Stamp Act

Crazy 4 Challenges ~ Back to School....

Hi!

Today's Crazy challenge is a Back to School theme!  My card is a little different....of course!! hahaha!!!  I only have 1 stamp that resembles anything to do with school and didn't want to use it soooo....I decided to make a card based on my feelings about my kids going back to school and how much I was going to miss them!!!  I know, you think I am lying and I think I have lost my mind but I really have missed them!!!  After spending 3 months together EVERY SINGLE DAY....you get used to it although I have to say I don't miss the part about being in the car so much!!! :)  Anyway, here is my card ~

I had not every used this SU! Bliss stamp and the BEAUTIFUL sentiment is from Verve's Small Phrases set which is a MUST HAVE if you have not bought it yet!!!  My card base is Vintage Cream with a mat of Early Espresso and then Kraft CS on top.  The DP is from October Afternoon.  I stamped the flourish using Crumb Cake ink and the butterfly using Regal Rose ink.  I stamped the butterfly a second time on Kraft CS and then just cut out the wings to give it dimension.  The sentiment was stamped using Early Espresso ink and then I added some SU! pearls.  The seam binding is also from SU! (vintage brad is as well) and then I added some natural burlap string.  The top was punched using my Fiskars Apron border punch.  I did sponge the edges of the Kraft using Crumb Cake ink.

Now, be sure to check out the Crazy Girls creations!!!

• Barbara Anders
• Cindy Haffner
• Jessie Rone
• Joanne Grzelak
• Joycelyn Pelkey
• Maria Bell
• Silke Kittmann
• Silke Ledlow
• Tammy Hershberger
• Frances Byrne
• Vicki Garrett

Have a WONDERFUL weekend and thanks for stopping by!

Lynda

My Favorite Things WSC ~ Happy Easter....

Hi!

I hope you had a great weekend!  Yesterday, the weather was dreary so I had a chance to make a card based on MFT's Wednesday sketch challenge!  I have also added a whole lot more stamps for sale HERE!  I am still pricing a few but should be done shortly.  Here is the sketch ~

Here is my card ~

The base of this card is Vintage Cream with a mat of Early Espresso and then Kraft CS that I embossed using the new SU! tulip folder.    I then added a strip of SU! DP {from their Vintage Spring Collection} and across the top a strip of May Arts lace topped with a bow made from Baja Breeze seam binding.  The darling PI image {from My Basket of Eggs set}, was stamped on Vintage Cream CS using Black Memento ink.  I then cut the image out using my Oval Nesties, Sponged a little Crumb Cake ink while the die was still in place and then colored using my Copics {E00, E11,E50, E33, E53, E55, E57, E59, B000, B91, B95, G82, YG03,Y02, YR04, R20 and BV00}.  I matted the image with a scalloped oval cut from Early Espresso CS.  The sentiment is also included in the set and was stamped on Vintage Cream using Early Espresso ink, cut out and stitched on the left side using cream twine. 

Here is a closer look at the image ~

I accented her shoes with little pearls, added some clear glitter on the eggs and the hearts and then added some whisps of grass using a Moss Prismacolor Pencil.

That will do it for me today!  Have a great day!

~Lynda

Crazy 4 Challenges ~ Congrats....

Hello!

Thanks for stopping by today!!! I feel like I haven't posted a card in a long time.   My kids were off this week for winter break and we were so busy, I didn't get a whole lot of stampin' time!!!  

Today's challenge is a sketch and was brought to us by Silke, who happens to be our hostess this month!  You can check the sketch out HERE.

My card looked so much prettier in my mind!!! LOL!!!  Have you ever done that?  You have this great idea and know how awesome it's going to look and then the actual project doesn't turn out quite like you expected???!!!  I hate that!!! LOLOLOL!!!  Anyway, my nephew, who will be receiving this card when he graduates from college in May, won't mind since he only cares about the money inside!!! LOLOLOL!!!

The base of this card is Kraft CS and is 5 1/4" square.  The next mat is Early Espresso and the DP is from My Minds Eye Good Day Sunshine Boy Collection.  The riggon is from SU! and was tied on one end using Linen Thread and a Kraft button.  The image is also from SU! and is called Extreme Surfboard.  I stamped the image on Kraft CS using Cocoa Memento ink and then sponged Baja Breeze and Soft Sky for the water and Barely Banana and Apricot for the sky.  I then highlighted the waves with my white gel pen and added some dazzling diamonds glitter.  I matted the image with a Lacey Circle Nestability that was cut from Early Espresso CS.  The sentiment is from Verve's Dude set and was stamped on Kraft CS using Early Espresso ink, sponged with Baja Breeze ink and punched out using my Martha Stewart tag punch.

Here is a closer look ~

I hope you have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by!  Don't forget to visit the Crazy girls blogs for some inspiration!

• Barbara Anders
• Cindy Haffner
• Jessie Rone
• Joanne Grzelak
• Joycelyn Pelkey
• Maria Bell
• Silke Kittmann
• Silke Ledlow
• Tammy Hershberger
• Frances Byrne
• Vicki Garrett

~Lynda

Crazy 4 Challenges ~ Happy Easter....

Happy Saturday!

With Spring just around the corner {hopefully}, our Crazy challenge is to include flowers on our card or project.

 The base of this card is Naturals Ivory with a mat of Springtime Vintage DP from SU!  The darling image is included in the Easter Blossoms set and was stamped on Naturals Ivory using Crumb Cake ink and then cut out using my Labels Four Nesties.  I stamped the pretty flower, also included in the Easter set, randomly around the image but did stamp off one time before stamping on the image piece.  I then sponged the edges using Crumb Cake ink.  The bottom of the DP was cut using the same Nestie die but I turned it long way.  I sponged all papers with Crumb Cake ink.  The lace and Baja Breeze seam binding is from SU! as well.  I added a rose that I made using a mold and clay along with some fern from my Martha Stewart punch and the leaves from my bird & branch SU! punch. 

Here is s closer look ~

Don't forget to check out the Crazy girls creations!

• Angela Wood
• Barbara Anders
• Cindy Haffner
• Jessie Rone
• Joanne Grzelak
• Joycelyn Pelkey
• Maria Bell
• Silke Kittmann
• Silke Ledlow
• Tammy Hershberger
• Frances Byrne
• Vicki Garrett

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a great weekend!

~Lynda

Bloomin' Beautiful Scallops ~ Take TWO!!!

Remember my post from the other day about the STUPID Scalloped Cards and Envelopes (HERE) ????  Well, since I am not one to waste, I decided to use another one of those Stupid Scalloped Cards!!! LOL!!!  I really like the way this one turned out but don't think I LIKE these things!!!  LOL!!!  I made this card based on Sharon Johnson's fun flap challenge today!  This card also is for SCS's Fan Club challenge to make a non-traditional sized/shaped card.  Well, this card is non-traditional all right! 

The designer papers are all SU! and from the new Afternoon Tea pack.  The base of my card is the "STUPID" Groovy Guava Scallop then I used my Creative Memories circle cutter to first cut a circle from the brown decorative paper and then the Groovy Guava with brown flowers decorative paper (these 2 patterns are the front and back of each other).  See the next scalloped circle that is Chocolate Chip with Guava flowers?  That first of all was cut from my Nestabilities and is actually the top of the flap!  I will show you a picture of the inside in a minute.  On top of the decorative scallop is first Chocolate Chip cardstock and then the focal image was stamped on Shimmery White cardstock using Chocolate Chip ink.  The image is from the new Bloomin' Beautiful set.  I colored the flowers and leaves with a blender pen and Groovy Guava & Mellow Moss ink pads.  I added white Liquid Pearls to the centers of all of the flowers.  I stamped the vase using Chocolate Chip ink on the decorative Chocolate paper and cut it out.  The "table" was colored with a blender pen and my Close to Cocoa ink pad. 

To make a fun flap I wanted to somehow use the bee and then tuck the flap in somehow.  Well, that didn't work so I used Velcro to close the flap and added the bee as a decoration!!  I hope this still counts as a Fun Flap!!!  The bee was stamped on Shimmery White cardstock using Chocolate Chip ink.  I colored it with Banana ink and a blender pen and then added Tan Flock to the bee using my Quickie Glue Pen.   I punched the bee out with my 1" circle punch and mounted it on an OLD aluminum rimmed tag I have had for a long time.  I used my Nestabilities to make the scallop edge around the aluminum.  This tag was self adhesive so I just slapped it on there!!! LOL!!  Oh, I also added Stardust Stickles to the bees wings.  All of the accessories that I have highlighted came from Stampers Dream.

OK, so here is a picture of my fun flap ~

If you do do (funny huh?!?) this flap, use dimensionals to mount the bottom circle on to your card because mine doesn't open that great so I may just take it apart and remount it but it will open better using dimensionals.  I used my Creative Memories circle cutter and just lined it up to where it would leave an edge that was attached.  It didn't cut all the way through both pieces but that was ok since I was really easy to cut. 

Stamps ~  Bloomin' Beautiful ;    Paper ~  Chocolate Chip, Shimmery White, Groovy Guava and Afternoon Tea DP;    Ink ~ Chocolate Chip, Groovy Guava, Mellow Moss, Close to Cocoa, Barely Banana;   Other ~ Tan Flock, Quickie Glue Pen, White Liquid Pearls, blender pen, Stardust Stickles, White Velcro dot, Nestabilities, Creative Memories cutter, metal rimmed tag, 1" circle punch

Well, thank you again for stopping by and if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask!

~Lynda

Home Tweet Home.......

Hello!!!
I hope you are all doing well!!  On Tuesday night around 11:30 we had a tornado come through our property!  Oh my gosh, it was pretty scary.  Some of you are probably thinking, big deal we have them all the time but in Virginia, we don't usually have tornado's!!!  LOL!!!  Thank goodness, it wasn't a huge one but we did lose lots of trees and our basketball hoop was blown over!  My BIL, who lives next door, had a pressure washer on his porch and it was thrown into the yard.  Not to worry, the chickens were tucked in safely in their coop!!!  The funniest part was when I read our local paper the next morning and it said that our area and my friend Tamara's area were the 2 hardest hit by tornado's!  I talked to Tam last night (she lives about 45 minutes Southwest of me) and she said that they lots TONS of trees too!  Anyway, all is well and back to normal (whatever that is)!!! 

I made this card for a friend who has moved.  It is based on Wednesday's SCS sketch challenge ~

The base of my card is Basic Black.  I then layered Bashful Blue and then a piece of decorative paper from the Summer Picnic DP pack.  The next strip running horizontally is first Whisper White cardstock and then Real Red striped DP from the Hostess Print Pack.  The vertical strip is first Real Red cardstock and then the decorative floral piece from the Summer Picnic DP.  I added black brads in the corners, red heart eyelets and then black with white polka dot ribbon I got at Micheal's.

The focal image was done by first stamping the camper on Whisper White cardstock using Basic Black ink.  I then stamped the camper again on a scrap piece of Whisper White cardstock using my metallic silver ink pad and then heat embossing with Clear embossing powder.  I then cut the silver camper out.  I then stamped the trees using Old Olive ink on the piece that has the black camper.  I trimmed this piece down so the trees and top of the camper are poking out.  I colored the trees and grass with the Old Olive ink pad and a blender pen and I also added some Close to Cocoa ink in the same manner to the trees.  I adhered the silver camper on top of the black one so just the stairs and tires are still black.  On all of the black I used my Copic Spica black glitter pen and colored it in.  I also outlined the window and door with this pen.  I colored the large window on the side and the one in the door with Barely Banana and a blender pen.  I added a clear Dew Drop to the window on the door.  The Home Tweet Home and the birdie were stamped on scrap Whisper White cardstock and cut out.  These images are from Memory Box and can be found HERE.  I tied the "sign" on the tree using white Scrappers Floss.

Stamps ~   Camp Out ~ SU! and Of a Feather ~ Memory Box  Paper ~  Whisper White, Basic Black, Real Red, Bashful Blue, Old Olive, Print Pattern pack and Summer Picnic DP   Ink ~   Basic Black, Old Olive, Barely Banana, Metallic Silver, Close to Cocoa  Other ~ Clear Dew Drops, Quickie Glue Pen, Dimensionals, Clear EP, Black Brads, Heart Eyelets, Blender Pen, Black and Red Copic Spica Glitter Pen, White Scrappers Floss, Black and White ribbon

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!!!

~Lynda

Bloomin' Beautiful Scallops???

A few weeks ago I received my pre-order from Stampin' Up! for some of the new stuff in the current mini!  Well, I LOVED EVERYTHING I ordered EXCEPT....... these stupid "Scalloped Cards & Envelopes"!!  First of all, they aren't cards!  You receive 1 scalloped circle and an envelope (this I like because they are Chocolate Chip!) but oh my gosh, what the heck am I going to do with 1 scalloped circle????  LOL!!!  I don't remember how much I paid for the set and I really DON'T want to know!!! LOL!!!  So, I don't want to waste so I tried to figure out a cute way to use these stupid things.....  I came up with the following ~

The base of my card is Chocolate Chip and measures 6" wide and 12" long.  To get it to fold like this, score at 3" and then again at 9".  I cut the STUPID (just kidding, they aren't THAT stupid!!) scalloped circle in half.  The one I used is Soft Sky cardstock.  I stamped each side using THIS background stamp from Cornish Heritage Farms and Soft Sky ink.  I added white acrylic paint to the dots with the end of a toothpick.  My white gel pen doesn't work that great and I really wanted the white to show up!  The image from Bloomin' Beautiful was stamped using Chocolate Chip ink on Whisper White cardstock and then colored with my Soft Sky and Wild Wasabi ink pads and a blender pen.  I also used my Scor~pal to add an embossed edge around this image.  I matted it using first Soft Sky and then Close to Cocoa cardstock.  I added the same white acrylic paint to the centers of the flowers and I also stamped the flower pot again on Close to Cocoa designer series paper, cut it out and glued it down. 

When I mounted this on the front, I first lined it up with the inside panels (I will give you the info on the in a minute) and added pewter Hodgepodge photo holders on each side of the image.  On the right side with the knot, I used Pop Dots to adhere the image.  On the left side I used a white Velcro dot that I cut in half and used 1 half above the ribbon and the other half below the ribbon.

Here is a picture of the inside ~

The base cardstock is Close to Cocoa in which I ran through my Cuttlebug.  The next piece is first Soft Sky and then Whisper White cardstock.  I stamped just the upper corner of the flower pot using Chocolate Chip ink and the bee using the same ink.  I colored the flowers the same as the front image and the bee I used Banana ink and a blender pen.  I then added light brown flock which I got HERE!   What?  Bees aren't brown???  Well on this card it is because my colors are BROWNS not BLACKS!!! LOL!!!  It looks cute though!  I also added glitter to the wings using my Spica clear glitter pen.

Here is a close up of my brown furry bee~

 

The last step was to add the Chocolate Chip satin ribbon!  That was it!  Now I only have 50 more of the STUPID scallops to figure out what to do with!!! LOL!!!  Actually, there aren't 50 so I should be able to figure something out! 

Thanks for stopping by!

~Lynda

Handmade Book Tutorial....

Good Morning!
I have my book tutorial all ready for you and I hope you enjoy it!!  If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.  Before I get started I have to tell you that the actual book and pages were something I learned at a class last year taught by Donna Downey so that is not my idea!  Of course I have added and changed things to make it work better for me as will you!!!

Just so you know what you are making, here is a picture of the finished product!

The decorative papers I used are from the new SU! Summer Picnic line.  Step #1 is to get 2 pieces of 6 1/4" chipboard.  The chipboard I had was too thin so I glued 2 pieces together so it would be more sturdy.  I use just a regular old Tombow glue stick and it has worked great for me!

OK, Step #2 ~ cut the decorative paper you would like for your front and back covers at 7" square.  I used the Cherries for my front cover and just the polka dot Bashful Blue for the back.  Here is a picture showing how I glued the Chipboard on top of the decorative paper as well as the measurements. 

Step #3 ~ now you are going to fold the edges in and glue them down.  I ran my glue stick along the top edge and then glued the top flap down.  I then did the same thing and glued the bottom edge down.  I then did each side and the reason I did it this was was to give the corners a nicer fold.

Step #4 ~ Tape (regular Scotch tape will work) the ribbon you would like to use to tie your book closed.  I used Wide Olive grosgrain.

Step #5 ~ Now you are going to make the spine.  For this book I used a piece of Old Olive cardstock that measured 6 1/4" wide and 11" long.  I scored every 3/4".  I have 5 pockets in my book and I JUST had enough valleys so if you want more pockets, you can use a 12" long piece of cardstock and score closer together.  I scored this wide because I found it easier to add my holes to hold the book together.

Step #6 ~ cut 2 pieces of coordinating cardstock 6" square.  These are for your front and back covers and to cover up the spine and ribbon.  I used my glue stick to adhere these.  Here is a picture ~



























Step #7 ~ Now do the same thing for the back cover.

Step #8 ~ How to fold your pockets!

        Step #8A ~ Fold 12x12 piece of decorative paper in half.  (You will want to use thin              paper as it folds nicer.  Chatterbox is perfect and the SU! paper worked fine.  A few
       edges frayed but not bad!).  Using a bone folder helps!














        Step #8B ~ Unfold and just flip up the bottom right and fold in like this ~














       Step #8C ~ do the same on the left side so your paper now looks like this ~














       Step #8D ~ Now, keep your paper folded as above and flip up the point so it now             looks  like this ~














        Step #8E ~ Be sure to use a bone folder or something to crease the edge on this fold.  Now you are going to fold this in half.  The crease will be from the top of the point to the bottom ~













The right open side of this will got into your spine and the the top of the point will be on the outside, like this ~













Step #9 ~ Fill the above pages just as it shows.  The back 2 flaps per page you will put inside each valley of the spine (1 valley per page).  You can use adhesive it you want to hold them in place but if you hold it tightly, they will stay in place.

Step #10 ~ Now you will drill the holes.  I marked the front of my book with a pencil at 1 1/2" from the top and the same from the bottom up.  I used my husbands cordless DeWalt screwdriver to drill my holes.  I did it on top of a phone book and it has worked great for me!














I made my own reinforcers by punching a 1/2" circle from Real Red cardstock and then I punched another circle out of the center of it with a 1/4" handheld punch.  I then added 2 ~ 1" binder clips and here is what it looks like ~













The final step is to decorate it and add what you want on the inside.  For this one I made a recipe card and will add more as well as a great recipe I have for Cheesecake when I get a chance.  When I made these for my kids' teachers and my friend last year, I made big tags our of coordinating cardstock and had all the kids write a note to their teachers and for my friend, I had all her friends write notes wishing her a Happy day!  There is a lot you can do.  The links to my other books are HERE and HERE!

The way I decorated this one was to use my Quickutz Daisy die and Olive and Summer Picnic papers.  I added red Heidi Swapp crystals (used my Quickie glue pen), added a chipboard "r" that I covered in Red cardstock, stamped special from EFP and punched it using my word window punch, tied it on using white polka dot ribbon from Micheal's and white scrappers floss and then added the rest of the word recipes using Alphabits and the 1/4" circle punch.   I used a bunch of misc. ribbon and that's it!  Here is a picture of the inside and how it should look ~ this is the back page ~













and here is a look at the center pages ~













Here is another look at the finished project!  Thanks for stopping by and please don't hesitate to ask ANY questions as I am sure I forgot something!!!  Have a great day!

Shaker box flower....

So on Wednesday, I was on a roll, the Mojo was ON!!!  Well, on Thursday, the Mojo was GONE!!! LOL!!!  I STILL haven't done Wednesday's sketch challenge!!!   Sometimes, I have lots of ideas and everything flows really easily ~ not so much lately.....  I am sure my Mojo will find me soon but until then, I have card to show you that has some neat elements on it and I will give you the instructions!  I am not really thrilled with the card but hey, at least I finished one!!! LOL!!!

The inspiration for this card is from Laura Fredrickson's awesome blog in which she did a tutorial on chipboard shaker boxes!  SUPER easy and really fun!  Be sure to check it out as she is REALLY creative and full of great ides!!!

I could not get the color right in the pictures either so I do apologize for that.  I used all SU! paper.  The base of my card is Whisper White with a mat of Pretty in Pink, next is Celery and then I used Whisper White again and the top pink decorative piece is from SU!'s new Berry Bliss collection.  To make the shaker box flower (following Laura's instructions), I used Pretty in Pink craft ink and heat embossed  using Iridescent Ice embossing powder.  The inside decorative piece is also from the Berry Bliss pack.  The white beads are old and have an iridescent tone.

The next step was to make the stem.  I used wide Celery grosgrain and stitched on it!  This was really easy too!  What I did was add Scotch tape to one end ~

and then you have something to hold on to and can pull the ribbon through the sewing machine.  This is how it looked when I was done ~

I then taped (Scotch) the top under the flower and then the bottom of the stem was taped to the back.  The next NEW fun technique is a decorative corner.  I used the polka dot piece from the Celery Designer Series paper and cut a 2x2 square.  The first step is to fold the square in half one way and then in half again.  The paper will look like this when this step is done ~

Next, you will open the square up (it is divided in quarters) and then fold in 2 of the front squares to make a point ~ like this ~

The last step is to slip it on the corner you want to decorate, add eyelets and ribbon ~ finished!!!  If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask! 

I am working on another tutorial for you!  My friend Lynn asked me to do a tutorial on THIS book.  I made a few of these last year, before I had my blog, and would like to share the instructions with you!  The books I made last year (1 for my friend Lynn's birthday and 2 for my kids' teachers) included tags with ribbons sticking out the top.  On the tags I had Lynn's friends write a personal note to her and I did the same for the kids' teachers.   I had all the kids write whatever they wanted to their teacher.  Oh my gosh, they turned out great.  The kids said some really funny and sweet things!!  Anyway, this book was something I learned to do at a class last February I took by Donna Downey.  I added my own twist and will share on Monday!!!

Have a great day!

~Lynda 

For You ~ River Rock & Black Color Challenge....

Here is my card for yesterdays color challenge which was to use River Rock, Basic Black and Whisper White.   I know, a day late and a dollar short!!!  Mary and I have been very busy with our "girl time."  The boys went to Florida (my in~laws have a condo there) so Mary and I stayed to take care of the animals and have girl time!  We have had such a good time!  Yesterday we went with our friends to a pottery place and did some ceramic painting.  It was really fun!  Anyway, here is my card ~

The base of my card is Basic Black with a mat of Whisper White.  The black crystals are from Stampers Dream and are Hero Arts.   The next layer is first Basic Black then River Rock and then the decorative polka dot paper is from the retired Cider pack.  The top layer is first Basic Black then Whisper White and the top focal image piece is River Rock.  I stamped the flower and bee from Bloomin' Beautiful directly on the River Rock and then again on Whisper White using Basic Black ink.  I cut the top of the flower and the body of the bee out of the Whisper White.  I colored the stem and flower (on Whisper White) using my River Rock ink pad and a blender pen.  The bee body (on Whisper White) was colored using Basic Black ink and a little River Rock ink and a blender pen.  The vellum strip was run through my Cuttlebug in which I used my floral folder.  The label holder is from the new silver Hodgepodge kit in which I used a rubon from one of the SU! rubon sets (can't remember right now!) and my small oval punch and Whisper White cardstock.  I used my Quickie Glue pen around the inside of the holder and adhered the sentiment.  I used a dimensional to mount it on the front and then added the black and white ribbon which I got at Michael's and then just taped the ends around the back of the card.

The cutest part is the bee!!  Oh my gosh, I used black flock which I got from Stampers Dream ~ HERE!   I am so excited how it turned out!  I used my Quickie Glue pen around the fur of the bee and then added the flock.  I also added Stardust Stickles to the wings of the bee.  Here is a close up of the cutest bee ever!!!

What do you think???  Sorry about the washed out picture!  Anyway, stop by Michelle's store as she has lots more than what I am showing you here!!!

Enjoy your day and I hope to be back later with my card for today's sketch challenge!

~Lynda