  I did faux stitching all around the flap and used a black ink pen to add the stitch marks.  The metal flower is from Imaginisce and I added a Poppy rhinestone to the center using Elmer's Glue.  I also adhered the metal flower on the flap using a dimensional and Elmer's Glue. 

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask!  Here is a close up of the flap ~

How do you like my new Blog Banner???  I am so excited about it!  I LOVE it!!!  I contacted Rachel the other day (she has done Lindsey's and Michelle's banners to name a few!) and she had this awesome banner done for me in no time!!!  She is so sweet and super easy to work with!!! 

Have a great day!

~Lynda

Happy Monday!!!

We are having another beautiful day here today!  I wish I could just relax in my Adirondack chair, read a book, take a nap..... Oh my, wouldn't that be nice!  Well, it ain't gonna happen here BUT I do have a card to show you that may get you inspired to take a rest!!!

I was supposed to post this card with my Scrapbook page  from Saturday but didn't get it done in time!  The base of my card is Old Olive cardstock with a mat of Soft Sky and then Real Red cardstock.  The top decorative paper is from Daisy Bucket ~ Secret Garden.  I cut out a few extra flowers and added them to the top with dimensionals.  I also added some Prima Bling although it is a little difficult to see in my picture.  The striped cardstock is also Daisy Bucket in which I just added a thin strip and then added the May Arts Ombre ribbon.  I will tell you how I did that after I explain the focal image!  The Serendipity Adirondack Chair was stamped on Whisper White cardstock using Basic Black ink.  I then used a combination of my Prismacolor pencils and Soft Sky & More Mustard ink pads & a blender pen.  I also sponged the edges using Creamy Caramel ink and a sponge (you probably knew that didn't you!!) LOL!!!  I matted this image with first Real Red and then Old Olive cardstock.  I used my horizontal slot punch and punched where you see the knot.  I took one end of the ribbon and put it through the horizontal slot hole so the rest of the ribbon wrapped around the outside of the image and then under the image to the left side of the card.  I then used Scotch tape to tape it on the back of the panel.  I took another piece of ribbon and tied a knot right at the horizontal slot location.  I used dimensionals to mount this on the front.

I have some news to share!!!  I got a call on Friday from Inkadinkado telling me that I won honorable mention for my Poppy card that I had submitted!!  I was so shocked AND very excited because I won a $50 shopping spree!!!  Woohoo!!!   You can see all of the winners HERE!

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you all have a great day!

~Lynda

Mothers Day Ensemble......

I had such high hopes to add a beautiful pin to this Mother's Day ensemble BUT the stupid pin did NOT want to look right so....there is NO pin!!!  I am sure some other amazing little jewelry item would look beautiful in this box!!!  LOL!!! 

The card is based on Wednesday's sketch challenge and the box was made using the instructions from the dinosaur box I made last week ~ HERE!   For this set, the main, beautiful paper is from Best Creation and already has the glitter on it!  The card dimensions are 4" x 9".  The base of the card is Shimmer White cardstock and the flap has a strip of Mellow Moss cardstock.  I then added the same May Arts Ivory sheer organdy with gold edges as I have on the box.  I wrapped the ribbon around the flap and taped it under the oval flower image.  I then added a knot by punching two holes on either side of the bouquet, pulled the ribbon through and tied it.  Here is a close~up of that ~

I added an extra strip of decorative paper on the right side on the inside of the card.  The butterflies are from a Martha Stewart punch which I punched three from the decorative paper and glued them just in the centers and bent the wings up.  I then added some purple crystals to the centers of the butterflies and larger ones to the centers of my flowers on the card.  I used my Quickie glue pen.  I stamped the Serendipity Bouquet on Shimmer White cardstock using Creamy Caramel ink.  I then used my Creative Memories oval cutter to cut it out.  Since I don't YET have the oval Nestabilities, I used my scalloped scissors to cut around the oval to make a scallope mat of Creamy Caramel cardstock.  I didn't have the right color ink to color the flowers, looks kindof Periwinkle, so I just stamped the flowers on the decorative paper and cut them out and mounted them on top of the stamped ones.  I did color the stems and leaves using my Mellow Moss ink pad and a blender pen.  I used dimensionals to adhere it to the card.

The box was done with the same decorative paper and ribbon.  I also used Mellow Moss cardstock.  Here is a picture of the top of the box ~

I used the same measurements as I had on dino box but for the lid I did this one a bit different.  After I scored it, I used my square Nestabilities to cut out the center of the lid, leaving a small edge.  I then glued a piece of Acetate on the inside.  I then cut out a group of flowers from the decorative papers and adhered it on top of the acetate.  The butterfly was done the same was as the ones on the card.  I used Elmer's glue to adhere it to the top of the box.  Here is a picture of the inside of the lid ~

Here is a picture of the front of the box ~

I used my Martha Stewart punch to make the decorative edge.  The ribbon was tied around the entire lid one time and then I tied 2 more little pieces of ribbon on top of the first knot to layer it 3 times and then when I cut it, I staggered the edges.  Here are a few more pictures and I hope you can see how beautiful the paper is and how nice the glitter looks ~

I hope you are all having a great day!  We have had the nicest weather today and let me tell you, the kids have really enjoyed it but the dog has REALLY enjoyed it!!!  Here is proof!