First Blog in Forever - Use of Format

It has been years since I have posted anything on here.  I still am a member of Stampin' Up! but I do not do it as a business and I do use other products.
I took to selling my craft rather than pushing product on other people.  Not that I don't supply if someone requests.  I just love the get togethers, which has kept me in Stampin' Up!
However, I have moved to a different state, so if anyone is from the Milwaukee area and just wants to get together to craft and have fun, let me know!
That being said, one of my favorite things to do is to find a layout and create.  I am still a plain and simple type of gal, but do wish I was more artistic.  Alas, that talent lies with my daughter and didn't really pass down to her from me!
My first post uses a format I found somewhere (don't remember where).  I kept it similar but turned it sideways and for the center used an embossing folder, coloring the embossed parts.  Please excuse my coloring ability as I tended to get smudges.  Don't know if I will send it out because of this, but decided to post it anyway since you get an idea of what I did.
I used printed paper on the sides.  It is fairly cheap paper I got somewhere.  The only Stampin' Up! items I used were cardstock and markers.  I tried to match the colors to the paper, but you know how that is when using two different suppliers.  Never a perfect match!  As a simple embellishment, I used glitter (stickles) on the star and the candle flame.
I am not proud of this card at all, but just decided to start trying to put things out here, even if only I look at them for inspiration and as a record of things I have done.
I would love to see you take this layout and use it and post here so we can see how other people tweak the design!
     

STampin' Up! Delightful Decorations Gift Card Holder

I joined a gift card swap this month and had a ball making three different ones.  This is the first one I made.  It uses the Delightful Decorations stamp set.

Supplies:
Delightful Decorations Stamp Set (Item #116517 wood, 127787, clear)
Cherry Cobbler Card Stock (Item #119685)
Whisper White Card Stock (Item #100730)
DSP from the Be of Good Cheer pack (Item #126896)
Gumball Green Ink Pad(Item #126861)
Rhinestone (Item #119246)
Sticky Strip (Item #104294)

Cut Cardstock:
Cherry Cobbler
       1 X 7
       2 3/4 X 2 1/4
      11 X 4 1/4
Whisper White
       2 X 2 1/2
       4 X 2 3/4
DSP
      4 X 2 3/4

Score the 11 X 4 1/4 piece of Cherry Cobbler Card Stock at 3, 6, and 8 3/4 inches.  Cut the short (4 1/4") side (closest to the 8 3/4" mark) diagonally from about 1 1/2" from the bottom, up to the top of the score mark.  Apply sticky tape to the bottom of this one flap on the bottom and up the 1.5 inch side.  Fold and adhere to the center right section (between the 6 and 8 3/4 score marks.  This forms a pocket for the gift card.
Attach the 4 X 2 3/4 Whisper White Card Stock to the (now) center section, next to the gift card holder.  Stamp or sign with your greeting/message.
Fold the card.  Glue the DSP on the front of the card.
Stamp one of the Delightful Decorations stamps using Gumball Green ink, onto the 2 X 2 1/2 Whisper White piece of card stock.  Put a Rhinestone or other embellishment on the ornament.
Attach this to the 2 3/4 X 2 1/4 Cherry Cobbler mat.
Wrap the 1 X 7 Cherry Cobbler piece around the gift card and attach the ends with glue.  This should be able to slip on and off of the card.  Attach the ornament piece to the seam (to hide the seam) of the band.
I used the Jolly Bingo Bits (Item #120857 wood, 121187 clear) and a 1" circle punch (Item #119868) to decorate the inside as well as the More Merry Messages stamp set (Item # 126400 wood, 126402 clear) to stamp the message.
This is the quickest, easiest of the card holders I made for this swap.Using different DSP and colors of paper and ink can really give it a different look, too!
To purchase anything needed to make this project, please visit my web site below.
http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/maierken/

August 2012 Little Debbies Downline Swap - Christmas Card

This month in the downline meeting I attend with Debbie Naylor's group, we did a Christmas card swap.  Mine was very simple.  I like it so much that I think it may be my Christmas card this year!

I also made this card in blue and will probably mix it up when making the 100 or so I will send out for the holidays!
This card is done in real red, and whisper white.  It uses the Flowering Flourishes stamp set from the 2012/2013 Stampin' Up! catalog as well as the Ornament Keepsake bundle (stamp set and big shot Framelits Dies.)
There are several layers, including the card base in real red, a layer of whisper white, another layer of red, and the final stamped on layer of whisper white which has the cut out ornament popped with a dimensional and decorated with a pearl in the center.
This is such a quick and easy card and the layers with the monochromatic details give the card a nice elegance.
It is quick and easy to make, and using different colors and different ornaments, you can make different looking cards that are in the same theme.  That way, making hundreds of them is not so tedious!
If you need to order any of the items, please visit my web site at click here.
In my next few blogs, I will post gift cards that I made for a swap.  They are all 3 different with very different looks.
Enjoy and keep stamping!

Frightening Feline Halloween Card

I have joined a monthly card swap which allows several different themes.  This month I chose the Halloween theme so that I could use my new stamp and DSP from the Stampin' Up! Holiday catalog.  At our downline meeting last night we were discussing the catalog and how many really nice stamps there are in the catalog!
You can check it out on my web site at: maierken.stampinup.net  Just click on Products and then Catalogs and you can check out the new catalog as well as the new holiday catalog.  They are fantastic!
On with my swap card....

I am still learning how to take proper pictures that will transfer well to the internet.  This card has a base of Basic Gray card stock.  The ribbon is stitched grossgrain basic gray.  Somehow they look blue in this picture!
I love the Halloween DSP in the Holiday catalog.  It is great for Halloween cards but can be used in making masculine birthday cards as well.  So, it will go over into the normal calendar year and be a useful product year round!  It is called Howlstooth and Scaringbone DSP.  (Item # 126906 and is $10.95).
The cat is called Frightening Feline (Item #128105 and is $8.95).  I used Versamark and Tangerine Tango Embossing Powder for the cat (on black card stock).  The background is also tangerine tango.
I roughed up the edges and this would even look good with a textured background using the Big Shot!.
While you are at my site, go to the promotions section and scroll down to see the GREAT opportunity this month!  For the $99 fee to join my team, you will receive $125 worth of products (any products you choose!) as well as $60 MORE free products that have been put together in a Halloween stamping kit just for you! 
It is a GREAT MONTH to join Stampin' Up because the $99 you invest will get you $185 worth of product, will allow you discounts as a demonstrator, entry into the web site where you can learn all sorts of techniques, entry into a demonstrator web site where you can join swaps and make friends who are interested in stamping!  Also, if you are in the local area, you can join our meetings and have some really fun "me time".  Meet new friends, and learn new techniques in a fun environment.
If you are interested in running a business, you can use the product to make items to sell (use a Stampin' Up! stamp on the back to show you use the product), or you can hold workshops or sell to family and friends.
If you are interested in being just a hobbyist, that is ok, too!  You still have all of the benefits of being a demonstrator!
Have fun, and keep stampin'!

Swappers Anonymous Group - Swap Christmas Card

I am a member of Swappers Anonymous through Stampin' Up!'s Stampin' Connection.  We all love to swap to get new ideas and to see others' creativity.
One of the "girls" wanted to host her very first swap with the group since we would be patient with her during her learning curve. 
She had several categories, and each contained several stamps.  We will be trading, with one person doing cards from each stamp of that set.
I chose the Ornament Keepsakes set.  Below is my card.

This set is a lot of fun because it has several ornament stamps and the dies to cut them out can be purchased as a bundle, reducing the cost.  I used Raspberry Ripple and Gumball Green as the colors, using Old Olive to do the branches (using the pine tree from Lovely as a Tree stamp set).  Using Versamark and silver embossing powder, I made the tops a shiny silver.
I love Christmas cards and am glad we are back to the second half of the year when Christmas card stamping starts back up!
This week, at our downline meeting, we are also trading Christmas cards.  Tune in to see my monochromatic ornament card!  I think maybe that one will be my Christmas card this year!

July 2012 Challenge

Once again I joined the challenge at Simply Cindy Crafts this month. (click on Simply Cindy Crafts to see the design challenge). Here is the card I came up with:

The colors we were challenged to use were Not Quite Navy, Riding Hood Red and Whisper White.
I used a Whisper White card base and a Not Quite Navy mat.  The strip of paper is Riding Hood Red which has been run through the Big Shot using the Stripes embossing folder (it is hard to see on this picture).  The top mat is whisper white which I have used the Not Quite Navy and Riding Hood Red markers in the spritzer tool, then zig zagged the Dazzling Details over the top which caused the colors to smear and look more like fireworks.  You could also use regular glitter which would probably not cause as much smearing of the colors if you prefer just to have the dots of ink. 
I stamped CELEBRATE from the Seasonal Sayings stamp set (from the Holiday catalog), using markers to alternate colors of letters.  Then, cut it out in rectangle shape using the paper cutter.
The "stars" on the design challenge were made using Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon, with Not Quite Navy brads in the center.  I really love these challenges.  They are so much fun and really help to stretch my imagination.  I was bound and determined to make stars using ribbon and stick to the July 4th theme.
Below is a supply list for this card.  If you would like to order, click HERE.

Card Stock:
Whisper White                100730
Not Quite Navy              101722
Riding Hood Red            111348

Markers:
Not Quite Navy              119701 (Regals set)
Riding Hood Red

Stamp Sets:
Seasonal Sayings           128006 (wood)  128009 (clear mount)


Accessories:
Regal Brad Set                                          119737
Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon               122988

Dazzling Details                                         124117
Spritzer Tool                                              107066

Big Shot Items:
Big Shot                                  113439
Stripe Embossing Folder          123128

Thanks for looking at my blog.  Come back each month to see my challenge cards.  I am also starting to do swaps which I will post on here as well!

Shoe Box Swap Card

Here is my card from our recent shoe box swap.  This type of event is the reason I joined Stampin' Up!  I really love the fellowship we have as a group.  There were 15 Stampin' Up! demonstrators.  Each brought a shoe box with a set up of 14 cards (identical) to make, as well as one already made as a demo.  We each picked a shoe box and made a card, then swapped boxes to make the next card.  We each walked away with 14 different cards and our own demo card.  Our display boards will look beautiful!
Most of us will make easy cards that could be used at a workshop.  Some of us put a few techniques in there to make things interesting. 
I had sat down just to play and made this card.  Once it was made, I fell in love with it and decided to use it for the swap.  It does take a little longer than a normal workshop card because it requires using the water color pen and hand cutting of the butterflies.  This could be used as a demo card at a workshop or with a stamp-a-stack of people you would like to introduce a new technique to.
I used the brand new Serene Silhouette stamp for the background.  You could use any solid image plant stamp.  Then I used the water color paper and stamped Kindness Matters butterflies in Staz-On.  Using the water color pen, I colored in the butterflies, starting with red in the center, then orange, yellow, green and finally tipped it with blue.  I picked two colors for the smaller butterflies.  Then cut them all out and popped them up with a piece of dimensional.  I used the Word Window and Modern Label punches to insert the words.
I roughed up the edges of the green mat piece.
I love the water color pen.  It gives such a nice look to the butterflies.
To order Stampin' Up! products used for this card, go to http://creativestampingwithkathy.blogspot.com