FB cover photo

Good afternoon! This is Adriane, back again for one last post before Claudia is back in charge :) I know we all can't wait to hear about her trip!! 

I only thought nothing could be easier than the card I created last week using a digital kit...then I created this Facebook cover photo. The background paper is from the Beau Chateau kit, design #1. When I added it as a background paper I was not able to shift and determine which part of the sheet I wanted in my cover photo so I added a 1.25 square punch and made it the same size as my document. I then added the DSP I selected and was able to slide the paper around until it was showing exactly what I wanted. I also zoomed out because remember this is a tiny custom sized space I'm working with. This portion of the paper I selected is absolutely beautiful and technically I could have left it like that and been done :)..but I had to add a little something extra since I'm blogging about this design and don't want to keep it THAT simple :) this is a good example of how simple you can keep things with MDS but you always have the option to dress it up even more. I added a butterfly punch 1 shape and sized it how I wanted and did a paper fill and selected another DSP from the same kit but used design # 12. If you double click on the butterfly you can zoom the paper in and out and also move the paper around until the part of the design you want is showing. I did this and added a mat to outline the butterfly in a pink I selected from the background paper. I copied and pasted another butterfly so it was the same exact thing and I moved it to the other side. Well, it really was THAT easy! Isn't it so pretty though?? :)

Psst....I've got a secret.

You want to know what it is? Stampin' Up! has a Spanish language catalog that we all can shop in! That is where I found the "Cinco de Mayo" stamp set that I used for today's project.

For this post I really wanted to share the catalog as a resource rather than focus on a particular technique. Thank you Claudia for aligning the stars so I could do just that!

I began requesting the "Celebrando Creatividad" so that I could send cards to my family that speaks Spanish. What I found is that often there are stamp images in the Spanish catalog that are not in the big catalog!! The "CC" catalog is also a great resource for holiday cards. You can easily slip in a "Noel" for a "Merry Christmas". So now you know my secret.

Happy National Scrabooking Day!

Hey Everyone!

Sorry this post went up late ... it's actually Sunday but i backdated the post.  It's been a crazy week and with not feeling well yesterday and the rain not allowing me to get good lighting on pictures i couldn't get the post in on time. 

If i am correct, Claudia should have her feet back in the states now so that means guest bloggers are close to an end and we will get our fearless leader back.  I hope you have been enjoying the posts from all the other ladies.  I know i have!  Looked forward to the posts everyday. 

I had Claudia put me near the end of the list and little did i know that i was scheduled to post on National Scrapbooking Day and my project today is an actual layout.  I did not plan this ... i swear!  Here is a picture of  how my layout looks (click on any pictures below for a larger view): 

I've been scrapbooking since 1997 and last year i changed the way i scrapbook by now using divided page protectors and I LOVE IT!!!!  Each two page layout represents one week and some weeks i will have an insert just like this week.  I love this style of scrapbooking because it's less intimidating and very quick.  Sometimes i can get a two page layout done in just 15 minutes.

This is a closer view of the left side of the layout:

The top left corner is where i put my "title card"  It usually consists of the date range of the week we are looking at and the week number.  This layout is from last week April 22-28 (my weeks run from Monday - Sunday so that i can have a whole weekend in the layout)  The week 17 was created in My Digital Studio and the embellishment comes from SU! Simply Scrappin Kit Afternoon Daydream.  The journal cards were created in MDS also.  I'm starting to love this program the more and more i use it!!!

One of my favorite new things that i've started doing is sewing on my pages.  WHY HAVE I WAITED SO LONG TO DO THIS?!?!?!  Here is an example:

This is the right side of my page:

This side i've included a handout from work where we reached 5 billion dollars in earned premiums.  the layouts do not always have to consist of pictures.  I've sometimes included receipts, handouts, artwork ... whatever you would like to include.  Sometimes i do not have a lot of pictures so it's okay to just add a patterned paper in a slot.  I actually did have a picture but i printed it wrong and didn't have time to get it reprinted.  Through out my week i mixed my journaling with my own handwriting and also did journaling with the typewriter. I'm a big believer in including your own handwriting.  How cool will it be for generations to come to see how we wrote in our time.

This is the layout without the insert:

I included an insert to show how you can use your sewing machine to alter a page protector.  My inserts are never the same size as my 12x12 layouts.  So for this page protector, there was an extra 4x6 vertical slot and the top slot was measured as a 12x6.  So i trimmed off the extra slot and made the top slot a 6x8, sewed up the end and voila ... a new divided page protector :)

This past Wednesday one of my dogs crossed the rainbow bridge.  Bopo (the yorkie) passed away unexpectedly.  I really wanted to put an insert and so i decided to do a mini photo shoot of my fur babies and without having to show a project i would not have these last few photos of my dog.  So i have to thank Claudia for thinking of me and asking me to do this.  Thank you, thank you, thank you, Claudia!!!!  I hope you all enjoyed this post and if you have any questions about scrapbooking with divided page protectors, please don't hesitate to ask me :)

Items used:
Simply Scrappin Kits in Afternoon Daydream and Pinwheels on Parade
This and That Stickers
Patio Party DSP
My Digital Studio

Buttons and "Priceless"

I have been stamping for years. My neighbor Joan used to be a demonstrator and she got me hooked.

Over the years I have bought all kinds of goodies, one of them is buttons. When Claudia said we could use retired items I immediately knew I wanted to make a card with buttons. I made 2 cards and the one with the buttons I used mostly retired colors so I won't name them all. My inspiration for my second card was a purse on the pew in front of me at Church. I liked the colors and design and came home and made a second card. I used the oval collection framelets to create the white oval and the 2 smallest ovals to make the frame in the middle. Once I made the small black frame I glued it on the large white oval so I would know where to stamp the design.  I then added the butterflies, ribbon and rhinestones. Happy stamping to all.

Supplies used:

black, white and calypso coral card stock

versa mark and basic black ink

Priceless stamp set

Papillon potpourri butterfly stamp

Oval collections framelets

bitty butterfly punch

calypso coral ribbon

rhinestones

Paper Scrap Hoarders Rejoice

Hi, Everyone!  Kim had Blogger issues on Sunday and was unable to upload her post.  We were trying to get Kim's post uploaded today, but it just didn't happen.  She did post the card on Facebook and it's gorgeous so go check it out.

 

Now on to my project for today....

 

It’s okay to admit it, this is a safe place. Say it with me…”I am a paper scrap hoarder”…see that wasn’t so hard J. Well, I have a cute card today that was made using paper scraps that may help you break free of the paper scrap hoarder trap.

The other night I was watching “Snow White and the Huntsman”. There is a scene where all of the sudden thousands butterflies burst into the air. When I saw that I had an immediate picture of a card with thousand of butterflies, which would be one HUGE card! So I adapted J

 

I have a gallon size plastic bag full of whisper white scraps. I just can’t throw away the trimmings, I’ve tried, but then I think surely I could use it for something in another project so into the baggie it goes.

I took several of those whisper white 1 inch strips I’ve accumulated and punched out 11 butterflies. I then found a scrap of whisper white I had embossed for another project but never used for my background, woohoo another scrap used! Then I went to my color paper scraps to find a contrast color. Next up my ribbon scrap jar. Okay, yes, I also hoard ribbon scraps <sheepishly hanging head down>.   I ran some cardstock scraps through the Big Shot for the greeting label and voila! A fun card made from scraps! Only the card base wasn’t a paper scrap.

 

Supplies used:
Paper: Whisper White, Only Orange, Summer Sun, Beyond the Garden DSP.
Ink: Tangerine Tango
Punches: Modern Label, Bitty Butterfly, Movers & Shapers-Punch Windows.
Ribbon:Sycamore Street
Stamp Set: Notably Ornate

 

Thanks for visiting while Claudia’s in fantabulous Fiji. Now go get your paper scraps and create! Happy Craftin’!

Joy

Stamp and Go

It is Wednesday - which to me means only a few more days till the weekend where I can create and STAMP! I love spending hours creating beautiful cards that have layers of designer paper and all the fun accessories but when you are in a hurry you need a quick cute card. I am going to share a card I made for a friends birthday a few weeks ago.

and the card is sideways....Yikes! Sorry :(


Supplies used:
This and That DSP
Crumb Cake Card Stock
Basic Grey Card Stock
Basic Black Ink
Crochet Trim Victoria 5/8
Vintage Trinkets

Tuesday Morning By the Tide

Happy Tuesday Everyone!  It's a beautiful Florida morning so I thought today I'd stay with a Florida theme and use one of my favorite stamp sets, By the Tide, from the little blue 39 page catalog celebrating SUP! 25th Anniversary.  The greeting was from the Thoughts & Prayers stamp set, but this card can be easily adapted for any type of greeting.  I had a little inspiration block so I started leafing through the tons of cardmaking mags and found a sketch that I liked and adapted it to fit my needs. The hardest thing about this card was trying to cut the diagonals the size I wanted them.  Those that know me know that I'm challenged when it comes to anything but a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 piece of cardstock!  Anyway, I'm digressing!  I decided that using three different shades of a neutral color for the coral, seashorses, and seashell would not only give a little definition, but also embossing the coral would help make it become the focal point.  I don't know that you can see the embossing the picture.  I chalked to give it the "water" feature and then used the oval punches for the greeting and added the gold brads since I used earth tone nuetrals.

Supplies used: 
Cardstock: Night of Navy, Garden Green, and Whisper White. 
Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Early Expresso, Night of Navy, River Rock
Stamp Sets:  By the Tide; Thoughts & Prayers
Punches:  Extra Large and Large Ovals
Brads

Hope you enjoy and have a great day!
Gwen

You're my Sunshine!

Hi, my name is Adriane and I have stamped on and off with Claudia over many years but she recently reeled me into the world of MDS. I am starting to think I will never go back to the standard way, and will be a lifer on MDS :). While Claudia is away, playing and enjoying the life that Fiji offers... I thought I would share something with you, back here in the real world, LOL!

I chose a digital kit titled, ‘You’re My Sunshine’, mostly because I love this color combo! This is kind of perfect for this time of year and using a kit makes things SUPER easy! I first selected pattern #4 as my background and then I added a square punch (2.331x2.136) and did a color fill and picked the gray from the background paper to make sure it matched perfectly. I added another square punch (2.201x1.998) for a layered look and color filled it with white. I decided to add a mat to this square so I could throw in a punch of yellow. As for the gorgeous flower inside the square, that is an embellishment (large flower 2) and I love the details and bright yellow color. I felt like it needed a little something in the corners so I added a basic gray brad embellishment but the gray was a little dark so I lowered the opacity to 77.

Moving down, I added a wide oval punch (2.111x1.438) and color filled it with the yellow. I then added another wide oval punch (1.998x1.365) and color filled it with white..I wanted a little more color so I added a gray mat. The stamped greeting is also from the same digital kit and I broke that up with small flowers in between. I added the embellishment ‘small flower 2’ and made it the right size I wanted. Then I copied and pasted the flower 6 times. I selected all of the flowers and aligned in the center and also chose to evenly space them horizontally. I wasn't sure what to do behind the oval and put several different things in there and wasn't happy. I went back to the embellishments and chose ‘label 2’ and gave it a try. I put it to the left, behind the oval and I liked the look so I copied and pasted a second one for the other side. In order to get the flower over to the right for the second label, I chose to ‘mirror’ the image and moved it to the far right of the card.

This kit has busy patterns but I love it and I hope you do too. There is so much you can do and create with the My Digital Studio program. When using a digital kit, it is easy as 1-2-3 to make a beautiful card! Enjoy!!

The Secret Life of the Embossing Folder Revealed!

Hi, Everyone!  I'm Joy from the Tuesday Group.  While our fabulous Claudia is having a funtastic time in Fiji I have the privilege of sharing one of my favorite techniques...stamping with embossing folders!  Yes, you read that right.  Embossing folders are for more than just embossing.  Let's take a peek at the secret life of an embossing folder (EF).

Here I used the Honeycomb EF. I opened the folder and determined which side had the raised impression.  If you want a negative impression then ink the debossed side.  I chose to ink the raised pattern with some Early Espresso. Then I put the folder, ink side down, on the paper and use the  brayer to apply pressure.  When I lifted the EF I had a wonderful honeycomb stamped image that I can use for a project.

The card I have for you today uses this technique.  First I used the Vintage Wallpaper EF with lovely Melon Mambo ink and "stamped" it onto Very Vanilla Cardstock and then repeated with Crumb Cake ink. Next up was the Honeycomb EF and Early Espresso.  I purposely applied uneven pressure with the brayer so it would be a partial image and give it a vintage feel.  Background done.  Now to put all the other elements together.  And here's the finished project-

 I love using EFs to create unique backgrounds.  I hope you've enjoyed this glimpse into the secret life of the embossing folder.  Until next time...Happy Craftin'!

Supply List:
Paper-Early Espresso CS, Crumb Cake CS, Very Vanilla CS, First Edition Specialty DSP, Beau Chateau DSP (retired).
Ink-Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Melon Mambo
EF: Vintage Wallpaper, Honeycomb
Ribbon: Crochet Trim-Victoria, Linen Thread, Pretty in Pink 1.25" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (retired).
Punches: Ticket Duo Builder, Elegant Butterfly, Bitty Butterfly
Stamp Sets: Best of Butterflies, That's the Ticket
Accessories: Paper Doilies, Flower Trim, Crepe Filter Paper, Brushed Bronze Buttons

.....Whew!

You "Pined" it, now what are you going to do with it?

We've all done it. Scrolled through the endless "pins" of creative delights. Telling ourselves "Ooo! I want to make that card." We'll then... Lets do just that!

Hi, I am Theresa and I am a member of Claudia's second Monday class. A big thanks goes out to Claudia for letting her club members post while she enjoys her well deserved trip to Fiji!

Of all my "pins" on my Creative Inspiration board, this card is the one I have wanted to re-create the most. So many if its elements lend themselves to SU! style.

Now here is my take on this card. First thing I knew I wanted to do was add the Melon Mambo background. Because that is what Claudia taught me to do with an all white card. :-). But before I attached the card to the background I stamp the repeating verse. I used the SU! grid paper as a guide. Finally I stamped the flowers and butterfly. The butterfly also has a pearl accent.

The following stamp sets where used: A Word For You; Best of Butterflies; and With All My Heart.

Now it's your turn to take inspiration and make it real!