Category Archives: Cards

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Coming to Town!

Right now there are several thousand trail riders, who have been out on thirteen trails in Texas during February recreating the Old West, heading back into Houston to signal the start of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.  The rodeo is a huge event in the Houston area and kicks off tomorrow when the trail riders converge on Memorial Park in the covered wagons and on horseback!

Houston Rodeo Trailrider "Wanted" card 

 

To make this card, I started with Soft Suede for the base.  I used the Stampin' Up! stamp set "Wanted" to make my own designer paper for the background, stamping various images in the trendy In Colors Soft Suede, Dusty Durango, Bermuda Bay, and Crushed Curry and afterwards sponging some Soft Suede around the edges and around on the paper.

Making my own designer paper 

Sponged designer paper 

To make the horse panel, I stamped the horse from "Wanted" in Soft Suede, then continued to stamp it without reinking to produce the lighter images.  I distressed the edges with the tool in the Cutter Kit (#106958).  You could also use the edge of scissors or just your fingernails!

Wanted2 

 

I haven't used my "Wanted" set in awhile but I sure had fun with it today!  So if you are looking for a western stamp set, this would be a good one from Stampin' Up!  You can shop at my Online Store 24/7!  Email me with any questions.

 

 

 

 
 

  

All-Occasion Card from My Digital Studio

We didn't get any snowflakes at my house yesterday although I think areas about an hour outside of Houston did get an inch or two.  The most winter weather I noticed was a few seconds of sleet hitting the car windshield.  Today it is chilly out, but the sun is shining….a beautiful day!  I decided to play with My Digital Studio again and make a sunshine-y, happy card!  I started with one of the "Designer Kits" inside the program for the card front (Sunny Day)…..which is the same as one of our "Simply Scrappin' Kits".  I could have just opened up the page it provided and been done, but I wanted to play so I added ribbon and bows and added more buttons to the flowers.  Next I "inserted" another page, colored it with Designer Series Paper, and added a flower.  Notice that the stem and leaf is really a bird leg colored Old Olive and flipped upside down!  I "inserted" one more page for the greeting and added the bird.  The options are endless, you could play forever!

My Digital Studio Sunny Day Card 

My Digital Studio Sunny Day Card
My Digital Studio Sunny Day Card 

Wouldn't it be cheery to find this card in your mailbox?  If you haven't purchased My Digital Studio yet, this is the perfect time as you can get a Sale-A-Bration reward with it!  Spend $50 during Sale-A-Bration and choose one product free from the special Sale-A-Bration catalog.  You can shop any time day or night at my online store!

  
 

Hoping for Snow in Houston!

What can be more exciting than hearing the words "Snow" and "Winter Weather Advisory" in a Houston, TX weather forecast??!  While some other areas in Texas might actually get several inches of snow today, we will be lucky if we see a few snowflakes here in southwest Houston, but I'll take what I can get!  Any day now the cold weather will be completely gone and it will be so smotheringly hot that we won't be able to imagine that we ever felt chilly!  So we might as well enjoy even the possibility of snow!  If we get something, I think it will be the third time this winter which is amazing.  So with the possibility of seeing some microscopic snowflakes that will not even stick to the ground, I decided to play with My Digital Studio  and make one more winter card!

 My Digital Studio Snow Card
 

Bridal Shower Card

WeddingDressCardSarah 

This is a card I made for a bridal shower.  I got the idea from a card I saw by another Stampin' Up! demonstrator, Heather, on our great new Stampin' Connection site for all Stampin' Up! demonstrators.  See, if you want to be a demonstrator, don't worry that you will have to come up with all your own creative ideas! Besides Stampin' Connection, there is also the monthly Stampin' Success magazine which we all LOVE!  I thought this month's really had some great ideas for stamping.  But then I could probably say that every month!  We all wait (im)patiently for our issues to arrive….but we can also read it online!  Just one of the many perks of being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator!!  And right now through the end of March during Sale-A-Bration, another BIG PERK is FREE STAMPS!  Sign up to be a demo and choose a free stamp set (up to a value of $47.95)!

Find out about being a demo and watch a video on my website.  Then contact me and let me answer all your questions!

Valentine Easel Card

It may be past Valentine's Day, but really you could use this card for other special occasions, like an engagement or wedding….or just extra-special card.  It is called an Easel Card because while it folds flat like any card, it can be propped up as if it were on an easel for display.  And what a great idea to be able to display your handmade card!

EaselCard1
EaselCard2 

EaselCard3

It's easy to make this card…….just make a regular card front…this one is 

5 1/2" x 4 1/4".  For the base, make it twice as long as the card front (in this case 11"" and the same width (in this case 4 1/4").  Fold that base in half (at 

5 1/2") and then fold one of those halves in half (in this case 2 3/4").  Then you adhere the card front to the front of that 2 3/4" portion…..you'll see when you fold it!  Decorate the base, putting a little something popped up that can act as a stopper for your card front.  And there you go!

Some Supplies on this card:

The beautiful Bride Specialty Paper #115669

Sending Love Specialty Paper #117153…..comes glittery!

Extra Large Two-Step Bird Punch #117191

Full Heart Punch #113693

Word Window Punch #105090 and Modern Label Punch #116630

Beautiful White Satin Ribbon #114616

New Pinking Hearts Border Punch #117649

New Sale-A-Bration Scallop Trim Border Punch #118402 (free with a $50 order!)


Please contact me if you have any questions about making this card and visit my online store if you want to order the stamping supplies!

  

2010 Winter Olympics Opens Tonight

The 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada kicks off tonight with the Opening Ceremonies!  It's always fun to watch the Olympics, so we've been looking forward to this for awhile.  Here's a simple card inspired by the Olympic rings.

2010 Winter Olympics Vancouver Rings 

Supplies

Stamps:  Well-Scripted (#117072, #118501)

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Real Red, Brilliant Blue, Basic Black, Yoyo Yellow, Garden Green

Accessories:  1 3/4" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, 1/2" Striped Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon

Ink:  Stazon Black


Don't forget, you'll be able to shop online any time during the Olympics at my Stampin' Up! Online Store.

 

The Snowstorm of 2010

It's a cold, rainy day in Houston, TX but with hearing all the news reports on TV about the snow all over the country, particularly the East coast, I almost feel like I should look out the window and see snow piled up here!  An impossible reality, if you have seen my snow pictures of the "blizzards" we have had here in Houston resulting the grass barely being covered!  However, I did observe SLEET yesterday afternoon!  It was quite rainy and the temperature was about 48 degrees, but when I got out of my car I could HEAR sleet and if I looked against my black jacket sleeve and squinted, I could almost SEE the little sleet pellets and I could see them bouncing and rolling off my neighbor's roof!  So that was pretty exciting to have a minute amount of winter weather here in Houston!

But in thinking about all the snow elsewhere around the country, I decided to make a snow card!  I used the Stampin' Up! Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder (#117335) to create the "snowy" background in the Occasions Mini, page 35.  Then I tore some card stock to make the snowdrifts, punched out some circles for the snowman, cut out his hat, nose and arm and stamped a few snowflakes from the Hostess set Christmas Punch. (Did you know the Boho Blossoms Punch #110711 fits that trio of snowflakes?  You don't even have to cut them out!).  And what snow card would be complete without Dazzling Diamonds Glitter?

SnowCard 

SnowCard2 

SnowCard3
SnowCard4 


If you are snowed in and like this card, please leave me a comment telling me about the snow!  I wish I could zap myself to all that snow just for a little while! 

 

 

Country Living Cards a la Carte Stationery Kit

COUNTRY LIVING CARDS À LA CARTE


This is a special French-Country-style stationery kit from 

Stampin' Up! and Country Living Magazine.

This kit contains:


  • The exclusive Dinner Party stamp set, which you can see in the foreground
  • A Ballet Blue Stampin' Spot
  • Twenty-four sheets of 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" printed paper for your creative use
  • Twelve Very Vanilla Medium envelopes

Click HERE on my website!

Star Card for a Star!

Last week my son called to say the results were posted and he had indeed passed his first level CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) exam that he took last December in Houston!  This is a self-study, graduate level program for investment professionals with three levels of exams, and if you do take and pass all three exams and meet the other professional and ethical requirements you will have earned for yourself quite a credential in the investment field.  There is an enormous amount of study required, on your own, for each exam, so it is quite a commitment and we were hoping all the time he had put in had paid off for him.  The results say that 34% of the 44,000+ candidates worldwide who took the test successfully passed it.  Of course, I thought, at a minimum, he deserved a special card of congratulations!

Star Card Congratulations 

StarCard3 

Star Card 

Star Card inside 

Now in Houston if you have an important event coming up, you have to hope that we don't have heavy rains which make the streets flood and become impassable at times….unless it is hurricane season….but flooded streets are much more likely.  As luck would have it, though, we had SNOW!  

Snow 

Snow in Houston 

The day before the exam it snowed like crazy, beautiful and fun!  It was great to have him home to share the excitement with (during his study breaks!).  But who would have thought the day of the exam we would have to worry about ice on the roads in Houston, TX?!!  We offered to drive him downtown so he wouldn't get lost or have to worry about parking, etc. since this test was SUCH A BIG DEAL!  We were lucky because we had no trouble, although we saw some accidents from icy spots going the opposite way.  Who would have thought!

Snow in Houston on bushes 

 

 

 
 

 

Stampin’ Up! Haitian Disaster Relief

HeartsCard 

From Stampin' Up!

On January 12, 2010 a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti, leaving in its wake devastation so overwhelming that the Haitian people and their leaders can only look for help from the outside to cope. 

From now until February 28, 2010, $2 from every I {Heart} Hearts stamp set sold will be donated to the American Red Cross’ Haiti Relief and Development Fund. The Red Cross is already well-established in Haiti, and this money will be used to provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need. 

Product Name  Item #  Price 
I {Heart} Hearts – clear-mount  (block D recommended)  118571  $18.95 
I {Heart} Hearts – wood-mount  117010  $26.95 


SUHaitiflyer 


In the past, Stampin' Up! has also made charitable donations when terrorists attacked the Twin Towers, when a tsunami struck Indonesia, when a hurricane destroyed New Orleans, and when wildfires ravaged Australia.

Not only has Stampin' Up! made a commitment with this $2 donation from the sale of these stamp sets, but in addition, Stampin' Up! bought supplies for 5000 hygiene kits.  You can read about these and how the Stampin' Up! employees all pitched in to assemble these kits in one day on Shelli's blog HERE.

 

 

Jackpot Designer Series Paper

I've owned this Jackpot Designer Series Paper (#113995) for awhile but used it very little. However, as I making come cards for a friend's birthday gift the other day I came across this paper and thought it was perfect for her and this was what I should use!  While I started off looking online for ideas, once I got stamping I started to come up with my own ideas.  And you will, too!

Here are a couple of the cards I made.

JackpotCard1 

JackpotCard2 

This Jackpot Designer Series would be good for a lot of your masculine cards….you know, the ones we usually have a little bit of trouble coming up with ideas for!

You can order this paper and other products any time, either directly through me or on your own at your own computer through my online store.  Click HERE for online shopping!  Remember, with a purchase of $50 in product, you get to choose a Sale-A-Bration product FREE.

 

Easy All-Occasion Card

This isn't a new stamp set or new paper or anything, but just an easy card to make with beautiful colors.  Hope you like it!

 FriendMelMambo 

Stamps:  Friends 24-7 (IB&C p. 100 #113218)

Paper:  Melon Mambo Card Stock, Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper (#115675), Whisper White Card Stock

Ink:  Melon Mambo

Accessories:  Melon Mambo 1/2" Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon
 

Tote-ally Tess Card

And here is Tote-ally Tess made up into a card WITH the little card SHE made!  There's a lot to be done with this stamp set, especially for any stampers, scrapbookers or crafty people because the stamps are lots of cute accessories all of us use!  Be sure to check it out on page 41 of the Occasions Mini (#117076) (wood) or (#118595) (clear-mount).

TessCard 

 

Clear-Mount Stamps Tutorial

It's time for an old dog to learn new tricks!  I'm not familiar with these other type of stamps except for regular wood-mount like Stampin' Up! has always offered so I thought I would carefully go through the steps of how to get started stamping with the new clear-mount option offered in the new Occasions Mini!

Here is a new set called Tote-ally Tess in the new skinny DVD-like case.

Tesscover 

Here is what you get inside!  Directions, stamps, and label sheet.
Tesscontents 

Here is the new label sheet, which appears to be all covered up!  How do you get the label??

TessSheet

Punch out the die-cut stamp.  This is what the backing looks like.

TessStamp

Peel the backing off to reveal the "cling" side of the stamp.

TessCoverOff

On the label sheet you will notice little slits on the paper.  Start peeling there (easier than starting at the edge of the label), leaving the label on the sheet.  It will be sticky-side-up and sometimes a little tricky to get the label to stay put there!

TessLabel

Here is the label fully exposed.

TessLabel2

CAREFULLY place your stamp, cling side down, on the sticky label.  It should "fit" right in the space.  If you mess up, yes, you can peel the label off and do it again but it is probably better to get it right the first time!  Also, you do not HAVE to have the label adhered to the stamp….you will be able to stick the stamp to the block without the label, it is a guide and an option.

TessLabel3

Now peel your stamp up off the label sheet, turn it over, and you have….Tess!  You can see in the photo my sheet of stamps from which I removed Tess, the paper I peeled off the back of Tess (don't forget this step before attaching the label….don't ask me how I know!), and the two halves of paper I peeled off the label sheet.

Tess4

 Place Tess on an acrylic block (the closest size possible for best results).  You don't want to just stick it on and stamp.  Take a few moments to press the stamp onto the block or even look on the other side and notice the change as the stamp fully clings to the block.  Be sure to press on all areas of the stamp.  This will ensure that the stamp is well adhered to the block for stamping and cleaning.

TessBlock

This is what the stamp looks like through the acrylic block.  If you do not use the label, you will just see the outline of the rubber stamp, which might be just fine for you.

TessBlockBack

Now stamp!  You can use Stampin' Mist to clean the stamp and your block as always.  It is recommended that you do not use Stazon Cleaner on your block as it may have an oily residue and cause your stamp not to adhere well.

TessStamping

Tess stamped!  Same as wood blocks.  These acrylic blocks have grooves on all four sizes making them easy to grip.

TessStamped

When finished stamping, just place your stamps back into the DVD case.  Some people recommend saving the "negative" rubber and inserting the stamps back into that to hold them more securely or to know quickly which stamp is missing and keep this in your case.  So many options with these new stamps!  This set is called Fox & Friends.

TessInserted2

The other side.

IMG_8069 

Images copyright Stampin' Up! 1990-2010.

You can find these stamps and blocks in the new Occasions Mini.  Be sure to contact me if you have any questions or if you do not have a demonstrator and would like an Occasions Mini mailed to you!  Or click on the link to see it online.

Sweetheart Treat Cups

Just in time for Valentine's Day, Stampin' Up! is offering these Heart Treat Cups to use on your Valentine and other projects along with the Full Heart Punch….and they both coordinate with the Sweetheart Stamp Set.  You can choose the Sweetheart Stamp Set in either wood-mount or clear-mount!

Full Heart Punch

113693 $15.95

IB&C page 186

Heart Treat Cups* (12)

120435 $2.95

Sweet Treat

Padded Envelopes (3)

116911 $2.95

Occasions Mini page 21

HeartTreatCups 

Contact me with any questions or to place your order!

Lots of fun projects to make with these products!!