Hoppy Easter

Hello Friends!  Today I am going to share with you the Easter card we made at Stamp Club in March.  It uses a bit of creative punch art (original idea CASED from Justin Kreiger:  jkcards.wordpress.com), combined with one of our new Easter stamp sets, Eggstra Spectacular (133068-w, 133071-c).  You will find this lighthearted stamp set on page 32 of your Celebrate the Everyday Occasions Catalog.

I used one of my very favorite Designer Series Papers, Watercolor Wonder, for some playful pop, various punches, Circles Collection Framelits Dies, and the new Starburst Framelits Dies for the bunny tail.  Punch art doesn't have to be limited to only punches!  ;)

In Stamp Club we make lots of fun and creative cards to share with our family and friends.  We make a combination of more time intensive cards, as well as quick and easy cards you can whip up at the last minute and still come off looking fabulous!  If you live near the O'Fallon area and would like to know more about Stamp Club, contact me today.  We would love to have you join us!

Eagle Scout Card

Today I want to share with you the card I made for my son for his Eagle Scout achievement.  I chose to make a fun tri-shutter fold card, using the Petal Parade stamp set for the arrows (embossed in gold on Basic Black cardstock), and a Paper Pumpkin stamp set for the greeting.  I popped up the embossed gold arrows with dimensionals.  I also used Champagne Glimmer Paper, Cherry Cobbler cardstock, Whisper White cardstock, and some retired DSP with the Scout trefoil on it.  See, it can be a good thing to collect and hoard designer series paper!  You never know when you may need a particular pattern.  The stars were made using one of the images that come with the Label Card Thinlit and cut out of Gold Foil paper.  Such beautiful paper!!  The On My Honor symbol is one I found on the internet and re-sized until it fit perfectly into our 1-3/8" Circle Punch.

I just LOVE how it turned out!  What do you think?

Weekly Deals!

Here are this week's Deals from Stampin' Up!  These Deals are available from March 18 - March 24 while quantities last.  Please use Hostess Code BDRA3UDB  when shopping.  Thank you!

CRISP CANTALOUPE 3/8" RUFFLE STRETCH TRIM Price: $8.95 $6.71

GRAD PARTY ENSEMBLE - DIGITAL DOWNLOAD Price: $9.95 $5.97

IN COLOR BOUTIQUE DETAILS Price: $8.95 $6.71

PEWTER STAMPIN' EMBOSS POWDER Price: $4.75 $3.56

SCALLOP TRIM BORDER PUNCH Price: $15.95 $11.96

SILVER GLASS GLITTER Price: $3.95 $2.96

TEMPTING TURQUOISE STAMPIN' EMBOSS POWDER Price: $4.75 $3.56

VINTAGE TRINKETS ACCENTS & ELEMENTS Price: $5.95 $4.46

Vivid Vases

I am not normally a fan of soft pastels, but this card just takes my breath away!  I worked with Watercolor Paper, Aqua Painters, and Blender Pens to color the flowers and vases.  The lighting in the picture really does not do this card justice.

Supplies
Stamp Sets:  Vivid Vases (133818w), Love You to the Moon (133140w, 133143c) both from Celebrate the Everyday Catalog,
Paper:  Crisp Cantaloupe, Island Indigo, Whisper White, Watercolor Wonder DSP (132994) Celebrate the Everyday Catalog
Ink:  Staz-On Black, Daffodil Delight, Island Indigo, Crisp Cantaloupe, Soft Sky
Tools:  Big Shot (113439), Chalk Talk Framelits (129983), Aqua Painters (103954), Blender Pens (102845)
Other:  Dimensionals (104430), In Color Boutique Details (130938)

Starburst Sayings

This is one of the cards we made in Stamp Club last month!  It is a direct CASE from Susan Itell at www.simplestampin.com.  So fun and easy to create . . . I also decorated the inside to match, keeping it fun, and made a custom envelope with the Envelope Punch Board and lined with the Kaleidoscope Designer Series Paper.  I used the side of the paper that had Bermuda Bay with tiny white polka dots so it matched the Bermuda Bay on the card.  Sorry I don't have the envelope photographed.

To line your custom envelope with DSP, simply measure from the point on the sealing flap to the center of the notch on that same side of the envelope.  In this case it measured 3 1/2".  So I cut a piece of DSP 3 1/2" square and placed it in the Envelope Punch Board lining it up 1/8" smaller than the 3 1/2".  Punch, then flip the paper, (pull the paper toward you like you were playing cards and carefully looking at the card the dealer just gave you, but completely turn the paper over).  Turn it 1/4 turn to the right, line it up at the same mark and punch again.  You should have punched opposite corners.  This piece of paper will fit perfectly onto your envelope flap.  So simple and you can use this technique for any size envelope!

Supplies
Stamp Set:  Starburst Sayings (133182w, 133185c) Celebrate the Everyday Catalog
Cardstock:  Summer Starfruit, Whisper White, Bermuda Bay
Ink:  Strawberry Slush
Tools:  Big Shot (113439), Starburst Framelits Dies (132967) Celebrate the Everyday Catalog, Circles Collection Dies (130911)
Other:  Dimensionals (104430)

Wetlands Birthday Card

This sweet card was made for my brother-in-law's birthday using the Wetlands stamp set, but you could suit this to just about any occasion.  The lighting in the photo is a bit harsh, but it really is a nice soft card with Summer Starfruit and Night of Navy.   The greeting is from the Hostess set Simply Sketched in the annual catalog.  I use that set for so many different cards!  Normally there is at least one image in a set that I never use, but every single image in this set has been put to use multiple times!

The frame in this card is cut into the front and the image is stamped on the inside so you see it when the card is closed, and opened you still have the image with the greeting below.

Supplies
Stamp Sets:  Wetlands (126695w, 126697c), Simply Sketched (129669w, 129672c)
Paper:  Summer Starfruit, Night of Navy
Ink:  Night of Navy
Tools:  Big Shot (113439), Ovals Collection Framelits (129381), Stylish Stripes Embossing Folder (132174) Retired from Holiday Catalog
Other:  Dimensionals (104430), Regals Candy Dots (130932)

New Weekly Deals

Here are the great Weekly Deals offered from March 11 - March 17.  These deals are while quantities last!
Please use Hostess Code BDRA3UDB when shopping.

3 INCH CIRCLE ORIGINALS DIE Price: $17.95 $13.46

AHOY, MATEY ENSEMBLE - DIGITAL DOWNLOAD Price: $14.95 $8.97

ARGYLE TEXTURED IMPRESSIONS EMBOSSING FOLDER Price: $7.95 $5.96

CHEVRON TEXTURED IMPRESSIONS EMBOSSING FOLDER Price: $7.95 $5.96

CIRCLES #2 ORIGINALS DIE Price: $15.95 $11.96

DRESS FORM POP' N CUTS Price: $21.95 $16.46

PEEKABOO FRAMES BIGZ L DIE Price: $32.95 $24.71

SET DESIGNER FRAMES TEXTURED IMPRESSIONS EMBOSSING FOLDER DIE Price: $8.95 $6.71

Hexagon Hive Card

This is another card we made in Stamp Club using the new Hexagon Hive Thinlits Die.  It was fun to play with these colors and create this card.  I love bright colors and this card just pops with color!  The original idea was CASED from Justin Krieger at http://jkcards.wordpress.com/.  I ran the Daffodil Delight cardstock through the Big Shot with the Hexagon Hive Die, then did another one with Strawberry Slush cardstock.  I used the pieces that popped out of the Strawberry Slush cardstock to fit into the open holes in the Daffodil Delight.  (Adhere your Daffodil Delight piece down before you add the other pieces.)  There are 2 spots in the die where all sides have connecting spokes and these were used (Basic Black) to layer on top of the hive.  If you carefully snip off the spokes, you have a black hexagon the perfect size for layering.  Then layer the Daffodil Delight pieces onto the black cardstock.  Have fun creating your own patterns!

For the banner tails on the greeting, I used the Banners Framelits Dies to make the tails, then ran them through the Arrows Embossing Folder to add some texture and pattern.

On the inside, I thought it would be great to add some texture.  I stamped the greeting first, then ran the cardstock through the Honeycomb Embossing Folder.  Cute, huh?

Supplies
Stamp Set:  Perfect Pennants (133227w, 133230c) Celebrate the Everyday Catalog
Paper:  Bermuda Bay, Daffodil Delight, Strawberry Slush, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink:  Staz-On Black
Tools: Big Shot (113439), Hexagon Hive Thinlits Die (132965) Celebrate the Everyday Catalog, Banners Framelits Dies (132173) Celebrate..., Starburst Framelits Dies (132967) Celebrate...,  Apothecary Accents Dies (127003), Honeycomb Embossing Folder (129378), Arrows Embossing Folder (132187) Celebrate...
Other:  Rhinestone Basic Jewels (119246), Dimensionals (104430)

New Weekly Deals

Here are the newest Weekly Deals from Stampin' Up!  These Deals are good from March 4 - March 10 while quantities last.  When shopping, please use Hostess Code BDRA3UDB .  If you are a member of one of my Stamp Clubs, please contact me for your specific Hostess Code.  Also, don't forget to check out the Clearance Rack HERE for even more fabulous deals!

2012-2014 IN COLOR DESIGNER SERIES PAPER STACK Price: $21.95 $16.46

ADORNING ACCENTS TEXTURED IMPRESSIONS EMBOSSING FOLDERS Price: $8.95 $6.71

BETSY'S BLOOMS STAMPIN' AROUND STANDARD WHEEL Price: $6.50 $4.88

COASTAL CABANA 3/8" RUFFLE STRETCH TRIM Price: $8.95 $6.71

EVERYTHING EASTER ENSEMBLE - DIGITAL DOWNLOAD Price: $14.95 $8.97

LARGE RHINESTONE BASIC JEWELS Price: $4.95 $3.71

MIDNIGHT MUSE 3/8" STITCHED SATIN RIBBON Price: $8.95 $6.71

STRAWBERRY SLUSH 3/8" RUFFLE STRETCH TRIM Price: $8.95 $6.71

Eagle Ceremony Card Box

This is the box I made to put on the awards display table at my son's Eagle ceremony.  I thought it would be nice to make a box to hold greeting cards he receives.  I plan to re-purpose it for graduation by changing the decorations.  It is just a small crate made from raw boards I purchased at the store.  I "aged" the wood by using a technique I found on Pinterest.  Simply place 1/2 of a steel wool pad into a jar with vinegar and put the lid on.  I used a pickle jar.  Let that soak for 24 hours or more, then stir it up.  It should somewhat dissolve the steel wool pad and make your solution muddy looking.  If it's not very muddy, don't worry, it will still work.  Then brew some tea.  I used a small sauce pan with boiling water and just put 3 Lipton tea bags in to steep.  Once the tea is dark, let it cool a bit, then paint the tea on your wood.  You won't notice much change at this point--don't panic.  Let the wood dry completely, then stir your vinegar solution and paint that on over the tea.  It will almost instantly begin to darken the wood giving it an "aged" look.  If you want it darker, paint on more coats of the vinegar.  I was worried it wasn't going to be dark enough, so I kept piling on the vinegar.  Then it seemed a bit too dark.  Oops!  I just dipped a folded paper towel into a strong bleach/water solution and lightly wiped it on some of the darkest parts.  It bleached it out just enough.

When your box is thoroughly dry, decorate it any way you like!  Here I used Stampin' Up!'s Tasteful Trim Bigz Die for the scallops and a retired star punch.  I made the sign with my computer, including the dark blue border, then printed it out on Whisper White cardstock.  I used my Crop-A-Dile to punch the holes and set the small eyelets through which I ran Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine.  I pressed a brad into the top of the box not quite all the way so I could hook the Baker's Twine on it.

For the sides, I downloaded an image of the Eagle Award from the internet, printed it on Whisper White cardstock, and cut it out with my Paper Snips.  I attached it with Dimensionals so it would pop a little.

The front and back are decorated the same and both sides match as well.  Simple, yet very fun!  What do you think?