Inspiration Ink

Weekly Inspiration

This is the last of the cards we made at my August Club Classes featuring interactive or fun-fold projects.  This card uses a fun-fold technique that I came up with on my own.  It's kind of a variation of the Center Stairstep fold featured in my Weekly Inspiration post of August 17 (click here to go directly to that post) that I got the idea for when I added an extra fold to my Center Stairstep card by mistake.  I wondered if I could fold the card the other way using that extra fold and make a 3-D fireplace card.  So, here is what I came up with.  I hope you like it!

Supplies

- Stitched Stockings, page 34 of Holiday Mini, Clear - $19.95, Wood - $27.95

- Build a Blossom, page 112, Clear - $18.95, Wood - $25.95

- Daffodil Delight 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock, page 177, $6.95

- Cherry Cobbler 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock, page 179, $6.95

- Early Espresso 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock, page 180, $6.95

- Soft Suede 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock, page 180, $6.95

- Whisper White 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock, page 180, $8.50

- Wild Wasabi Classic Stampin' Pad, page 178, $5.95

- Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad, page 179, $5.95

- Holly Berry Bouquet Specialty Designer Series Paper, page 20 of Holiday Mini, $12.95

- Frostwood Lodge Designer Series Paper, page 28 of Holiday Mini, $10.95

- Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Buttons, page 22 of Holiday Mini, $8.95

- Silver Brads, page 199, $6.95

- SNAIL Adhesive, page 206, $6.95

- Mini Glue Dots, page 206, $4.95

- Paper-Piercing Tool, page 207, $3.50

- Mat Pack, page 207, $9.95

- Paper Snips, page 208, $9.95

- Paper Cutter, page 208, $24.95

- Simply Scored Scoring Tool, page 7 of Holiday Mini, $29.95

- Simply Scored Place Markers, page 7 of Holiday Mini, $2.50

- Small Oval Punch, page 212, $10.95

- Blossom Petals Builder Punch, pages 212-213, $16.95

- Stocking Builder Punch, page 34 of Holiday Mini, $16.95

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

- Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, page 218, $7.95

- ruler

Directions

1)  Cut a piece of Cherry Cobbler Card Stock to 4 1/4 x 11" using the Paper Cutter.

2)  Place the card stock on the Paper Cutter so one long edge is lined up on the 1" mark indicated along the top of the cutter.

3)  Move the cutting blade down so the arrow indicating where the cutting blade is located is lined up on the 1" mark on the swinging track.  Cut from the 1" mark down to the 6 1/2" mark.

4)  Repeat steps 2 and 3 on the other long side of the card stock.

5)  Place some Simply Scored Place Markers into the notches along the top of the Simply Scored Scoring Tool at the following marks - 1", 2", 5 1/4", 5 1/2", 5 3/4", and 6 1/2".

6)  Place the card stock on the Simply Scored Scoring Tool so that one long edge is against the top of the board with the cut starting at 1" towards the left edge.

7)  Use the stylus that is included with the Scoring Tool to score from the top of the card stock to the cut line at the 1", 2", and 6 1/2" marks.

8)  Use the stylus to score all the way across the card stock at the 5 1/2".

9)  Place the ruler on the board so the edge is lined up with the 5 1/4" track on the board.  Use the stylus to score only across the center of the card stock from one cut line to the other.

10)  Move the ruler over so the edge is lined up with the 5 3/4" track on the board.  Use the stylus to score only across the center of the card stock from one cut line to the other.

11)  Flip the card stock over so the other long edge is now against the top of the board.  Make sure the cut starting at 1" is still towards the left edge.

12)  Use the stylus to score from the top of the card stock to the cut line at the 1", 2", and 6 1/2" marks.

13)  Fold the card along the 5 1/2" score mark.

14)  Fold the 1" score marks on the sides as valley folds.

15)  Fold the 2" score marks on the sides as mountain folds.

16)  Fold the 6 1/2" score marks on the sides as mountain folds so that you have two strips of card stock that poke out on the sides of the card.  These make the sides of the fireplace.

17) Fold the 5 1/4" and 5 3/4" folds in the center as mountain folds so that the card will stand up when open as your chimney.

18)  Flatten the card front back down and place the front of the card (where all the score lines/folds are) into the Stripes Embossing Folder.  Make sure you can read the Stampin' Up! and Sizzix logos on the top of the folder.

19)  Build a sandwich of Multipurpose Platform with Tab 2 open, one Standard Cutting Pad, Embossing Folder with card stock inside, and the other Standard Cutting Pad.  Run through the Big Shot.

20)  Pull the card stock out of the embossing folder and give it a quarter turn.  Place the front of the card (where all the score lines/folds are) into the Stripes Embossing Folder again.  This time, you want to make sure that the 5 1/2" score line on your card is right on the edge of the folder.  Make sure you can read the Stampin' Up! and Sizzix logos on the top of the folder.

21)  Run through the Big Shot again using the same sandwich as step 19.  Just make sure that the embossing folder and card stock are placed so that the card stock won't catch on the sides of the Big Shot as you try to run it through.

22)  Remove the card from the Embossing Folder.  You should have a criss cross pattern of lines on the front of your card that looks like bricks.

23)  Fold the card front again along the same score lines in the same directions as before.

24)  Cut a piece of Early Espresso Card Stock to 2 1/4" x 3".

25)  Adhere the espresso rectangle to the center section of the card front so the bottom edge is even with the 1" score line.  This makes the interior of the fireplace.

26)  Cut a strip of Holly Berry Bouquet Specialty Designer Series Paper to 1 x 4 1/4".

27)  Adhere the Designer Paper strip to the bottom of the card front as "carpet."

28)  Cut thin strips, about 1/4" to 3/4" wide, of Soft Suede Card Stock.  Use the Small Oval Punch to punch them into small pieces with rounded ends as "logs."

29)  Adhere the logs to the bottom of the fireplace interior in a criss-cross fashion.

30)  Stamp the small, open petal image from the Build a Blossom Set in Cherry Cobbler Ink three times onto a scrap of Daffodil Delight Card Stock.  Leave about 1" between each stamped image so you can easily punch them out.

31)  Punch out the petal images using the Blossom Petals Builder Punch.

32)  Adhere the petals to the top of the logs so they are tucked behind the top log and overlap each other a bit.  These are the "flames" of the fire.

33)  Stamp two different stocking images from the Stitched Stockings Set onto a scrap of Whisper White Card Stock.  Stamp one stocking in Wild Wasabi Ink and one in Cherry Cobbler Ink.

34)  Punch out the stockings using the Stocking Builder Punch.

35)  Cut a strip of Frostwood Lodge Designer Series Paper with the birch bark pattern to 1 x 4 1/4".

36)  Place the strip of Designer Paper onto the card front without adhereing it so the top edge of the paper strip lines up with the 5 1/2" score line (top of the fireplace sides).

37)  Use a tiny bit of SNAIL on the back of the top of each stocking to adhere the stockings to the strip of Designer Paper.  Make sure the edges of the stockings do not stick out past the edges of the card front or you won't be able to fit the card in an envelope for mailing.

38)  Once the stockings are adhered to the strip of Designer Paper, move the strip to the Mat Pack pieces.  Use the Paper-Piercing Tool to poke a hole near the top corner of each stocking.

39)  Insert Silver Brads and secure them in place on the back side by bending the prongs flat.

40)  Now, adhere the strip of paper to the card front as the "mantle" on the fireplace.

41)  Carefully cut out one of the small images of pine cones, poinsettias, or roses from a scrap of Holly Berry Bouquet Specialty Designer Series Paper using Paper Snips.

42)  Adhere the paper cut out to the center of one of the large, flat Wild Wasabi Buttons in the Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Buttons.

43)  Adhere the button to the center of the chimney with Mini Glue Dots.

Tips

I found it was easier to score along the correct track when trying to do the center score lines if I placed the ruler on the board so it was lined up with the track I wanted to use.  Otherwise, it was easy to get a little off and score in the wrong place since I was starting the score line in the center of the card stock.

It works best if you fold along all the score lines and make them nice and sharp before running the card through the Big Shot in the Embossing Folder.  Otherwise, it can be hard to figure out where your score lines are.  To make really sharp folds, try using the Bone Folder (page 207, $6.95).

The very bottom edge of your card front will not get embossed with the second pass through with the Embossing Folder.  That's okay though, this area gets covered by a strip of Designer Series Paper as a "carpet" anyway!

I find it is easier to punch out the small, open blossom images from the Build a Blossom Set if I make sure the pointy end of the blossom is facing up when I stamp and I stamp onto small strips of card stock only about 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" wide.

Your card will fold flat along the 5 1/2" score line and will fit in a Medium Envelope (page 182, $6.50) for mailing.

Here's a side view of the card so you can see the 3-D effect a bit better:

All items listed as being in the Holiday Mini will be available for purchase starting tomorrow (September 1).  Please just send me an e-mail at [email protected] to place an order or order online by clicking the "Shop Now" button in the upper right corner.

Take It Tuesday

It's Tuesday!  So, it's time for my next Take It Tuesday session. 

You can stop by anytime between 2 p.m and 7 p.m. on any Tuesday (except next week, Tuesday, September 6, please see note below).  You don't have to tell me in advance that you are coming, just pop by!

This is a good time to pick up any orders you may have waiting for you, pay me for an order or upcoming event, register for an upcoming event, or place an order.  You can browse through samples I have on display and, since I have retired merchandise set out for sale, you can also shop for retired products!

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 or cards to donate for Operation Write Home, bring those too!  Please just remember no glitter!

I'll also have a couple of quick and easy card projects ready for you to stamp if you wish.  These projects will be different each week.  Cost will be $1 per project made.

Today we'll be making these two cards:

Uses The Open Sea Clear-Mount Set and Bring On the Cake Clear-Mount Set plus Cajun Craze Card Stock, Not Quite Navy Card Stock, Very Vanilla Card Stock, Cajun Craze Classic Stampin' Pad, Not Quite Navy Classic Stampin' Pad, Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad, Gold Brads, Clear-Mount Block B, Clear-Mount Block D, Clear-Mount Block E, Clear-Mount Block G, SNAIL Adhesive, 2-Way Glue Pen, Paper-Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, Cutter Kit, Paper Snips, Simply Scored Scoring Tool, and Post-It Note (for masking).

  Uses On the Grow Clear-Mount Set plus Pink Pirouette Card Stock, Baja Breeze Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Basic Gray Classic Stampin' Pad, Beau Chateau Designer Series Paper, Baja Breeze 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon, Basic Pearls Jewels, Subtles Watercolor Wonder Crayons (Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, and Baja Breeze), Aqua Painter, Clear-Mount Block D, Clear-Mount Block G, SNAIL Adhesive, Sticky Strip, Mini Glue Dots, Paper Snips, Craft Scissors, Word Window Punch, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Multipurpose Platform, Standard Cutting Pads, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, and Ovals Originals Die.

Take It Tuesday is every Tuesday except next week, Tuesday, September 6.  I will be helping my older son move into his new apartment that day and won't be able to host Take It Tuesday.

Otherwise, every Tuesday between 2 and 7 p.m. the door is open!  You don't have to be picking anything up or dropping anything off either.  Just pop by and stamp and visit!

Sweet Candy

Here's a sweet card featuring the Sweets for the Sweet Set for you to enjoy.

Uses Sweets for the Sweet Clear-Mount Set plus Pretty in Pink Card Stock, Bashful Blue Card Stock, Marina Mist Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Pretty in Pink Classic Stampin' Pad, Bashful Blue Classic Stampin' Pad, Marina Mist Classic Stampin' Pad, Pretty in Pink 1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds Stampin' Glitter, Stamping Sponges, Clear-Mount Block A, Clear-Mount Block B, SNAIL Adhesive, Sticky Strip, 2-Way Glue Pen, Craft Scissors, Ticket Corner Punch, 1" Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Multipurpose Platform, Standard Cutting Pads, and Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.

 

August Club Contest Winners

Each month, I challenge the members of my Stampin' Clubs to create a project for a contest and submit it to me.  I assign a theme for them each month.  Everyone in the Clubs then votes on their favorite 2 entries and the top entries win their creators a $5 coupon to use on their next order.

For August, I challenged them to create projects using new products from the new big catalog.  The entire project didn't have to be new stuff, but they did have to use something new somewhere on the card - a new color, a new stamp set, or a new accessory.

Only two people actually submitted entries so they were the automatic winners.

Connie Gibbons submitted this soft and pretty card:

Uses Delicate Doilies Set and Short & Sweet Set plus Bashful Blue Card Stock, Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad, Subtles Collection Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack, Bitty Buttons, Iridescent Ice Stampin' Emboss Powder, Powder Pals, VersaMark Pad, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots, 2-3/8" Scallop Circle Punch, Scallop Trim Border Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, and 1-3/4" Circle Punch.

Kathy Little submitted these two fun cards:

Uses Pennant Parade Set and Four the Holidays Set plus Lucky Limeade Card Stock, Real Red Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Lucky Limeade Classic Stampin' Pad, Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad, Chocolate Chip Classic Stampin' Pad, Basic Rhinestones Jewels, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals, 1-1/4" Square Punch, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Multipurpose Platform, Standard Cutting Pads, Designer Frames Textured Impressions Embossing Folders Set, Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, and Ovals Originals Die.

Uses Pennant Parade Set and Swirls & Curls Verses Hostess Only Set plus Pink Pirouette Card Stock, Riding Hood Red Card Stock, Crumb Cake Card Stock, Chocolate Chip Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Pretty in Pink Classic Stampin' Pad, Chocolate Chip Classic Stampin' Pad, Pretty in Pink Stampin' Write Marker, Just Add Cake Designer Series Paper, Stamping Sponges, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals, 2-Way Glue Pen, Cupcake Builder Punch, and Petite Pennants Builder Punch.

Connie and Kathy will each receive a $5 Coupon from me to use on their next Club Order.  Great cards, ladies!

Strength & Hope Last Chance

Purchasing the Strength & Hope Set in the Summer Mini makes a donation towards fighting breast cancer.  However, you can easily use this set for many occasions and types of cards including supporting other "ribbon" causes.  You can find great listings of various awareness ribbon colors on the Internet just by searching "awareness ribbon colors."  Then, create a card using the colors you want to highlight.

This first card uses the pink colors associated with breast cancer awareness.  However, since the words are mostly hidden behind the sparkly butterfly, you could easily use it for any occasion.

  Uses Strength & Hope Clear-Mount Set plus Regal Rose Card Stock, Rose Red Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, White Vellum Card Stock, Regal Rose Classic Stampin' Pad, Rose Red Classic Stampin' Pad, Rose Red 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon, Iridescent Ice Stampin' Emboss Powder, Powder Pals, Heat Tool, Clear-Mount Block H, SNAIL Adhesive, Sticky Strip, Mini Glue Dots, Craft Scissors, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Multipurpose Platform, Standard Cutting Pads, Designer Frames Textured Impressions Embossing Folders Set, and Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.

A purple ribbon is used to indicate a survivor of any type of cancer or general cancer awareness.  If you inked up a different word on the sentiment block, you could easily use this as a thinking of you card for anyone suffering from any type of cancer or for a wedding, shower, or anniversary card or for a thank you card.

Uses Strength & Hope Clear-Mount Set and Ribbon of Hope a la carte stamp plus Wisteria Wonder Card Stock, Concord Crush Card Stock, Sahara Sand Card Stock, Wisteria Wonder Classic Stampin' Pad, Sahara Sand Classic Stampin' Pad, 2010-2012 In Color Stampin' Write Markers (Concord Crush), Wisteria Wonder 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon, Basic Pearls Jewels, Clear-Mount Block H, SNAIL Adhesive, Sticky Strip, Craft Scissors, and Scallop Trim Border Punch.

By making a yellow ribbon, you can easily create a card that shows support for our Troops and their families.

Uses Strength & Hope Clear-Mount Set plus Old Olive Card Stock, Night of Navy Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad, Night of Navy Stampin' Write Marker, Daffodil Delight 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Clear-Mount Block B, Clear-Mount Block H, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Multipurpose Platform, Standard Cutting Pads, and Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.

The final card features several of our new In Colors and coordinating accessories and the Rock 'n Roll technique.  Again, by just inking up a different word on the sentiment stamp, you can easily make this card fit your needs.

Uses Strength & Hope Clear-Mount Set plus Pool Party Card Stock, Island Indigo Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Pad, Wisteria Wonder Classic Stampin' Pad, Island Indigo Classic Stampin' Pad, 2011-2013 In Color Stampin' Write Markers (Island Indigo), Calypso Coral 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon, Island Indigo 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon, Wisteria Wonder 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon, 2011-2013 In Color Designer Printed Brads, Clear-Mount Block H, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sticky Strip, Paper-Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, Stampin' Mist, Stampin' Scrub, Word Window Punch, and Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch.

This set will no longer be available after August 31.  There is still time for you to order it or the Strength & Hope Digital Kit though.  For every one of these sets or digital kits purchased, Stampin' Up! will donate $2 to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF).  To order the set, you can contact me at [email protected] or 410-552-0414 or you can shop online by clicking on the "Shop Now" button in the upper right corner.  To order the Strength & Hope Digital Kit, you must place an online order.

Revolving Door

It's starting to feel as if my home has a revolving door! 

We got my older son on his way to Florida yesterday for his new job which starts on Monday.  He drove down by himself with some of his stuff.  Fortunately, Hurricane Irene decided to stay far enough off shore not to interfere too much with his drive.  He says traffic hasn't been too bad and he had nice weather yesterday once he got below DC and only a little wind today.

Then, we had to start moving my younger son into his dorm apartment.  We were originally going to wait and move him on Sunday, the original official move-in day at his college for returning students.  Because of the approaching hurricane though, we decided to go ahead and move the bulk of his stuff into the common room area of his dorm apartment (which is really nice).  His suite mate and friend is a Resident Assistant this year, so he's already moved in and was fine with his friends dumping their stuff in the common area a little early.  We planned to move Sean and the rest of his gear in on Sunday, but then heard that because of the storm, the college has moved the official move-in date for returning students to tomorrow, so I guess we'll move him in then.  I'm just hoping they won't change their minds and send all the students right back home again or we'll be driving back over there again!  Update:  Just got home from picking up my niece and Sean found an e-mail message that move-ins have been canceled for his school until Monday and classes are canceled on Monday.  So, we'll now be moving him in on Monday morning.

We will soon be heading out to pick up my niece at the Amtrak station.  She goes to William & Mary College in Williamsburg, VA.  Because of the storm, her college decided to close and told all the students at 5 p.m. last night that they had to be out of the dorms by noon today!  Katie's family lives in south Florida, so we are her closest relatives.  She managed to get a ticket on an Amtrak train from Williamsburg to Baltimore today and will be here soon.  She'll be staying with us until her school reopens when it is safe for students to return.

Hopefully, Irene won't do too much to us here, but we'll see.  I went through many a hurricane growing up in Florida and never lost power, but lost power here a few years ago when Hurricane Isabel went through.  We're stocked up on supplies and batteries and lanterns though and have moved some stuff out of the back yard and into the garage or basement.

Hope everyone in Irene's path does okay.  Stay safe!

 

Stocking Gift Card Holder

This is another one of the projects we made at my Club Classes this month featuring interactive or fun-fold cards.  I figure you can't get much more interactive than having a gift card holder, right!?  The gift card slides into the top of the stocking.  The back stocking was left smooth so you could write a note or a "to: from:" message.  Enjoy!

Uses Grateful Greetings Set plus Baja Breeze Card Stock, Very Vanilla Card Stock, Baja Breeze Classic Stampin' Pad, White Baker's Twine, Very Vanilla 3/8" Velvet Stitched Ribbon, Mini Jingle Bells, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sticky Strip, Mini Glue Dots, Craft Scissors, Snowflake Punch, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Multipurpose Platform, Standard Cutting Pads, Snow Burst Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Holiday Stocking Bigz L Die, gift card, and floss threader.

The floss threader makes it easy to thread the Mini Jingle Bells onto the White Baker's Twine which are tied onto the snowflake punch out.

Several of these products will be available in the Holiday Mini effective September 1 - Very Vanilla 3/8" Velvet Stitched Ribbon, Mini Jingle Bells, Snow Burst Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, and Holiday Stocking Bigz L Die.

 

Peeking Ghost

This is another of the interactive cards we made at my August Club Classes.  It uses the really cool Peekaboo Frames Bigz L Die for the Big Shot that will be available in the Holiday Mini effective September 1.  Enjoy!

Uses Grateful Greetings Set plus Peach Parfait Card Stock, Pumpkin Pie Card Stock, Basic Black Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, 2010-2012 In Color Stampin' Write Markers (Peach Parfait), Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Write Marker, Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sticky Strip, 2-Way Glue Pen, 1-3/8" Square Punch, 1-1/4" Square Punch, Postage Stamp Punch, Owl Builder Punch, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Multipurpose Platform, Standard Cutting Pads, Standard Premium Crease Pad, Spider Web Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Peekaboo Frames Bigz L Die, and Timeless Type Junior Alphabet Medium Sizzlits Dies.

Weekly Inspiration

We made a Shaker Card as one of our projects at my August Stampin' Club Classes.  These cards are really fun and actually easy to make with the new Shaker Frames available September 1 through the Holiday Mini Catalog.  Enjoy!

Supplies

- Gently Falling, pages 16 - 17 of Holiday Mini, Clear - $28.95, Wood - $39.95

- Petite Pairs, page 164, Clear - $20.95, Wood - $28.95

- More Mustard 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock, page 179, $6.95

- Cajun Craze 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock, page 179, $6.95

- Very Vanilla 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock, page 180, $8.50

- More Mustard Classic Stampin' Pad, page 179, $5.95

- More Mustard Classic Stampin' Ink Refill, page 179, $2.95

- Cajun Craze Classic Stampin' Pad, page 179, $5.95

- Cajun Craze Classic Stampin' Ink Refill, page 179, $2.95

- Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad, page 179, $5.95

- Early Espresso 3/8" Quilted Satin Ribbon, page 30 of Holiday Mini, $7.95

- Mica Flakes, page 21 of Holiday Mini, $3.50

- Jet Black StazOn Ink Pad, page 203, $7.95

- SNAIL Adhesive, page 206, $6.95

- Stampin' Dimensionals, page 206, $3.95

- Sticky Strip, page 206, $6.95

- 2-Way Glue Pen, page 206, $3.50

- Shaker Frames, page 38 of Holiday Mini, $4.95

- Paper Snips, page 208, $9.95

- Craft Scissors, page 208, $29.95

- Paper Cutter, page 208, $24.95

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

- 2-3/8" Scallop Circle Punch, page 210, $16.95

- 1-3/4" Circle Punch, page 212, $16.95

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

- Window Sheets, page 216, $4.95

- Houndstooth Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, page 218, $7.95

- empty containers with lids (I used a couple of old button or brad containers)

- plastic spoon or craft stick

- baby wipes or wet wipes to clean ink from your fingers after working with the colored Mica Flakes

Directions

1)  Put a pinch of Mica Flakes into one of the empty containers.  Add one to two drops of More Mustard Ink Refill.  Stir the Mica Flakes into the ink drops until they are pretty well coated.  Put the lid on the container and give it a few shakes.  Set aside to allow to dry.

2)  Put a pinch of Mica Flakes into the other empty containers.  Add one to two drops of Cajun Craze Ink Refill.  Stir and shake until these are well coated.  Set aside to allow to dry.

3)  Cut a piece of Window Sheet to 2 1/4 x 2 1/4".

4)  Ink up the sentiment from the Petite Pairs Set with StazOn Ink.  Stamp the sentiment so it is centered from side to side on the Window Sheet square and about 3/4" from the top.  Set aside to allow to dry.

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

6)  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.

7)  Cut a piece of More Mustard Card Stock to 3 7/8 x 5 1/4".

8)  Place the mustard rectangle into the Houndstooth Embossing Folder.  Build a sandwich of Multipurpose Platform with Tab 2 open, one Standard Cutting Pad, Embossing Folder with card stock inside, and the other Standard Cutting Pad.  Run through the Big Shot.

9)  Use the 1-3/4" Circle Punch to punch a hole in the lower right corner of the textured mustard card stock.

10)  Punch a circle near the center of a scrap Cajun Craze Card Stock using the 1-3/4" Circle Punch.

11)  Line the punched out circle up in the center of the 2-3/8" Scallop Circle Punch and punch again so you have a scallop circle with a hole in the middle of it.

12)  Use the 2-Way Glue Pen to adhere the scallop circle with the hole in the middle to the hole punched in the textured mustard card stock as a frame.

13)  Wrap a small strip of Early Espresso Quilted Satin Ribbon around to the back side of the top left corner of the textured mustard card stock at an angle.  Use strips of Sticky Strip to adhere the ribbon in place.  Do NOT remove the protective backing from the Sticky Strip pieces.

14)  Tie another small piece of ribbon to the center of the first piece and trim the ends.

15)  Stamp the solid maple leaf image in More Mustard Ink onto a scrap of Very Vanilla Card Stock.

16)  Ink up the outline maple leaf image with Cajun Craze Ink.  Stamp off onto scratch paper first and then stamp it over the top of the solid maple leaf image.

17)  Ink up the solid oak leaf image with Cajun Craze Ink.  Stamp off onto scratch paper first and then stamp onto a scrap of Very Vanilla Card Stock.

18)  Stamp the outline oak leaf image in Cajun Craze Ink over the top of the solid oak leaf image.

19)  Cut out the leaves along the outline image lines using Paper Snips.

20)  Adhere the leaves to the textured mustard card stock so they appear to be hanging from the ribbon.

21)  Cut a piece of Very Vanilla Card Stock to 2 1/4 x 2 1/4".

22)  Stamp the beech leaf image, maple seed image, and acorn image randomly onto the vanilla square using More Mustard, Cajun Craze, and Early Espresso Inks.  Stamp some of the images off onto scratch paper before stamping onto the vanilla square.  Allow the images to overlap a bit.  Set aside for now.

23)  Put a small amount of SNAIL in all four corners of your stamped Window Sheet square on the front side (same side as the sentiment is stamped on).

24)  Adhere the Window Sheet square to the back of the textured mustard card stock so the sentiment can be read through the hole punched in the lower right corner.

25)  Carefully remove the largest, outer foam circle from one of the sets of circles in the Shaker Frames.

26)  Adhere the foam circle to the back of the textured mustard card stock so it frames the window punched in the lower right corner.  Do NOT peel off the protective backing yet.

27)  Add a tiny pinch of both colors of Mica Flakes to the inside of the area outlined by the foam circle.

28)  Carefully peel off the protective backing on the foam circle.

29)  Adhere the leaf stamped square of vanilla card stock to the back of the foam circle.  Make sure you can see the stamped images through the window.

30)  Add Stampin' Dimensionals to the back of the textured mustard card stock.  Peel of the protective backings and adhere to the front of the Cajun Craze card.

31)  Give your card a gentle shake to watch the Mica Flakes move around.

Tips

It's best to color your Mica Flakes first so that they have some time to dry while you work on the rest of the card.

Mix one drop of Ink Refill with the Mica Flakes first.  If you need to add more color, you can add another drop and mix again.

It's also best to stamp your sentiment on your Window Sheet square early to allow it time to dry while you work on the rest of the card.

The Houndstooth Embossing Folder will shorten the card stock a bit when it is embossed because of the detail in the pattern.  So, it is best to cut the card stock about 1/8" longer than you want the finished piece to be.

It's almost always easiest to hold our punches upside down so you can see where you are punching.  This will help you line things up, get things centered, and make sure you aren't punching off an edge.

You don't have to get the solid and outline images in the Gently Falling Set to line up perfectly.  It's a 2-Step Stampin' Set and looks fine if things are slightly off.

You may need to reshape the foam circle of the Shaker Frames a bit after pulling it off the packaging sheet.  Just mold it with your fingers before sticking it in place.  Once stuck down, you can use your fingernail or the blades of the scissors or the craft stick or spoon you used to color the Mica Flakes to gently push the edges of the foam back so the don't show through the window on the front of your card.

It's okay if your Mica Flakes aren't completely dry.  They may leave some spots of color to the inside of your shaker frame, but that's fine.  It adds to the rustic look!

Do NOT overfill your shaker frame.  It will shake best if you only put a small amount of Mica Flakes into the frame.

Several of the products used on this card (Gently Falling Set, Mica Flakes, Shaker Frames, and Quilted Satin Ribbon) will be available starting September 1 through the Holiday Mini.  If you have not received a copy of the Holiday Mini from me by August 26 or if you don't have a Demonstrator you normally work with, please contact me at [email protected] and I'll get a copy of the Holiday Mini in the mail to you.

 

All Shook Up!

Hmm, maybe the Shaker Card that is the focus of my Weekly Inspiration post tomorrow is truly appropriate!

We had an earthquake this afternoon!  A bit scary and unsettling for those of us who have never felt an earthquake before and had no expectation of ever feeling one while living in Maryland!

The whole house shook from side to side.  Several little bottles of bath salts, lotions, etc. in my bathroom fell over, a couple of retired stamp sets stacked on my for sale tables slid off the stacks, and a wooden sign my sister-in-law painted us that normally rests on the door sill between my living room and dining room hit the floor.  My sons said the TV swayed and they were afraid it was going to fall down.  It took us a minute to realize we were actually feeling an earthquake.  My husband felt it at work too and their whole building was evacuated when the fire alarms went off.  They had trouble turning the alarms back off, so he got sent home early.

Hopefully, that was the last earthquake I'll ever feel. 

Now, we just have to dodge the bullet of Hurricane Irene which looks like it might be headed straight for us.  Maybe I should consider moving back to Florida with my son!