Inspiration Ink

Take It Tuesday

You can stop by anytime between 2 p.m and 7 p.m.  You don't have to tell me in advance that you are coming, just pop by!

You can pay me for an order or upcoming event, register for an upcoming event, or place an order.  Plus, you can browse through samples I have on display and take pictures of the samples so you can use them for inspiration at home.  I've also got February Club Orders in and ready to be picked up!

You can also bring any products you may have that you'd like a little extra instruction on how to use and I'll give you a quick lesson.   So, if you have a punch that is giving you trouble or aren't sure what sandwich to use with a Big Shot Die or want some tips on using Wheels, etc. bring them along and get a one-on-one lesson.

If you have cards to donate for Operation Write Home, bring those too!  Please just remember - absolutely no glitter!

I'll also have a couple of quick and easy card projects ready for you to stamp if you wish.  These projects are different each week.  Cost will be $1 per project made.  You may make one of each of the two cards available if you wish.

Today we'll be making these two cards:

Uses Nature Walk Clear-Mount Set and Teeny Tiny Wishes Set plus Certainly Celery Card Stock, Bashful Blue Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad, Certainly Celery Classic Stampin' Pad, Daffodil Delight Stampin' Write Marker, Pretty in Pink Stampin' Write Marker, Marina Mist Stampin' Write Marker, Pretty in Pink 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Circle Ice Rhinestone Brads, Clear-Mount Block H, SNAIL Adhesive, Sticky Strip, Paper-Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, Craft Scissors, and Scallop Edge Border Punch.

Uses Kindness Matters Clear-Mount Set plus Pool Party Card Stock, Pear Pizzazz Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad, Pear Pizzazz 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon, Basic Rhinestones Jewels, White Stampin' Emboss Powder, Powder Pals, Heat Tool, Stamping Sponges, VersaMark Pad, Clear-Mount Block A, Clear-Mount Block H, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sticky Strip, Craft Scissors, Modern Label Punch, Scallop Trim Border Punch, and Large Oval Punch.

Weekly Inspiration

Today's card uses an interesting heat embossing technique - mixing two different colors of Stampin' Emboss Powder together.  It also features one of the Designer Series Papers you can get for FREE from Stampin' Up! this month.  If you order the Nature Walk Set as part of my Stamp of the Month Club this month, this card might be one of the samples you get!  Enjoy!

Supplies

- Nature Walk, page 100, Clear - $18.95, Wood - $25.95

- Tangerine Tango 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock, page 177, $6.95

- Baja Breeze 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock, page 178, $6.95

- Regals Assortment 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock, page 179, $6.95

- Always Artichoke Classic Stampin' Pad, page 179, $5.95

- Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper, pages 184-185, $10.95

- Chantilly 1/2" Crochet Trim, page 194, $6.95

- Always Artichoke 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon, page 195, $6.95

- Baja Breeze 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon, page 195, $6.95

- Antique Brads, page 198, $5.95

- Tangerine Tango Stampin' Emboss Powder, page 201, $4.75

- Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder, page 201, $4.75

- Powder Pals, page 201, $19.95

- Heat Tool, page 201, $29.95

- Distressing Essentials, page 203, $19.95

- VersaMark Pad, page 203, $7.50

- SNAIL Adhesive, page 206, $6.95

- Paper-Piercing Tool, page 207, $3.50

- Mat Pack, page 207, $9.95

- Craft Scissors, page 208, $29.95

- Paper Cutter, page 208, $24.95

- Replacement Cutting & Scoring Blades, page 208, $5.95

- Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch, pages 210-211, $23.95

- Eyelet Border Punch, pages 210-211, $15.95

- Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine (includes Multipurpose Platform and Standard Cutting Pads), page 215, $99.95

- Ovals Originals Die, page 220, $15.95

- craft stick or plastic spoon

Directions

1)  Cut a piece of Always Artichoke Card Stock to 5 1/2 x 8 1/2" using the Paper Cutter.

2)  Score the card stock along the 8 1/2" side at 4 1/4" using the Scoring Blade on the Paper Cutter.  Fold in half to make card.

3)  Cut a piece of Tangerine Tango Card Stock to 4 x 5 1/4".

4)  Cut a piece of twining leafs and flowers on a blue background paper from the Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper to 3 7/8 x 5 1/8".

5)  Adhere the designer paper to the tangerine tango.

6)  Cut a piece of Always Artichoke Card Stock to 2 x 5 1/8".

7)  Punch one long side of the artichoke strip with the Eyelet Border Punch.

8)  Cut a strip of mostly brown herringbone paper from the Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper to 1 1/2 x 5 1/8".

9)  Adhere the designer paper strip to the center of the punched artichoke strip.

10)  Adhere the strips to the center of the designer paper matted on the tangerine rectangle.

11)  Cut a large oval from a scrap of Baja Breeze Card Stock using the Ovals Originals Die and Big Shot.  Build a sandwich of one Standard Cutting Pad, Die with card stock positioned on top, and the other Standard Cutting Pad.  Run through the Big Shot.

12)  Mix a very small amount of Tangerine Tango Stampin' Emboss Powder and Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder together in a Powder Pal tray.  I used a craft stick from an old package of Rub-Ons to mix my powders together.

13)  Stamp the bird image in VersaMark Ink in the center of the Baja Breeze Oval.

14)  Scoop up some of the Stampin' Emboss Powder mix with one side of the stamped oval.  Tilt the oval and let the powder spread across the entire stamped image.  Tap off excess powder.

15)  Heat the powder with the Heat Tool until it is completely melted and shiny.  You should have a two-tone embossed image.

16)  Ink up the leaf and flower image with Always Artichoke Ink and stamp randomly along the bottom and sides of the embossed oval.  Remember to re-ink the stamp each time.

17)  Ink up the "no. 147" image with the Navy Ink Spot in the Distressing Essentials kit and stamp it in the upper left corner of the embossed oval.

18)  Use the Navy Ink Spot in the Distressing Essentials kit to add some color to the edges of the embossed oval using the direct-to-paper method.

19)  Punch three flowers from a scrap of Not Quite Navy Card Stock using the Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch in position 3.

20)  Adhere the three flowers to the left side of the oval so they overlap and poke out a bit.

21)  Adhere the oval to the center of the designer paper strip on the left side.

22)  Cut three small pieces of each of the ribbons and stack them on top of each other with the artichoke on the bottom and the crochet trim on top.

23)  Open the prongs on an Antique Brad and slide the stack of ribbon between the prongs so that the crochet trim will be on top when you turn the brad over.  Squeeze the prongs back closed.

24)  Poke a hole in the card front near the bottom right side of the oval image using the Paper-Piercing Tool and Mat Pack pieces.

25)  Insert the brad and secure on the back side.

26)  Trim the ends of the ribbon as needed.

27)  Adhere the card front to the Always Artichoke card.

Tips

You could get the Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper for FREE during August with Stampin' Up!'s Buy 3, Get 1 Free offer on $10.95 packages of Designer Series Paper.  Click here for more details.

If you place punches like the Eyelet Border Punch and Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch inside a Powder Pal tray before punching with them, the Powder Pal will catch all the tiny little bits of paper punched out so they are easier to throw away.

I knew I wouldn't be making too many of these cards, so I only mixed together a small amount of each of the two Stampin' Emboss Powders directly in the Powder Pal tray.  A little powder goes a long way!

If you plan to emboss a lot of images with your special powder mix, you might want to mix them together in an empty Stampin' Emboss Powder container so you can keep the mix safe and dry.

I decided to mix the Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder into the Tangerine Tango Stampin' Emboss Powder so the orange color would be a little more muted and I'd get gold highlights on part of the image.

You may have to use a little more force than usual when punching with the Triple Layer Punches.  They are very detailed, so sometimes more effort is required.  I find it helps if I stand up when I punch with them.

Sometimes the detailed punch outs get stuck inside the Triple Layer Punches.  If this happens, try gently tapping the punch on the table a few times or sliding a piece of card stock, a blade from the Paper Snips, or the Paper-Piercing Tool into the punch to dislodge the punched piece.  If you leave punched pieces in the punch, it won't punch well the next time you try to use it.

Springtime Vintage Inspiration

I've been busy today making cards to try to use up my Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper before it retires on Saturday, April 30.  Enjoy!

Uses Elements of Style Clear-Mount Set and Teeny Tiny Wishes Set plus Clear-Mount Block C, Rose Red Card Stock, Always Artichoke Card Stock, Very Vanilla Card Stock, Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper, Rose Red Classic Stampin' Pad, Baja Breeze Classic Stampin' Pad, Rose Red Stampin' Write Marker, Always Artichoke Stampin' Write Marker, Stamping Sponges, Vintage Flower Adornments, Always Artichoke 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon, Crop-A-Dile, Scallop Oval Extra-Large Punch, 1-3/4" x 7/8" Oval Large Punch, Mini Glue Dots, Sticky Strip, and Stampin' Dimensionals.

Uses Just Believe Set plus Pear Pizzazz Card Stock, Rich Razzleberry Card Stock, Very Vanilla Card Stock, Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper, Rich Razzleberry Classic Stampin' Pad, Rich Razzleberry Stampin' Write Marker, Pear Pizzazz Stampin' Write Marker, Clips Assortment, Rich Razzleberry 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Scallop Edge Border Punch, 3/16" Corner Small Punch, Word Window Large Punch, Modern Label Extra-Large Punch, and Stampin' Dimensionals.

Uses Nature Walk Clear-Mount Set and Teeny Tiny Wishes Set plus Clear-Mount Block B, Clear-Mount Block D, Rose Red Card Stock, Always Artichoke Card Stock, Very Vanilla Card Stock, Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper, Always Artichoke Classic Stampin' Pad, Rose Red Classic Stampin' Pad, Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad, Always Artichoke Stampin' Write Marker, Rose Red Stampin' Write Marker, Aqua Painters, Always Artichoke 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon, Rose Red 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon, Basic Pearls Jewels, Scallop Trim Border Punch, 1-3/4" x 7/8" Oval Large Punch, 1-3/8" x 5/8" Oval Small Punch, Sticky Strip, and Stampin' Dimensionals.

Uses Pocket Silhouettes Set plus Pear Pizzazz Card Stock, Very Vanilla Card Stock, Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper, Pear Pizzazz Stampin' Write Marker, Rose Red Stampin' Write Marker, Pear Pizzazz 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon, Scallop Edge Border Punch, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Standard Cutting Pads, Lattice Bigz Die, Sticky Strip, and Mini Glue Dots.

Uses Simple Friendship Set plus Baja Breeze Card Stock, Not Quite Navy Card Stock, Very Vanilla Card Stock, Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper, Not Quite Navy Classic Stampin' Pad, Square Ice Rhinestone Brads, Paper-Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, Very Vanilla 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Scallop Edge Border Punch, 1-3/4" x 7/8" Oval Large Punch, 1-3/8" x 5/8" Oval Small Punch, Mini Glue Dots, Sticky Strip, and Stampin' Dimensionals.

Uses Thoughts & Prayers Set plus Rose Red Card Stock, Always Artichoke Card Stock, Crumb Cake Card Stock, Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper, Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Standard Cutting Pads, Lattice Bigz Die, 2-Way Glue Pen, and Stampin' Dimensionals.

Please remember to contact my by 9 p.m. (Eastern Time) on April 30 if you'd like to order any of the items in the Occasions Mini before it retires on April 30.  Some of the accessories will be offered again in the new big catalog this summer and some of the stamp sets might carry over too, but to be sure you get the items you want, I suggest ordering them now!

Some More One Layout and Color Scheme Ideas

Here are some more cards that are samples in another of my "Class in the Mail Kits" for my downline who sold a set amount one month.  I have so many ladies in my group earning these now that I can't give them all exactly the same Kits anymore!  These samples all feature a clean and simple layout and a bit of our lovely 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon.  Enjoy!

All of these cards use the following products - Marina Mist Card Stock, Night of Navy Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Marina Mist Classic Stampin' Pad, and Night of Navy 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon.  The products that are different for each card are listed beside that card.

Uses Artistic Etchings Clear-Mount Set and You're a Gem Clear-Mount Set plus Clear-Mount Block B, Night of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Large Punch, and 1-1/4" Circle Large Punch.

Uses A to Z Set, Define Your Life Set, and Defining Alphabet Set plus Night of Navy Stampin' Write Marker, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Large Punch, and 1-1/4" Circle Large Punch.

Uses Nature Walk Clear-Mount Set plus Clear-Mount Block G, Clear-Mount Block H, Night of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad, Blender Pens, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, and Stampin' Dimensionals.

Uses A Slice of Life Hostess Level 1 Clear-Mount Set and You're a Gem Clear-Mount Set plus Clear-Mount Block A, Clear-Mount Block B, Night of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad, Blender Pens, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Large Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Large Punch, and 1" Circle Medium Punch.

Uses Strength & Hope Clear-Mount Set plus Clear-Mount Block B, Clear-Mount Block H, Night of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Large Punch, and 1-1/4" Circle Large Punch.  This Set will be available in the Summer Mini effective May 1.  For each one of these Sets purchased, Stampin' Up! will donate $2 to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Uses Valentine Defined Clear-Mount Set and FYI Set plus Clear-Mount Block B, Clear-Mount Block H, Night of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad, Pinking Hearts Border Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Large Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Large Punch, and 1" Circle Medium Punch.

 

Nature Walk Ideas

I got to go to my upline's house the other day to make sets of samples that we call "Baggie Books."  I made several samples using a set and inserted them into cello bags which I held together with folded card stock and ribbon.  Each set sampler has a label on it giving ordering information for that set. 

All of the cards in this first Baggie Book use the Nature Walk Set for sale in the Occasions Mini on page 27.  This set is available in Clear-Mount for $18.95 or Wood-Mount for $25.95.  Here's what the 7 images in this set look like:

Here are the cards I got to make for my Nature Walk Baggie Book.  Enjoy!

Also uses Teeny Tiny Wishes Set plus Early Espresso Card Stock, Marina Mist Card Stock, Tangerine Tango Card Stock, Very Vanilla Card Stock, Botanical Gazette Designer Series Paper, Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad, Linen Thread, 1-1/4" Square Large Punch, and Stampin' Dimensionals.

Also uses Bravo Burgundy Card Stock, Crumb Cake Card Stock, Very Vanilla Card Stock, Botanical Gazette Designer Series Paper, Not Quite Navy Classic Stampin' Pad, Basic Pearls Jewels, Scallop Edge Border Punch, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Multipurpose Platform, Standard Cutting Pads, and Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.

Also uses Occasional Quotes Hostess Level 3 Set and En Francais background stamp plus Bravo Burgundy Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Botanical Gazette Designer Series Paper, Bravo Burgundy Classic Stampin' Pad, VersaMark Pad, White Stampin' Emboss Powder, Powder Pals, Heat Tool, Paper Daisies, Antique Brads, Sponge Daubers, Whisper White 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon (dyed with Sponge Dauber and Bravo Burgundy Ink Pad), Sticky Strip, and Stampin' Dimensionals.

Also uses Night of Navy Card Stock, So Saffron Card Stock, Very Vanilla Card Stock, Botanical Gazette Designer Series Paper, Night of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad, Vintage Trinkets, Paper-Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, Linen Thread, Night of Navy 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Antique Brads, Scallop Trim Border Punch, 3/16" Corner Small Punch, Sticky Strip, and Stampin' Dimensionals.