Inspiration Ink

Weekly Inspiration

This week's card looks a lot like last week's, but it is different!  It's another great way to use up scraps of Holly Berry Bouquet Specialty Designer Series Paper.  This one could also be used as a Christmas card with a change of sentiment and a couple of punches, but I'm using it as a birthday card for a friend with a birthday right near Christmas.  Enjoy!

Supplies

- Sweets for the Sweet, page 65, Clear - $18.95, Wood - $25.95

- Perfect Punches, page 140, Clear - $17.95, Wood - $24.95

- Real Red 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock, page 177, $6.95

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

- Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad, page 177, $5.95

- 3" x 5" Cellophane Bags, page 181, $3.95

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

- Real Red 5/8" Satin Ribbon, page 195, $8.95

- Real Red 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, page 195, $5.95

- SNAIL Adhesive, page 206, $6.95

- Stampin' Dimensionals, page 206, $3.95

- Sticky Strip, page 206, $6.95

- 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

- 1" Circle Punch, page 212, $10.95

- Extra-Large Oval Punch, page 212, $16.95

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

- Designer Frames Textured Impressions Embossing Folders Set, page 218, $8.95

Directions

1)  Cut a piece of Real Red 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 Very Vanilla Card Stock to 4 x 5 1/4".

4)  Cut three strips of designer paper with the glittery red dots pattern to 1 1/4 x 3 1/2" each.

5)  Lay the dotted designer paper strips on the vanilla rectangle without adhering them to make sure they are evenly spaced and lined up.  Adhere them one at a time.

6)  Adhere a piece of Real Red Satin Ribbon so it hides the tops of the designer paper strips.

7)  Adhere the vanilla/designer paper rectangle to the front of the red card.

8)  Place a scrap of Real Red Card Stock inside the oval frame folder of the Designer Frames Embossing Folders Set.

9)  Build a a sandwich of Multipurpose Platform with Tab 2 open, one Standard Cutting Pad, Embossing Folder with card stock inside as outlined in step 8, and the other Standard Cutting Pad.  Run through the Big Shot.

10)  Carefully cut out the embossed oval using Paper Snips.

11)  Stamp the birthday sentiment from the Perfect Punches Set onto a scrap of Very Vanilla Card Stock using Real Red Ink.

12)  Punch out the sentiment using the Extra-Large Oval Punch.

13)  Adhere the sentiment oval to the center of the embossed oval.

14)  Adhere the oval to the card front using Stampin' Dimensionals so it is centered over the ribbon on the left side.

15)  Stamp the peppermint candy image from the Sweets for the Sweet Set two times onto a scrap of Very Vanilla Card Stock using the Real Red Ink.  Remember to reink the stamp each time.

16)  Punch out the candy images using the 1" Circle Punch.

17)  Cut two strips from the top of a Cellophane Bag using the Paper Cutter.  Each strip should be 1 1/8" wide.

18)  Open one strip up slightly and adhere one of the candy images inside the strip so it will be between the two layers of cellophane and covering the seam in the strip near the middle.

19)  Tie a piece of Real Red 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon around one end of the cellophane strip near the candy image.  Trim ends of ribbon.

20)  Tie a piece of ribbon around the other end of the cellophane strip near the candy image.  Trim ends of ribbon.

21)  Cut open the ends of the cellophane strip if desired by cutting along the crease on each end.

22)  Repeat steps 18 through 21 with the other cellophane strip and candy image.

23)  Adhere one wrapped candy image to the top of the card front using a small piece of Sticky Strip on the back under the candy image.

24)  Adhere the other wrapped candy image to the top of the card front using Stampin' Dimensionals on the back under the candy image.

Tips

I like to adhere ribbon by cutting a piece slighly longer than my card front is wide.  I then wrap the ends around to the back side of the card front and place a piece of Sticky Strip across the ends of the ribbon to hold it in place.  Adhering ribbon in this manner uses less ribbon and it lays flatter!

For some reason, red inks can take longer to dry when stamped on Whisper White or Very Vanilla Card Stock than most other inks.  So, be sure to allow your red stamped images plenty of time to dry before handling them or the ink may smear.

The Perfect Punches Set is available for 40% off in the Holiday Extravaganza sale!  You can get it in Wood-Mount for $14.97 or Clear-Mount for $10.77.  The sale ends tonight though, so don't wait to e-mail me with your order!

Take It Tuesday

It's Tuesday and Take It Tuesday is back!

You can stop by anytime between 2 p.m and 7 p.m. on most any Tuesday.  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 take pictures of the samples so you can use them for inspiration at home.

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 will be 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 Love & Sympathy Clear-Mount Set plus Always Artichoke Card Stock, River Rock Card Stock, Always Artichoke Classic Stampin' Pad, Whisper White Craft Stampin' Pad, Always Artichoke Stampin' Write Marker, Always Artichoke 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon, Sponge Daubers, Clear-Mount Block B, Clear-Mount Block D, SNAIL Adhesive, Sticky Strip, Cutter Kit, Craft Scissors, Decorative Label Punch, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Multipurpose Platform, Standard Cutting Pads, and Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.

Uses A Word For You Clear-Mount Set plus Pool Party Card Stock, Wild Wasabi Card Stock, Very Vanilla Card Stock, Soft Suede Card Stock, Wild Wasabi Classic Stampin' Pad, Spice Cake Designer Series Paper, Early Espresso/White Baker's Twine, Wild Wasabi 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Spice Cake Designer Buttons, Basic Pearls Jewels, Clear-Mount Block H, SNAIL Adhesive, Sticky Strip, 2-Way Glue Pen, Craft Scissors, Boho Blossoms Punch, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, Scallop Trim Corner Punch, Scallop Trim Border Punch, 3/16" Corner Punch, and 1/16" Circle Handheld Punch.

You don't have to be picking anything up or dropping anything off either.  Just pop by and stamp and visit!

November 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 November, I told them "anything goes!"  They could create any kind of project they wanted!

Once again, we had lots of great cards submitted and voting was really tight.

The top choice though was this beautiful sympathy card by Shannon Aydukovic:

Uses Precious Butterflies Hostess Set and Love & Sympathy Set plus Lucky Limeade Card Stock, Early Espresso Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Lucky Limeade Classic Stampin' Pad, Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad, Whisper White Craft Stampin' Pad, Basic Rhinestones Jewels, SNAIL Adhesive, 2-Way Glue Pen, and Paper Snips.

The second place winner, a fun Christmas card, was submitted by Kathy Little:

Uses Sincere Salutations Set and Stitched Stockings Set plus Cherry Cobbler Card Stock, Crumb Cake Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad, Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad, Frostwood Lodge Designer Series Paper, Cherry Cobbler/White Baker's Twine, Cherry Cobbler 3/8" Quilted Satin Ribbon, Mini Jingle Bells, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals, 2-Way Glue Pen, Mini Glue Dots, Craft Scissors, Snowflake Punch, and Stocking Builder Punch.

Shannon and Kathy will each receive a $5 Coupon from me to use on their next order.  Wonderful cards, ladies!  Congrats!

Simply Thanks

I am truly grateful for many things in my life including my wonderful customers, fabulous upline, terrific downline, and all who read my blog!  Thank you!

Uses Gently Falling Clear-Mount Set and Thank You Kindly Set plus More Mustard Card Stock, Bravo Burgundy Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad, Early Espresso 3/8" Quilted Satin Ribbon, Regals Collection Watercolor Wonder Crayons (More Mustard and Bravo Burgundy), Brights Collection Watercolor Wonder Crayons (Old Olive), Aqua Painter, Clear-Mount Block D, SNAIL Adhesive, and Sticky Strip.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Weekly Inspiration

Here's another card to use up some of the Holly Berry Bouquet Specialty Designer Series Paper I still have.  This card could be a Christmas card with a change of sentiment, but I'm going to use it to send some of the Turkey Trot Bucks that my customers have earned while shopping this week!  Enjoy!

Supplies

- Tagtastic Hostess Set, page 13, available in Wood and Clear Mount, free with qualifying order

- Sweets for the Sweet, page 65, Clear - $18.95, Wood - $25.95

- Real Red 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock, page 177, $6.95

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

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

- Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad, page 177, $5.95

- Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad, page 180, $5.95

- Red Glimmer Paper, page 181, $4.95

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

- Early Espresso 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, page 195, $5.95

- Brights Glimmer Brads, page 199, $4.95

- SNAIL Adhesive, page 206, $6.95

- Stampin' Dimensionals, page 206, $3.95

- Sticky Strip, page 206, $6.95

- Mini Glue Dots, page 206, $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

- Extra-Large Tag Punch, page 209, $16.95

- Large Tag Punch, page 209, $15.95

- Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, pages 210-211, $15.95

- 1" Circle Punch, page 212, $10.95

- 1-1/4" Circle Punch, page 212, $15.95

- 1-3/8" Circle Punch, page 212, $15.95

- 3/4" Circle Punch, page 212, $10.95

- 1-3/8" Square Punch, page 212, $16.95

Directions

1)  Cut a piece of Real Red 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 designer paper with the glittery red stripes design to 1 3/4 x 5".

4)  Slide one short end of the designer paper into the 1-3/8" Square Punch at an angle.  Line the bottom up so it goes diagonally from the bottom left corner of the punching area to the upper right corner of the punching area.  Punch.  You should have a nice even notch in the bottom of your paper strip.

5)  Adhere the notched designer paper to the left side of the card front.

6)  Cut three strips of designer paper with the glittery red dots pattern to 1 x 3 1/2" each.

7)  Lay the dotted designer paper strips on your card front without adhering them to make sure they are evenly spaced and lined up.

8)  Adhere the top and bottom strips to the card front.

9)  Adhere a piece of Early Espresso 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon across the center lengthwise of the middle strip.

10)  Adhere the middle strip with the ribbon on it in place.

11)  Ink up the peppermint candy image from the Sweets for the Sweet Set using Real Red Ink.  Stamp it three times onto a scrap of Very Vanilla Card Stock.  Remember to reink your stamp each time.

12)  Punch the center of two of the candies out using the 3/4" Circle Punch.

13)  Punch the entire remaining candy out using the 1" Circle Punch.

14)  Punch two circles from a scrap of Red Glimmer Paper using the 1" Circle Punch.

15)  Adhere the 3/4" candy images to the centers of the 1" glimmer paper circles.

16)  Adhere the candies to the left sides of the top and bottom glittery dots strips.

17)  Punch one circle from a scrap of Early Espresso Card Stock using the 1-1/4" Circle Punch.

18)  Adhere the 1" candy image to the center of the espresso circle.

19)  Punch one circle from a scrap of Red Glimmer Paper using the 1-3/8" Circle Punch.

20)  Adhere the matted 1" candy to the center of the glimmer paper circle.

21)  Adhere the matted candy image to the left side of the center designer strip using Stampin' Dimensionals.

22)  Stamp the special treat tag image from the Tagtastic Set in Real Red Ink onto a scrap of Very Vanilla Card Stock.

23)  Stamp the "just for fun" sentiment from the Sweets for the Sweet Set in Early Espresso Ink on the bottom of the tag.

24)  Punch out the tag image using the Large Tag Punch.

25)  Center an edge of a scrap of Red Glimmer Paper in the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch and punch.

26)  Adhere the glimmer paper border strip to the tag so it covers the words "A Special Treat."  Trim off excess with Paper Snips.

27)  Punch a tag from a scrap of Early Espresso Card Stock using the Extra-Large Tag Punch.

28)  Adhere the stamped tag to the espresso tag.

29)  Adhere the matted tag to the right side of the center strip of glittery dots paper at a slight angle using Stampin' Dimensionals.

30)  Tie a small bow in a piece of Early Espresso 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon and trim ends with the Craft Scissors.

31)  Pry open the prongs of a Real Red Brights Glimmer Brad.  Slide the center of the bow between the prongs and then wrap the prongs around it.

32)  Adhere the bow with the brad on it to the top of the tag using Mini Glue Dots.

Tips

You can use Paper Snips to cut a notch in the end of a strip of paper if you prefer.  But it's easier to get an even notch if you use a square punch.

For some reason, red inks can take longer to dry when stamped on Whisper White or Very Vanilla Card Stock than most other inks.  So, be sure to allow your red stamped images plenty of time to dry before handling them or the ink may smear.

Brights Glimmer Brads are available as part of the Glimmer Brad Bundle for 30% off in the Holiday Extravaganza sale going on now!

Antiqued Rose

Here's another birthday card that uses a piece of the Holly Berry Bouquet Specialty Designer Series Paper.  This one is for my mother-in-law.  Enjoy!

Uses You Are Loved Clear-Mount Set, Petite Pairs Clear-Mount Set, and Hello, Doily background stamp plus Cherry Cobbler Card Stock, Garden Green Card Stock, Very Vanilla Card Stock, Chocolate Chip Card Stock, Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad, Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad, Real Red Stampin' Write Marker, Wild Wasabi Stampin' Write Marker, Cherry Cobbler Stampin' Write Marker, Garden Green Stampin' Write Marker, Holly Berry Bouquet Specialty Designer Series Paper, Chantilly 1/2" Crochet Trim, Cherry Cobbler 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon, Basic Pearls Jewels, Antique Brads, Distressing Essentials, Clear-Mount Block B, Clear-Mount Block C, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sticky Strip, Paper-Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, Cutter Kit, Craft Scissors, Modern Label Punch, and Large Oval Punch.

Butterfly Swirl

I'm pretty much done making my Christmas cards, but I still have some of the Holly Berry Bouquet Specialty Designer Series Paper from the Holiday Mini.  Some of the designs have a spring feel to me, so I used one piece to make a butterfly birthday card for my neice.  Enjoy!

Uses Flight of the Butterfly Set plus Pretty in Pink Card Stock, Wild Wasabi Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Pretty in Pink Classic Stampin' Pad, Chocolate Chip Classic Stampin' Pad, Holly Berry Bouquet Specialty Designer Series Paper, White Baker's Twine, Pretty in Pink 1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon, Subtles Designer Buttons, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sticky Strip, Mini Glue Dots, Craft Scissors, and Butterfly Punch.

Darlene's Workshop Projects

I demonstrated at a Workshop on Friday night.  The Workshop was for Darlene and was actually the first Workshop for one of my new recruits, Pat Miller, who is Darlene's friend.  Pat doesn't even have her Kit yet, so I created and prepped the projects and did most of the demonstrating.  Pat helped and collected the orders at the end to turn in as her first order.

Everyone got to make these two Christmas cards:

Uses Christmas Lodge Clear-Mount Set plus Garden Green Card Stock, Crumb Cake Card Stock, Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad, Chocolate Chip Classic Stampin' Pad, Cherry Cobbler Stampin' Write Marker, Garden Green Stampin' Write Marker, Frostwood Lodge Designer Series Paper, Early Espresso/White Baker's Twine, Cherry Cobbler 3/8" Quilted Satin Ribbon, Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Buttons, Basic Rhinestones Jewels, Stamping Sponges, Clear-Mount Block E, Clear-Mount Block H, SNAIL Adhesive, Sticky Strip, Mini Glue Dots, Cutter Kit, and Craft Scissors.

Uses Serene Snowflakes Set and Four the Holidays Set plus Pool Party Card Stock, Island Indigo Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad, Island Indigo Classic Stampin' Pad, Island Indigo 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon, Silver Glass Stampin' Glitter, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sticky Strip, Shaker Frames, Craft Scissors, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Multipurpose Platform, Standard Cutting Pads, Window Sheets, and Snow Burst Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.

As an extra treat for everyone who attended the show, I gave out these shaker ornaments that I learned how to make at my upline's recent Team Meeting:

Uses Button Buddies Set plus Night of Navy Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Night of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad, Real Red Stampin' Write Marker, White Baker's Twine, Blue 3/8" Denim Jean Ribbon, Silver Glass Stampin' Glitter, SNAIL Adhesive, Mini Glue Dots, Shaker Frames, Craft Scissors, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, 2-1/2" Circle Punch, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Standard Cutting Pads, Window Sheets, Circles #2 Originals Die, and Perfect Pennants Bigz L Die.

As a Hostess Gift for Darline, I made this fun double-pocket bag that I learned how to make at my upline Jan's house for Diva Day.   It's a single sheet of Designer Series Paper folded together without any adhesive.  It's then decorated with some extra squares of Designer Series Paper and a big heart cut from Glimmer Paper.  It's got a pocket on each side which can be filled with treats, gift cards, cards, etc.

Uses Red Glimmer Paper, Holly Berry Bouquet Specialty Designer Series Paper, Very Vanilla 3/8" Velvet Stitched Ribbon, SNAIL Adhesive, Crop-A-Dile, Craft Scissors, Simply Scored Scoring Tool, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Standard Cutting Pads, and Petal Cone Bigz L Die.

Purple Ice Skates

This is the last of the cards we made in my Club Classes this month featuring different ways of using the Stocking Builder Punch.  This is a variation of the ice skates card in my post of November 12.  It's exactly the same, except using purple instead of blue and is oriented as a landscape rather than a portrait card.  Enjoy!

Uses Stitched Stockings Set and Warmest of Wishes Hostess Clear-Mount Set plus Wisteria Wonder Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Wisteria Wonder Classic Stampin' Pad, Brushed Silver Card Stock, Wisteria Wonder 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon, White Baker's Twine, Basic Rhinestones Jewels, Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz, Color Catcher, Clear-Mount Block D, SNAIL Adhesive, Sticky Strip, 2-Way Glue Pen, Paper Snips, Craft Scissors, Stocking Builder Punch, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Multipurpose Platform, Standard Cutting Pads, and Northern Flurry Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.

Holiday Hobby Horse

This is another one of the cards we made at my Club Classes this month.  This one is a Christmas variation of the hobby horse card shown in my November 12 post featuring the Stocking Builder Punch.  Enjoy!

Uses Stitched Stockings Set and Four the Holidays Set plus Cherry Cobbler Card Stock, Garden Green Card Stock, Early Espresso Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad, Frostwood Lodge Designer Series Paper, Cherry Cobbler/White Baker's Twine, Early Espresso 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Vintage Trinkets, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sticky Strip, 2-Way Glue Pen, Paper-Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, Paper Snips, Craft Scissors, Scallop Trim Border Punch, 1/16" Circle Handheld Punch, Stocking Builder Punch, 1" Square Punch, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Multipurpose Platform, Standard Cutting Pads, and Sweet Buttons Embosslits Die.