Author Archives: Karen Fontinelle

Elegant Soiree Birthday Card

Leave a reply

Elegant Soiree Birthday Card

Using up some of the Elegant Soiree Designer Series Paper that is on the Stampin' Up! Last Chance List!  I got pretty vintage-y with this card, ripping and tearing and spritzing and sponging!  Just this week and next to get what you want from the retirement list of stamps and accessories!

Stamps:  Sincere Salutations

Ink:  Soft Suede

Paper:  Baja Breeze card stock, Soft Suede card stock, Very Vanilla card stock, Elegant Soiree, Newsprint Designer Series Paper #117166

Accessories:  Top Note Die #113463, Scallop Oval Punch #119856, 2" x 1 3/8" Oval Large Punch #119859, Antique Brads #117273, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder #120175, Fun Flowers Die #121812, Victoria Crochet Trim #118481, Smooch Spritz Gold Glow #118770, Stamping Sponge #101610

Look through the catalog and see what you can't live without!  Then just go to my Online Store to place your order!

A Father’s Day Gift Idea

Leave a reply


  Father's Day Tag

Images copyright Stampin' Up! 2011

Made in My Digital Studio

Don't buy Dad another necktie for Father's Day (that he won't wear)….or cutesy golfing accessories (that he won't use)…..or a tool for household tasks (he already has one)!  Here's a unique idea!  Sign up to be a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator!  You, not him (unless he likes to stamp!)!

A crazy idea??  Here's how YOU being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator can enhance his life and your family's:

  • Earn extra income to help pay the bills or to pay for those family extras you would all enjoy, taking some pressure off Dad.
  • Work hard and earn an expense-paid vacation for you and a guest (him, of course!) to lovely locations with Stampin' Up!  And they know how to treat people right!
  • Earn cash bonuses, product bonuses, and extra incentives as you work your business, on your own hours that complement your family schedule.
  • You'll be stocked with unique tools that just might come in handy for his "honey do" jobs…like maybe your Heat Tool for a frozen pipe??
  • If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!  If you are earning money while having great fun with your passion for stamping and creating, the whole family will benefit from a happy and fulfilled mom!

Read more about becoming a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator HERE. You can sign up in minutes on my website, then make Dad a card for Father's Day with a note about your new business venture!  He can sit back and relax knowing that the family is in good hands with Stampin' Up!

My Digital Studio All in the Family Father’s Day Card

Leave a reply

Father's Day Card

This would be a great card for either you to make or have your kids make for Dad on Father's Day!  You can use My Digital Studio, as I did, or you can stamp with the All in the Family stamp set #113488.  Either let the children design it or let them color it in after you make it!  With this stamp set, All in the Family, they can each make their own personalized card!

Stampin’ Up! New Lace Ribbon Border Punch Basket

Leave a reply

Lace Ribbon Border Punch Basket

The Stampin' Up! Lace Ribbon Border Punch will be making its debut in a new Stampin' Up! catalog near you soon!  Just a couple more weeks and you, too, can get your hands on this beautiful new punch!

In this project, I made a simple box from a 9"x9" square piece of Pink Pirouette card stock, scored at 3" and 6" on both sides of the paper to make a "tic-tac-toe" scored design.  Then you cut from the edges up to the first score line top and bottom.  You can tell where to cut from the photo below.  You'll then be able to fold up the flaps and make a box!

Square Box Folds

Since this basket (or box) measures 12" around, when you wrap the 12" strip of paper around, you will come up a little short.  Either you can disguise that gap center front by covering with a large enough flower (which then might cover up your fancy punched band) OR you can punch two strips that each meet or overlap slightly on the sides.  I used Tombow Glue #110755 (Multipurpose Liquid Glue) for the Whisper White band and also for the lacy punched band, which requires tiny dots of glue.

I decided to punch another strip of paper and make a matching handle with the Lace Ribbon Border Punch.  Wouldn't this punch make beautiful Easter baskets?  (not that I am thinking that far ahead!!)

Flag Day “Land of the Free” Card

Leave a reply

Flag Day Card

Today is Flag Day.  Are you flying your flag?  I love to put my flag out! Flag Day came about after several decades of state and local celebrations, perhaps originating with a schoolteacher in Wisconsin, BJ Cigrand, until President Wilson signed a proclamation calling for an observance of the flag in 1916, followed by President Truman in 1949 who signed an Act Of Congress designating the 14th day of June every year as National Flag Day.  You can read about it on the National Flag Day Foundation website.

You can celebrate Flag Day or any patriotic occasion with the Land of the Free stamp in the Stampin' Up! Summer Mini Catalog.  It's a great stamp to own and makes you feel good to use it!

Stampin’ Up! Baby Card – Animal Stories

Leave a reply

Stampin' Up! Baby Card Animal Stories

Time to check that Stampin' Up! retiring list of stamp sets and accessories!  If you do, you will see that this cute Animal Stories stamp set #116716 is on the list, and that's a shame because it is so useful for baby cards, children's cards, scrapbooking, and gifts.  The stamp set has images of an owl, a whale, an elephant, and this giraffe.

I got the idea for this baby card from the Stampin' Up! catalog on page 94.  You should also consider the Photo Corners Punch #119878, a retiring accessory…which at this moment was still available to order online, but accessories can run out at any time.  This punch is good for making a focal point on a card or scrapbook page or as an embellishment and of course good for framing photos.

Stamps:  Animal Stories, Tiny Tags

Ink:  Baja Breeze

Paper:  Baja Breeze, Peach Parfait, Whisper White, Designer Series Paper Pack – In Color (Hostess – Level 1)

Accessories:  Gold Brads #104337, Linen Thread #104199, uni-ball Signo Gel Pen #105021, Stampin' Dimensionals #104430, SNAIL Adhesive #104332, Scallop Edge Border Punch #119882. Color Coach #121620


 

Stampin’ Up! Pretty Postage Braided Ribbon Card

Leave a reply

Pretty Postage Sweet Card

Here's a pretty simple card I made with the Pretty Postage stamp set in the Summer Mini Catalog on page 11 and also a piece of braided ribbon I had made a week or two ago! Once I decided I wanted to use Rich Razzleberry card stock to match the berries on the stamp, I got out my Color Coach to see what color suggestions it made.  That turned out to be Old Olive!  A week or so ago I had played around with cutting the wide 1 1/4" Striped Grosgrain Old Olive Ribbon (retiring!) into three strips and braiding it.  Then I taped it onto my table until I decided what to do with it!  Today seemed to be the day to use it on this card! Since the ribbon is cut, the edges are fraying a little bit.  It is just wrapped around the Razzleberry layer and taped on the back.  I used Stampin' Dimensionals to adhere that layer to the Old Olive base since the ribbon was a little thicker than normal.  I adhered the little postage stamp over the ribbon using dimensionals on either side to allow for the thickness of the braided ribbon.  And finally I added some Square Ice Rhinestone Brads (retiring and sold out…sorry!)  As you can see, the Rich Razzleberry layer is embossed with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder.

Be sure to check out my Stampin' Up! Online Store if you need some stamping products!

Stampin’ Up! Idea for a Father’s Day Card

Leave a reply

Father's Day Sail Away Card

Father's Day is June 19th so it is time to be making Father's Day cards.  There are plenty of Stampin' Up! ideas for Father's Day cards…just look through your Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalog and you'll find a great resource of ideas, even if you change the paper or color or saying.  Sometimes I am surprised myself at how easy it is to be inspired by looking through the catalog.

I had so much fun making this card!  The clouds are made by punching out the solid piece on the Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch #122464 (the first image on the left of the punch), laying it on your paper and then sponging off the edges a little bit with a little bit of ink.  I used Bashful Blue.  Just move it around until you have your sky how you like it!  You just want to be a little more careful than I was and not get much ink on your sails!  For the water I just sponged on some Night of Navy ink.  To emphasize the waves, I used my White Gel Pen #105021 so my sea may look a little stormy!  Everyone should order this Sail Away stamp #123013…great for masculine cards and gifts, summertime themes, nautical themes, general occasions.

You will want to order the Baker's Twine in the Summer Mini (page 10) because it is really trendy right now and certainly easy to use.

And to finish off my card I stamped a greeting from Teeny Tiny Wishes, punched with the Modern Label Punch.  With the two little gold brads on it, it seemed to just "make" the card when I attached it!

This was a simple card to make (and my eyes were dilated from the eye doctor so I could barely see what I was doing!) and just one of those that I LOVED when I got finished!  Isn't rubber stamping grand??!

Order your retiring stamps and accessories today at my Online Store!

Stampin’ Up! Big on Christmas Stamp Set Retiring! Oh no!

Leave a reply

Big on Christmas #116578 is one of those Christmas stamp sets I have had for several years and always liked and enjoyed stamping with. Sadly, it is on the Stampin' Up! Last Chance List. So on this hot day in June, I thought I would make a few Christmas cards a little early!  This is a great stamp set that you can use simply as I have, or you can jazz up if you want.

Big on Christmas Happy Holidays Card

I used the Ticket Corner Punch #119867 to snip the corners of the image and the layer.  I also used the brand new Lacy Ribbon Border Punch #122362 coming in the new Stampin' Up! Catalog July 1st.  You could add Dazzling Diamonds Glitter to this card, rhinestones, or decorate the letter in "Happy" with Crystal Effects.


Big on Christmas Snow Card

This card I sort of used the monochromatic look….a method to use if you don't want to do all that coloring in!  You could also restamp the snowman on a scrap paper, cut him out, and pop him up right over the stamped image in the word.  You could stamp a few snowflakes on the main image and add some glitter.  On this card I used the new Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch #122464 in the Summer Mini Catalog to look a little bit like snowflakes behind the layer or just decorate the card.  The little snowflake stamped on the Marina Mist card base is from Snow Swirled, which is not retiring (another favorite Christmas stamp set!).


Big on Christmas Noel Card

This Christmas card uses the third image in the Big On Christmas stamp set.  I used the Scallop Trim Border Punch #118402 on the Garden Green layer. The card base in Real Red is embossed with the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder #117335

Don't let this stamp set pass you by for making some very cute Christmas cards this year! To check the retiring Stampin' Up! stamp sets, accessories, and Decor Elements, please click HERE.

Stampin’ Up! New Lace Ribbon Border Punch Card

Leave a reply

Stampin' Up! New Lace Ribbon Border Card

It's great to be a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator right now because we all got to order a few Sneak Peek products from the upcoming new catalog, available July 1st.  When my order arrived, I immediately tried out the new Lace Ribbon Border Punch!  I was thrilled to pieces with the scrap I punched, and here it is on this card!  Isn't it beautiful?? (the punch!)  The designer paper on the Baja Breeze card base is also some new designer series paper, called "Just Add Cake".  The opposite side of this paper looks like notebook paper!  The So Saffron flower is made with our current 5-Petal Flower Punch #119880, as are the Wild Wasabi leaves (the flower petals cut apart!). In the center of my flower is one of the 5/8" Neutrals Jumbo Brads #112533, this one in Chocolate Chip.  Recognize the greeting???  Probably not, because it is in a new stamp set called My Friend.

If you are interested in becoming a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, starting your own business, becoming part of the Stampin' Up! family, and enjoying these special perks and benefits please contact me with any questions you may have OR click HERE to read more about the Stampin' Up! business opportunity.

Thank You Kindly Thank You Card

Leave a reply

Thank You Thank You Kindly

Thank you cards are always handy to have around, and especially for an important occasion, such as graduation, when many graduation thank you cards will need to be sent.  Online thank you notes or thank you emails might be better than no thank you at all, but, in my opinion, this is when a handwritten note is definitely in order.  And if you really want to make it special, a Stampin' Up! card that you made is always special!

This card uses a retiring stamp For You Flower #118726, one of the a la carte stamps in the Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalog. I punched the flower out of So Saffron card stock with the Fancy Flower Punch #118073.  With some Stampin' Write Markers, I colored in the center of the For You Flower stamp and stamped on Whisper White, punched out with the 1 1/4" Circle Punch #119861, mounted it over a 1 3/8" Circle Punch #119860 of Pear Pizzazz card stock using a Stampin' Dimensional, and adhered that to the flower punch piece.  

I was actually copying a sample in the catalog (I think sometimes we forget to simply look in the catalog for ideas!) but instead of doing paper piercing, I punched two strips of Rose Red card stock with the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch #119275.  For extra emphasis, being a thank you note, I stamped the bottom of the card with a stamp from Thank You Kindly #111700.

When you are looking for thank you card wording, there are so many great stamps to choose from at Stampin' Up!.

If you were doing this card as a graduation thank you card, just choose either school colors for your papers and ink or whatever colors suited your personality.  I'm sure the recipient would appreciate something that you put your personal touch on.

For any stamping supplies that you need, please go to my Online Store HERE. (In fact, go take a peek now as Stampin' Up! has updated the look!) Feel free to contact me with any questions!

Pun Fun Thank You Card

Leave a reply

Pun Fun Thank You Card

Another Stampin' Up! retiring stamp set is Pun Fun #115054.  What a shame since it is such a versatile fun set with images and words…which you can omit if you want just the image…or just the words.  It is one of those good sets for beginning stampers since you get a lot in the set for many occasions.  The DSP on my card is a bit of the Love Letter Designer Series Paper #117162, which will also be retiring.

You can view all the retiring stamps and accessories HERE. Do your shopping this weekend to be assured of best selection! And if you are ordering online, be sure to look at the Clearance Rack…..lots of good deals there!

Great Friend Butterfly Card

Leave a reply

Great Friend Butterfly Card

The stamp set Great Friend #113792 is one of the many Stampin' Up! stamp sets retiring the end of this month.  I like this stamp set because it is very simple but lovely and versatile for many occasions.  It also has a "for you" greeting which can be used for most anything.  You could even color just the word "friend" on the stamp I used with a Stampin' Write Marker if you wanted to stamp just that word.  The frame, the leaves, the butterfly are all so easy to use.  To make this card, I used the sample card in the Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalog on page 122 as inspiration and changed it a little.  I really like this simple card.

Be sure to check the Stampin' Up! Last Chance Lists HERE and place your order soon!  Go to my Online Store when you have your order ready!

Retiring Stampin’ Up! Stamps and Accessories

Leave a reply

Retiring Stampin' Up! Products 2011

Image copyright Stampin' Up! 2011

Stampin' Up! has released the lists of retiring stamps, accessories and Definitely Decorative items!  These are items that are being discontinued after June 30, 2011 to make room for new products.  Stamp sets will be available all month because Stampin' Up! manufactures their own stamp sets.  However, accessories are available only while supplies last…..and sometimes they don't last very long!  Either submit your order to me soon (you can email me at Karen@Karenstamps.com)  or preferably place your order at my Online Store so you will know right away if the accessories you want are available.

Start checking and start shopping!!

Stampin' Up! Retiring Stamps:  Click HERE.

Stampin' Up! Retiring Accessories:  Click HERE.

Stampin' Up! Retiring Definitely Decorative:  Click HERE.

To see separate lists:  Click HERE.

Be sure to notice some products are discounted!!