Sara Welcomes Shelli Back

This is BIG news!!  I think as the time passed, with Shelli and Sterling on mission in Hawaii, we were all extremely impressed with the direction of Stampin' Up! as Sara stepped into her new role as Interim CEO of Stampin' Up!  So, although it is now official, as of yesterday (March 22, 2016), Shelli's announcement of Sara becoming the new CEO of Stampin' Up! was not a complete surprise.  CONGRATULATIONS #SaraDouglas !  You are an amazing leader and I'm looking forward to where you take this business.

Sunset Retirement with Serene Silhouette Stamp Set

Good Friday morning!  I was asked by a friend for a gift certificate for her friend as she wanted to give a retirement gift. Now, I couldn't just give her the certificate...could I?  I definitely wanted to envelope the gift in an appropriate wrapping...one that was fitting for the occasion, right?!  Right!  Here's the card I came up with, and I felt the sunset was very fitting for this.  I saw this technique on Pinterest from a fellow stamper, Karen Titus.  You should check out her technique!  

So to get the effect on this card you will need a piece of Whisper White card stock and one of your clear blocks.  Next, choose markers that will give you the color scheme you desire.  I chose Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, and Daffodil Delight Stampin' Write Markers for the sunset colors and Island Indigo, Marina Mist and Soft Sky Stampin' Write Markers for the blue sky.  The stamp set is Serene Silhouettes.  

Begin coloring strips of various widths onto your clear stampin' block and when you're finished coloring, spritz with water (or alcohol).  Let your colors flow together and then stamp onto your white card stock.  Once this has dried, stamp the trees, using Stazon Black or Archival Black ink.  

Add your card back and embellish as you wish.  I used the Wink of Stella Glitter Pen to put a little "dazzle" aroung my card and on the sentiment and trees:)  

Have a great day!!!

Rose Wonder Bundle by Stampin' Up!

Rose Wonder with Stained Glass Technique is Beautiful!

I knew when I saw this bundle with the Rose Wonder stamp set and the coordinating thinlits that I would have to make it mine because I saw how many gorgeous possibilities there would be when I got my hands on it.  My friend, Mary Ellen Stites showed several ways to use this set and so this is a take away from one of those things she showed me.  This thinlit and stamp are large so it lends the perfect opportunity to making a bigger card than I normally do.  These cards are 5X7/7X5 which calls for making my own stylish envelope, perhaps using the Birthday Bouquet DSP with the Envelope Punch Board.

The supplies I used for this project were card stock- Pool Party and Whisper White; Glimmer Paper-Dazzling Diamonds; Vellum; Jewels-Rhinestones; Stampin' Write Markers- Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz and So Saffron.  I embossed the Pool Party piece with Gently Falling EF and my adhesives were the Fine Tip Glue Pen, Stampin' Dimensionals and Multipurpose Adhesive.  My stamp set was Rose Wonder and the coordinating thinlits were Rose Garden (page 18 of the Occasions Catalog). After I cut the rose outline from the Glimmer Paper using my Big Shot with my Magnetic Platform I ran the new Big Shot Die Brush from the Occasions Catalog (pg 19) over the paper and it came out easy peasy.  As a side note, when I run intricate dies through my machine I make 3-4 passes to get the best cut possible.

For the Stained Glass Technique, you simply layer your glimmer paper outline, your pool party template and the vellum together and then, turn your piece over and color on the back of the vellum, using your rose outline as your coloring guide.  When you're gluing the glimmer paper to the vellum it takes a little longer to adhere, so just wait a little longer than normal and you're good to go. Since this piece is so intricate using the Fine Tip Glue Pen is a must.  So easy and so cool!! Once I had the card designed I assembled the artistic piece on top of the base card using dimensionals (very liberally) so my design was lifted off the base, giving it the look I was after.

Let me know what you think:)  I'd love to hear from you!

~Tammie

Pedal Pusher Stamp Set by Stampin’ Up!

My Mom's Card HAD to be Beautiful!!!

My mama turned 84 this January and when I sat down to create her card, I HAD to make the most beautiful card ever, because I wanted it to match her beauty.  I had the perfect tools to use with our new Rose Wonder stamp set and the Rose Garden Thinlits (sold separately or as a bundle on page 18 of the Occasions Catalog).  I used the DSP, Perfectly Artistic, to fill in the rose, gluing with the Fine Tip Glue Pen (but really any DSP will do:) and then I fussy cut the edges to give this beautiful image.  The cutting went really quickly, so don't be afraid to try it!

Of course I had to use the Blushing Bride Glimmer Paper to make my butterflies because they needed to match my outlined rose and then I wanted to put a little love on the card using the Confetti Hearts Border Punch layered onto the same DSP and a piece of Basic Gray under that. The sentiment and outline border are part of the same stamp set and the thinlit to cut out the sentiment is included in the set with the rose.

I'd love to know what you think!  Please message me if you like.  Thanks!!!  Have an awesome Friday.

~Tammie

Housewarming

I was reminiscing today as I sorted through the cards I've made, both recently and in the past.  I really like the "happy" card below.  I was approached by a friend to make a card for her good friend

who was moving into her very first home. Whenever I think of special my mind always gravitates to glimmer, bling, shiny.  I have no idea why, it's just that way.  Maybe it has something to do with the era I was raised in or maybe it's just because it's so frickin' AWESOME!
Red is my favorite color and look at these two cards.  Although they are two different shades of red, one "real red" and the other "watermelon wonder", they're still red.  Hmmm.
The lower card  is my most recent housewarming card I made and I really like the unexpected window frame looking out on the neighborhood.  The weather in our neck of the woods is indicated very well by this card so I just went with the snowy look.  Let me know what you think:) Thanks for stopping by!
~Tammie