Collage Curios Bottle Caps

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Have you tried out the Soda Pop Tops (Bottle Caps) out yet?  This was my first attempt at making a way cool card with them. This project was one of our make n takes at the CG Crew team meeting in March.  We also made a very cool necklace pendant with this set as well. Click Here to find out more about the CG Crew

I love how all the elements come together on this project.  It’s fun, has a little of a modern vintage flair, does that even make sense?

Creative Tips –

  • We started with a Pool Party base in our Core’dination’s card stock run through the Big Shot with the Honeycomb Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (TIEF).  We then sanded it down to reveal the cool pattern in a distressed look using the new Stampin’ Sanding System. (You can get the Pool Party Core’dinations card stock in a package until 5/31, next year it’s in a combo pack – so stock up while you can!)Collage Curios 002 Side
  • The banners are stamped and cut out with the Hearts a Flutter Bundle that includes the Stamp Set and Framelits. 
  • One of the Paper Doilies was cut in half and angled so that it fit behind the banners.
  • I love the whole Very Vanilla/Whisper White thing that’s very on trend today, this card shows it off very well.  What do you think?  Do you like it, or does it just look wrong to you?  Let me know!
  • The new 5/8” Flower Trim is an awesome accessory.  I cut just one off and added it with a few glue dots.  I always leave the netting on the back, some of the CG Crew just couldn’t leave it on and had to trim it away, I guess to each her own, right?!Collage Curios 002 CU
  • For a little color pop, I added a few strips of Riding Hood Red that were distressed using our new Distressed Tool.
  • The oval was cut out of our First Edition DSP using our new Oval Framelits.
  • Collage Curios is an awesome stamp set to use with the bottle caps.  I love layering the different stamps in this set.   Here I used Crumb Cake, Pool Party, Riding Hood Red and Early Espresso.
  • To flatten the bottle caps (Soda Pop Tops), you just run them through the big shot.  It’s so super easy, and you have a really cool little embellishment. I love this little card.  It’s fun, flirty and a good blend of some of my favorite things from the Spring Catalog – ending next week (sniff…sniff).  I hope you love it too!

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    Stamp Sets – Collage Curios (129102c, 129099w), Hearts a Flutter (129252c, 129249w) Bundle (131097c, 131098w) Ink – Pool Party (126982), Early Espresso (126974), Crumb Cake (126975), Whisper White (100730), Riding Hood Red (111348) Paper – Very Vanilla (101650), Pool Party Core’dinations Card Stock (129321), Riding Hood Red (111348), First Edition DSP (127821), Paper Doilies (129399) Cool Tools – Oval Framelits (129381), Hearts a Flutter Framelits (130159), Stampin’ Distress Tool (127562) Big Shot (113439), Honeycomb TIEF (129378), Stampin’ Sanding System (129367), 1” Circle Punch (119868), 1/2” Circle Punch (119869) Finishing Touch – Glue Dots (103683), 5/8” Flower Trim (126869), Soda Pop Tops (129388)

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    Filed Under: Big Shot, Cards, CG Crew Tagged: , , , ,

    By The Tide Underwater Scene

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    When I first opened up my Spring Mini Catalog – I immediately focused in on this set – By the Tide.  I have to say I was waiting to make this card.  I wanted to create an underwater scene and this card did not disappoint.  This set is super easy to use, and I just love the coral stamp.  It’s a big stamp, so I mostly only use a partial image, but I love the texture of the coral branches.  This card is loaded with tips, and techniques.

    Creative Tips:

    • My concept was an underwater world.  To get that effect I started sponging Daffodil Delight in the center surrounded by Lucky Limeade.
    • I then brayered Pool Party and Tempting Turquoise adding more of the same color with a sponge as I needed it.  I finished by adding a little Marina Mist with a sponge on the edges to create a little depth of darkness.
    • Brayer Tip – be sure to start off and end off your paper.  Work lightest to darkest.  If you want to master this technique – check out my Creative University Series Brayer Class here.
    • The school of fish are stamped in Midnight Muse along with the Coral.
    • I found that it was easier to add the lead fish first and work backwards.

    • My greeting originally said Happy Birthday Wishes and is from the set Petite Pairs.  I removed the W from wishes with a blender pen – it’s perfect for that small omitting item.  I replaced it with and F from Simply Serif Mini Alphabet using a Stamp-a-Majig to perfectly place it.
    • I used the script stamp in the By the Tide set (love those kind of stamps) and free hand stamped it.  But if you are worried about lining it up just perfectly – use a Stamp-a-Majig!

    • My card is a traditional size A2 card and the creative underwater scenery is 5.5” x 2”.  I used a 1/16” white mat for the scenery to pop it off my Pool Party card base.
    • I made thirty of these cards.  I found it was easier to leave the strip in a 5.5” x 4” size, do all my sponging and brayering and then cut it in half.  Why do twice the work?!

    This was a fun project that my team – The Creative Crew, made at our last Creative Gathering.  Everyone loved seeing the Magic – as they described it, happen as the underwater scene unfolded.  I hope you try it and I know you too will fall in love with underwater scenery!  If you too would love to join The Creative Crew at a Creative Gathering, or join us online, click here to find out more!

    If you live in the Orlando, Florida area and you would like to learn how to create amazing scenery first hand, I’m offering a Creative University series class around Brayering Creative Scenery.  For more information, click here.

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    Stamp Sets – By the Tide (129120c, 129117w), Petite Pairs (122497c,122495w) Simply Serif Mini Alphabet (126360w) Ink –Pool Party (126982),  Tempting Turquoise (126952), Daffodil Delight (126944), Lucky Limeade (126984), Marina Mist (126962), Midnight Muse (126860)  Paper – Whisper White (100730), Pool Party (122924),  Cool Tools – Stamping Sponges (101610), Brayer (102395), Stamp-a-Majig (101049)

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    Filed Under: Cards, CG Crew, Techniques Tagged: , , , , ,

    Dreams Coming True

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    I know, I live in the same town as Walt Disney World.  You may say Dreams come true here, but I’m not chatting about Amusement Parks today, rather my personal dreams coming true instead.

    Many of you come here for creative inspiration, or just to see what I’m up to today, but did you know that this is my actual J-O-B?  That’s right, as I like to say, I’m so lucky, because I play with stamps, paper and ink all day!  Yes, there are actual business things involved too, but how many of us actually get to say that we love what we do for a living – well…I DO!

    We all have our story in life.  Some of us have small kids and need to adjust to a different schedule.  Others aren’t happy with their current line of work and need an outlet.  Stampin’ Up! came into my life when I was at a crossroads.  I was a restaurant manager and had major back surgery that went every way but the right way.  I was left with needing to find a new line of work – all at the tender age of 30.  That was 13 years ago.  I had started teaching scrapbooking since it was my hobby and ended up a few years later introduced to stamping through one of my students.  Well…the rest is history.  I have enjoyed many years of creative juices, creative and personal growth, more friends than I can possibly imagine, and of course a real honest to goodness job that I love!

    And all that without even knowing how to stamp.  Yes, that’s right.  Here is my first ever cards.  I thought you’d enjoy that!  Nothing too crazy – not sure about my color decisions…lol!

    I’ve earned national awards some years, some not.  Earned incentive trips some years, some not.  I’m realistic about what my business can bring me.  But most important – I have a corner office, and all the vacation days I want.  I do keep in mind that if I choose to take a day off, I also realize that’s a choice to not work.  So I do keep those to a healthy amount.  After all, this is my business, and my goal is to succeed.

    These days I have integrated more and more of an online business.  I like working out of my Creative Studio.  And after all, the virtual world is a much bigger one!  I love teaching and mentoring online.  Videos, blogs, classes – the possibilities are endless.  So if you’re into Social Media, it’s a great opportunity to turn your craft into some cash!

    My favorite part of my job is mentoring others to have their own businesses.  I coach both creatively and around their businesses – part and full time, virtual businesses and traditional.  I love seeing others grow professionally and personally. 

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    If you too are interested in having your own slice of something – be it part time, full time, virtual, traditional or know someone who could benefit from creating their own economy, I would love to help.  For more information on how to have your own Stamping Business Click Here. 

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    Images courtesy of Stampin’ Up! and Ingrid Blackburn

    Filed Under: CG Crew, Personal, Specials Tagged: , , , , , ,

    The Creative Crew: Evergreen Beauty

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    If you know me, then you know I have a love for all things Pine and Redwood.  The redwood tree is actually my personal mascot.  So this stamp set is SO me!  And as you get to know me more through my blog, you’ll learn that one thing I love is two-step stamping.  What’s better than two images that create depth and detail into one!  I love it – I don’t have to color or do anything snazzy to make my project look great.

    Today I’m featuring this great Christmas card by Aleida Abreu, guest stamper and team member of my Creative Crew.  I love Aleida’s sense of Clean and Simple style in this Evergreen beauty.  It’s elegant and really pops.  Best yet – you could easily mass produce these for your Christmas cards!

    Here Aleida used the new Evergreen stamp set from the Holiday Catalog and combined it with some of our Big Shot accessories – the Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder and Apothecary Accents Framelits.  Here are a few tips and details on what she did to make this card pop.

    Creative Tips:

    • To give the card a little elegance, Aleida used the script greeting from the Greetings of the Season set in the Holiday Catalog. Click here for the Holiday Catalog
    • She embossed the greeting with our Gold Embossing Powder on Always Artichoke and popped it up using our Stampin’ Dimensionals. 
    • Sometimes a project just needs that little something, try adding a few of our Brads!  Here you see that Aleida chose to add the gold ones from our Metallic Brads collection – it’s the perfect touch and you get 30 each of four colors.
    • To add the finishing touch to her card, she used the Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack to pierce around the Apothecary Framelit.

    • Here I duplicated her card and just substituted the lined image for the tree as opposed to the script writing option.  I just love the options in this set.

    I think you’ll find that you have several options and ways that you can use this versatile stamp set.  I love the little star in it and the fact that it has a saying for the inside of your Christmas cards.  Enjoy playing with it!

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    Single Stamps – Do you love that Greeting set, but wish you could buy just the one or two stamps?  Well, now you can from these select stamp sets: Perfectly Penned, Word Play, Seasonal Sayings.  Buy some of our best Greetings Stamps individually!   Hurry, this special is good for a limited time only through Jan 2, 2013! For more details, click here.  

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    Stamp Sets – Evergreen (127973), Greetings of the Season (128033) Paper – Very Vanilla (101650), Always Artichoke (105119), Cherry Cobbler (119685) Ink – Always Artichoke (126972), Versamark (102283) Cool Tools – New Heat Tool (129053), Gold Embossing Powder (109129), Paper-Piercing Tool (126189), Stampin’ Pierce Mat (126119), Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack (126187) The Perfect Finish – Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430), 3/16” Metallic Brads (119741)

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    Filed Under: Big Shot, Cards, CG Crew, Christmas, Clean and Simple Tagged: , , , , ,