Stamp Act

An Archaic Challenge with Lindsey!!!

Good Morning!
Since tomorrow, Thursday, is the BIG day when Lindsey will announce her new design team members, we decided to do our weekly (well, at least when life doesn't get in the way and interrupt  our stamping schedule!!) challenge today!!!  We used our Basic Grey ~ Archaic Collection.   Can I tell you how cool this paper is!?!?  I am actually working on a couple of scrapbook pages from our trip to the Museum of Natural History in DC way back in 2006!!  My sons second grade class went and now I have my daughters trip (2007) to scrapbook too!! LOL!!  I need to get with it!  Anyway, it is National Scrapbook Day on Saturday so hopefully I can get them done to post sometime this weekend.  Here is my box and gift card holder for todays challenge!

The little gift card holder fits inside the dino box!  I wanted to be really creative and make an Origami Spider out of money but I NOW realize that Origami is not my thing!! LOL!!  I don't think you are doing it right if you have to use glue dots in order to keep the thing together!!!  I gave up on that and just did a little gift card holder because there were no other creative ideas running through my mind....  Here is a picture of the box ~

Before I give you the directions on the box, I have a tip for you!!!  The dino is a sticker from the sticker sheet that is included in the 12x12 Archaic Collection.  When you have a sticker that you don't want to actually stick on something (I wanted to mount him on the box with dimensionals), rub Corn Starch or I have heard that Baby Powder will work too, on the back of the sticker and then there won't be any more sticky!  I did the same thing for the chipboard bones that are on the gift card holder.  OK, now on to the directions....

Base of the box (finished size 3x3) ~

Step 1:   For the bottom of the box, cut a 9x9 square and score at 3" and 6" (after you do it one way, turn your paper 1 time to the right and score at 3" and 6" again to make a box!).

Step 2:  You can start at any end on your scored 9x9 piece of paper/cardstock for this step.  You are going to cut the center square on one end, just down each side of the center square to the scored mark running vertical.  Here is a picture of how it should look ~

Step 3:  Fold your box and put it together!  I used Red Line or Sticky strip tape because I do find that it holds better.  The way I fold my box is for the center flap to be on the inside so it is folded up first and then fold the sides in and I try to fold the sides so the closed, scored, nice end is my front.  This will make sense once you start folding.  If not, let me know!

Step 4:  Decorate!!!  I did put a strip along the bottom of my box which I cut using my Creative Memories Wavy Cutter.  Since the paper was 12" long, I cut my strip and then scored it at 3", 6" and 9".   I used regular adhesive to hold this on but I do notice it isn't sticking that great so I will probably go back and add Sticky strip.

Step 5:  Your lid....  You will need a 5" square for this.  I used the striped pattern from the Archaic ~ 6x6 pack because the patterns are smaller and I thought it would look nicer.  After you cut your 5"x5" square, score this at 1 1/16" (Lindsey and I scored at 1" and the lid is just a little too tight so the tiny extra will make the lid fit perfectly!).  Score 1 time and then rotate your square until all 4 sides are scored. 

Step 6:  After you have scored your lid, you need to cut just one side of the scored square on each end and then fold them in and adhere them (I used Sticky strip) on the inside flap of your lid.   Here is a picture of that ~

Quite professional looking isn't it?!?!? LOL!!  I didn't take pictures while doing the box because I NEVER know if it will turn out right so this is my template!

Step 7:  Decorate!!!  I just freehand (I know, I know, NOT everyone can do it but just try) cut the points to make it look like it had a few bites taken out of it!  Here is a picture of that ~

Now, on to the gift card holder ~

This is SUPER easy!  All you need is a strip of paper/cardstock (I used the orange paper from the Archaic Collection) cut 6" long and 4" wide.  Score this at 2" and 4 1/2".  To keep with the box, I didn't use the Wavy Cutter but just cut one of the waves from the paper freehand (don't be scared, you CAN do this!!! LOL!!).  I just used some adhesive to adhere it to the front flap.  The bones are from the Coordinating Chipboard pack which I rubbed Corn Starch on the back  and then used some Elmer's Glue to glue it on the flap.  Here is a picture of how the inside was done ~

I cut 2 small pieces from a white Velcro dot and adhered them under the bones to keep the flap closed. 

See what I mean, SUPER easy!  I am working on a Mother's Day gift set using this same idea and hopefully will have it done by Friday to show you!  Be sure to go to Lindsey's blog and check out her awesome box and matching card!  She used the Archaic Stamps on hers and they are SO cute!!!  I need to get those stamps!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

~Lynda

Featured Stamper #64 ~ Michelle ~ sf9erfan

Hi!
Sorry for the lack of posts but I have been working on some things to show you starting tomorrow!  I was able to do a card based on Sunday's featured stamper ~ Michelle ~ AKA: sf9erfan.   The card that I chose to CASE is HERE.  I thought her card was so darn cute and I really liked the layout!  Here is my card ~

The base of my card is Whisper White cardstock with a layer of pink Bazzill cardstock.  The decorative paper is from Best Creation and can be found HERE.   The paper has it's own glitter just like the Imaginisce paper does!  It is so beautiful in real life!  Anyway, the Best Creations paper is matted with Whisper White.  The strip is first Whisper White which I cut using my scalloped scissors and then the same pink Bazzill cardstock which I ran through my Cuttlebug using my Swiss Dots embossing folder.  The string is actually some glittery white embroidery floss.  The scalloped square and top white square were cut using my Nestabilities.  The layer of paper in between is the Best Creations paper.  I used my ticket corner punch on this piece. 

The focal image is from the Lizzie Anne Designs ~ Once Upon A Time stamp set.  I stamped the princess and frog using Basic Black ink.  I then colored the princess (not the frog) using my Prismacolor pencils.  I added Stardust Stickles to the dress as seen.  I then stamped the frog and hat on a scrap piece of Whisper White cardstock.  I then cut these out, colored them using my Prismacolor Pencils and then mounted them where they belong.  I colored the frogs crown using my gold Copic Spica glitter pen and then added Me and My Big Ideas clear heart crystals to the tops of each point on the crown.  I added a little of the embroidery floss to the princesses hat using a touch of Elmer's glue. 

The sentiment is also from the set and was stamped using Basic Black ink.  I added a little heart crystal here as well.  Here is a close up of how glittery the paper is and the Stardust Stickles matched perfectly!

I hope you all are having a great day and check back tomorrow as Lindsey and I have another challenge to share!  It isn't just a card this time!

Take care!

~Lynda

Mothers and Daughters Creations ~ Sweet Pea...

Oh my gosh, what a beautiful day we are going to have here today!  I need to get outside and enjoy it!!!  Before I go do just that (yes, I get to mow the lawn AGAIN!!), I want to post my card for Mothers and Daughters Creations design team challenge!!  This card is also based on today's limited supply challenge over at SCS.  The challenge was to use scraps and lucky for me, I had a FEW of those laying around!! 

To make it easy on all of the MDC design team members, we decided to just use anything from Tamara's store.  Of course, this was NOT that easy because I had so many things that I wanted to use, I had trouble narrowing it down!  Throughout the day, the others will be posting their creations so be sure to check them out!  I do know that Maria already has hers posted!  Maria was the stores guest designer last month and because she is so talented and such a WONDERFUL person, Tamara asked her to stay on with us!  I am sure Jennifer  will have some beautiful card to share soon and Tamara will share hers this afternoon!

Here is mine ~

The base of my card is More Mustard and is 5 1/2 square.  The next mat is a light pink piece of old scrap cardstock from some unknown company and then a piece of brown which is included in the Basic Grey ~ Sugared 12x12 Collection.  I then used a scrap of the mustard paper (also in the collection) which I added a decorative edge to by using my Fiskars border punch.  I added a striped piece of decorative paper up where there was a gap between the brown paper and the top of the mustard paper.  This is right below where I tied the mustard and pink grosgrain ribbons.  The sweet pea sentiment is from the Sugared rub on pack.  The clear crystal bling is from Prima which I used my Quickie Glue pen to adhere them.  I also added this same bling to the flowers on the Serendipity ~ Sleeping Bunny piece.  Tamara should receive a new huge shipment of Serendipity Stamps any day now which will include NEW ones and re-stocking the ones currently sold out!  The bunny was stamped on Whisper White cardstock using Black Stazon ink.  I colored using my Prismacolor Pencils and added the White Flock using my Quickie glue pen.  The flowers are stickers that are included in the 12x12 Sugared Collection.  Tamara does have some Basic Grey in the house but not yet on her site so if you are interested in any of the products I used today, just send her an Email.

The 3 strips of floral paper are mounted on a piece of pink decorative paper as is the bunny image.  I used dimensionals to adhere the bunny on to my card.  Here is a close ~ up of the bunny ~

You can also get a better idea of how beautiful this paper is....

Thanks again for stopping by and I hope you all have a FANTASTIC weekend! 

~Lynda

CC163 ~ A Pretty Chocolate Birdhouse....

I have another card for you!!!  I wanted to mention that Lindsey has more of the 7 Gypsies paper I used on yesterday's card on order so keep checking her Store for availability!  OK, on to the card!

The layout of this card is based on Lauren's Saturday Sketch and Tuesdays color challenge which was to use Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery and Chocolate Chip.  The base of this card is Chocolate Chip cardstock with first a mat of Pretty in Pink and then Celery.   The top embossed Whisper White piece was first stamped using THIS beautiful Inkadinkado Thank You stamp using Chocolate Chip ink.  I then ran this piece through my Cuttlebug using my Birds & Swirls embossing folder.  I stamped the Inka ~ Bird House (Lindsey is hoping to get more of these in at the beginning of next week) using Chocolate Chip ink on Whisper White cardstock.  I cleaned the stamp and then stamped the flowers using first Pretty in Pink ink  and stamping on a scrap piece of Whisper White cardstock and did the same with the Celery ink.  I cut the flowers out and adhered them on top of the brown ones using my Quickie glue pen.  I also added some bling ~ of course!!!  I used light pink and green bling from MAMBI.  After stamping the Bird House, I then stamped the sentiment also using Chocolate Chip ink.  I then cropped the image by basically cutting off the You.  I matted this piece on first Chocolate Chip cardstock just on the bottom half of the image and then Celery behind the entire image.  I then lined up the words and mounted this on the front using dimensionals.  The final step was the add the pink and brown ribbon.

Stamps ~  Inkadinkado Birdhouse and Thank you...     Ink ~ Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink and Certainly Celery   Paper ~  Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink and Certainly Celery   Other ~ MAMBI green and pink self adhesive bling, dimensionals, Quickie Glue pen, pink and brown ribbon, Cuttlebug, Birds & Swirls embossing folder

Have a great day!

~Lynda

Ways To Use It ~ Cupcake Challenge with Lindsey....

Good Morning!
Lindsey and I challenged each other to take part in Julia's Ways to Use it challenge which is to use scissors AND to use the new Inkadinkado Cupcake set and Crate Paper paper!  Of course I could not follow the directions completely....  I used the SUPER cute cupcakes and scissors BUT I really wanted to use Basic Grey's Sultry paper!  Here is my card ~

The base of this card is Chocolate Chip with a mat of a piece of pink paper included in the Sultry collection and then a pink & brown polka dot piece at the top and the brown, also in the collection, toward the bottom.  The sentiment is a SU! rub on.  I used my square Nestabilities to cut a window in the polka dot paper and then cut a little smaller window in the brown paper and that is how I matted it.  I stamped the Cupcake using Chocolate Chip ink on Whisper White paper.  I stamped the cupcake frosting a second time on a scrap piece of Whisper White and also stamped the cupcake holder on another pink striped piece of decorative paper included in the collection.  I cut both of these out.  I adhered the holder directly on top of the first stamped image and the frosting was first colored using my Prismacolor pencils and then I added (using my Quickie glue pen) Martha Stewart white glitter on top of all of the swirls.  I also used my white gel pen to sortof cover up the sprinkles (they were brown) and then added Cotton Candy Stickles on top of the white sprinkles.  I used dimensionals to adhere the frosting. 

I got a Janome Sew Mini for my birthday and for some dumb reason, I wanted to use it on this card.  Now this wouldn't have been so dumb if I would have sewed first, not last!!!  Obviously I need to work on sewing straight!!! LOL!!!  Just a word of advice, do your sewing first because if you do it last and mess up, there is no going back!!! LOL!!!  The strip with the buckle on it is just another piece of decorative paper which I cute really narrow so it would fit in the Silver Hodgepodge buckle.   I added the same Cotton Candy Stickles to the inside of the flower buckle.  I do want to add, NOT that I would do anything SO STUPID, but mount your buckle BEFORE you add the Stickles or prepare to wait for a looooonnnnnggg time!! LOL!!!

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to hop on over to Lindsey's Blog and check out her DARLING cupcake card (she followed the instructions!!! LOL!!!)!  I have another Inkadinkado card to show you and will upload shortly!!!

~Lynda

SC173 ~ 7 Gypsies meet Inkadinkado!

I got new stuff, I got new stuff!!!!  I know, you are thinking, oh so what's new about that??? LOL!!!  I really don't get new stuff THAT often!!! LOL!!!  I order pretty much everything on line.  I don't find much at Michael's anymore as it seems that they have the same stuff and our LSS's don't have much more than what I find on line!!! 

Lindsey and I are doing a challenge tomorrow morning and I was going to save this card to post then but since it is for todays sketch challenge and I LOVE the way it turned out, I just couldn't wait!!!  Not only that, you are going to LOVE this new paper!!!  It would not be very nice of me to make you wait until tomorrow when Lindsey could be sold out of the paper!!!   LOL!!!

The base of my card is Kraft cardstock.  The next mat is first a piece of red Bazzill cardstock and then a floral red piece from the 7 Gypsies ~ Sushi Collection.  The next horizontal rectangular piece is first Shimmer White cardstock then Kraft cardstock and then another decorative piece from the same Sushi Collection.  The ribbon is Kraft taffeta and I added a Antique Brass buckle from my Hodgepodge kit.  The Poppies are from Inkadinkado and were stamped on Shimmery White cardstock using Chocolate Chip ink.  Lindsey has recently ordered more Inka stamps and hopefully she will get them early next week so if you are looking for something in particular, email her and she will let you know when it comes in!!!  I stamped the flowers again on the Shimmery White cardstock and cut them out.  I only cut out the 3 largest flowers.  I then colored them with my Prismacolor Pencils and Mineral Spirits.  I adhered the flowers on top of the flowers I stamped first using dimensionals.  I added clear micro beads to the centers of the 3 flowers using my Quickie glue pen.  I then matted this piece using Chocolate Chip cardstock. 

Well, I better get going, my guineas and chickens are stalking me because they want food!!!  They are supposed to be eating bugs!!  They are NOT doing their job!! LOL!!!  Mary was due to get her cast off Friday morning but I called the Dr. today to see if she could get it off sooner because it is just falling apart so we got an appointment for 4pm today!!!  She doesn't know it yet and will be SO excited!!!  I can't believe 6 weeks has passed so quickly......  I'll be back in the morning with some more enabling!!!

Have a great day!

~Lynda

Wanna know who won the blog candy????

I'm sorry that I can't give all of you a prize....  Your comments cracked me up!!!  I am so glad to know that there are so many YOUNG stampers out there!!!  LOL!!!  I thought I was the ONLY 21 year old with 10 and 7 year old children AND I have been married for 12 years!!!  I definitely was a CHILD bride!!!  LOL!!!  Thank you all again for leaving such nice and funny comments, I REALLY enjoyed reading them!!!  OK, I'll quit rambling on......  the winner is #19 ~ Velta!!!   Congratulations Velta!!    I will email you and get your mailing address!!

Thanks again and I'll see you all tomorrow!!!

~Lynda

Happy Birthday from all of us!!!

Boy, I am on a roll!!!  I have another card for you!!!  This card is for Cindy's MFT Sketch Challenge #27!  As usual, I didn't COMPLETELY follow the sketch because I couldn't fit a sentiment on the card where it was supposed to go!  I am sure Cindy will forgive me!!! LOL!!  Anyway, here is my card ~

The base of this card is Whisper White with a mat of Basic Black cardstock and then the orange and then striped pattern from the NEW Basic Grey Cupcake Collection!!!  Jennifer sent me this paper collection for my Birthday!!!  She also included a Quickie Glue pen which will NOT go to waste!!!  Thanks Jen!!!  If you are looking for this paper, Tamara will have it in her store within the next few days!!! 

The strip across the bottom is first Basic Black cardstock in which I used my scalloped scissors to add the decorative edges and then a red decorative piece from the Cupcake collection.  I topped it off with ribbon I got from Michael's.  I did add Black Diamond Stickles to the centers of all of the flowers on the ribbon.  The stamped image is by My Favorite Things and is called Let's go for a walk (Michelle has this on sale).  I stamped the image using Basic Black ink on Whisper White cardstock.  I colored using my Prismacolor Pencils and my Copic Spica glitter pens.  The balloons were punched using my Quickutz.  The "string" is by Making Memories.  I threaded  a small needle and poked 2 holes at each dogs mouth and noses.  I wanted to make it look like they had the strings in their mouths....  I taped the balloon end of the string to the back of each balloon and then took another piece of the string and tied a knot at the base of each balloon.  I mounted these balloons using dimensionals. 

Here is a close up of the dogs faces ~

Have a great day!!!

~Lynda

Starving Artistamps ~ Beautiful Butterflies....

Good Morning!
Here is another card I made for my design team submissions for Starving Artistamps.   I wish I could take credit for it but I really did CASE the majority of it from a magazine I have!!!

Before I forget (you know being 21 isn't as easy as it was the first time!!!) but if you haven't left a comment for my blog candy, you can do so HERE!   The deadline is 8pm (EST) tonight and I will post the winner right after!!!

Now, about the card.  The base of my card is Chocolate Chip with a mat of Basic Black and then the decorative brown paper from Basic Grey's Archaic Collection.   Just an FYI, Lindsey has the coordinating dinosaur stamps in her store and if you are interested, you can find them HERE!   They definitely will not last!!!  OK, the top layer has mostly rubons.  The flourish on the left and bottom corner are brown rubons from Basic Grey.  The Happy Birthday sentiment is also a rubon from Basic Grey and the smile sentiment is from SU!'s Eastern Elegance rubon sheets.  The red crystals are self adhesive and are by MAMBI.   The 2 butterfly images are from Starving Artistamps and can be found HERE and HERE!  The small butterfly is the small Freak and the bigger butterfly is called a large Batesia.
I stamped the small butterfly using Chocolate Chip ink and the large one was stamped using Red Colorbox Chalk ink.  That's it!  Super easy huh??

I won't do a recipe this time since I already listed the small amount of products above!  If you have any questions though, please don't hesitate to ask!

Have a great day!

~Lynda

Starving Artistamps ~ Silhouettes.....

Hi!
The following card is for my Guest Design turn for Starving Artistamps.   I will have a few more to share in the next few days!  This card uses the Poppies from the Large Silhouette Collection and the Pretty Backaground.   

The base of my card is Basic Black with a mat of Memory Box ~ Sprout decorative paper.  For the main focal image I first stamped the pretty background using Anna Griffin Purple on Whisper White cardstock.  I found the purple ink, unopened in my drawer so I thought, what the heck, I'll use it!  It actually has a little shimmer to it.  I had gotten it at Michael's a LONG time ago!!!  Anyway, I then used post it notes and masked off the thin white edge I left along the outside of the pretty background so when I stamped the silhouettes, they wouldn't come down to the white edge.  I first stamped the Baby's Breath Silhouette using the same lavender ink.  I then stamped the Poppies using Basic Black ink.  I stamped the Small Freak butterfly using Black Stazon and then stamped it again on vellum paper.  Once it dried, I colored the back of the butterfly with my Pale Plum marker.  I adhered it on top of the butterfly I first stamped using my Quickie Glue pen.  The ribbon along the bottom is narrow white organdy and the polka dot ribbon is from May Arts.   I used a silver buckle from the new SU! Hodgepodge kit and I added the same Heidi Swapp clear crystals that I put around the centers of the two poppies to the ridge of the buckle.  I broke the crystals apart and glued them INDIVIDUALLY on to the buckle!!!  I used my Quickie glue pen for a change!!!  I glued the ones on the center of the flowers with my glue pen too.  I added green MAMBI crystals to the centers of each flower.  I then matted the focal piece on Basic Black cardstock.

I hope you like it and if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask!!!

Have a great night!

~Lynda