Embossed Baroque with In-Colors

I've been playing with my heat tool, so if you look carefully, you'll see how glossy the stamped images turned out. This card uses the new Kiwi Kiss and Red Riding Hood In-Colors for this season. These two paired together are a modern color combination for Christmas. I wanted this card to say "Merry Christmas" but I didn't have any current stamps with that greeting.
(So, just imagine it.)

I like using VersaMark + clear embossing powder for the versatility in producing an embossed image of any color on card stock of that same color (see the Kiwi Kiss and Red Riding Hood swirls). (Otherwise I use Craft Ink + clear embossing powder over it; e.g. Chocolate Chip Craft ink for the greeting.)

I wanted to use the flower from the Baroque Motifs set, and layer it with the other medallion flourish so that it looked like leaves. This card uses the In-Colors mentioned above, as well as Pacific Point, a brilliant new blue card stock and ink color. For embellishments I've used wide twill tape and a rhinestone brad from the ice collection. These brads come in fire and ice (warm and cool colors) as well as in round and square.

If you're interested in a personal demonstration of how to use the heat tool to emboss, please sign up for a workshop. I have several dates available in October, so contact me today to host your own party. Check my calendar in the side toolbar. Some Tuesdays and Saturdays in November are also available.

Pretty Birthday Card

Here's a birthday card I made for a sweet little someone in my life.

I rather enjoy the All in the Family stamp set because you can personalize it for the card recipient. I've also used the Family Accessories to doll up this birthday girl, and the Family Phrases for the Salutation.

I've used the Pretty in Pink card stock which is a delicate color that's only available for a limited time as part of the Fall 2008 In Color selection.

I stamped the image onto watercolor paper, so I could paint the background. For easy water-coloring, simply squeeze a stamp pad while closed, so that some ink stays in the lid. Use a blender pen or aqua-painter to pick up the color and apply it to the paper.

I used the following ink colors for this card: Bashful Blue, Basic Black, Old Olive, Pink Pirouette, Rose Red, and VersaMarkOther card stock: Old Olive and So Saffron.

Embellishments and tools: white taffeta ribbon, circle rhinestone brad, dimensionals, small oval punch, black and clear embossing powders, and heat tool.

Contact me if you are interested in making a similar card or ordering any of the materials I used.

World Card Making Day

Invitation to World Card Making Day Event!

When: Saturday, October 4th
Where: my place
Time: drop by between 10:00 and noon
RSVP: by Saturday, September 27th,

so that I may prepare the materials you need.

You may respond to this invitation via email or blog-post.

Additional Information:

Cost: free
Please bring: a friend
Card kits: 20% off

Back to School Scrapbook Layout

Here is a scrapbook layout inspired by autumn colors and going back to school.
It would look great with those "first-day-of-school" pictures.

It's a 6 x 6 layout, which means it's easier to make than a 12 x 12 page because it has fewer design elements, and takes less time. It's just like designing two matching cards.


I've used the lovely Chocolate Chip cs as a base, and then layered Old Olive cs over that. I stamped the letters from the Define Your Life Alphabet stamp set in Old Olive Classic Ink.
The red and orange come from this season's In-Colors: Red Riding Hood and Tangerine Tango.

They're bright and snappy! I stamped images of children and pets with the All in the Family stamp set using Red Riding Hood ink. I've layered Naturals Ivory cs over the Tangerine Tango.

Then I made a hidden compartment to write a secret message. It's the book. I used sticky strip and Very Vanilla grosgrain ribbon for the binding. Well, it's not so secret, but it's interactive anyway. The kindergarten lines come from the Define Your Life Alphabet set.

A Young Stamper's Creations!

My niece came over for the evening so her mommy could do some shopping. It was like having a mini-summer camp for a toddler for an evening. Bassem and I played soccer with her; she learned some new moves and giggled the whole entire time she was kicking the ball.

We traced her body onto a large sheet of brown paper and drew in her features.
(Yes, it was the extra packing paper from SU!)

And then we stamped!
Earlier in the summer her mommy had come over one time to stamp something, and so my niece naturally picked up the stamps and asked for them to be inked up so she could use them. So, she made her own page of stamping. That was a month ago.
So, I thought she'd like to do some big-girl stamping of her own, and here's what she did!

I gave her several options, and she chose to make some cards with stars. So, I inked up the stamp and gave it to her, and she pressed it where she wanted to on the paper. Then I helped her punch out some stars and put dimensionals on the back. She peeled them and put the stars on her cards. I asked if she wanted ribbon, and she said she did, so we tied a knot. Then I showed her a variation using the slot punch. On a piece of scrap paper, I demonstrated how we can feed the ribbon through the holes and then tie a bow. I asked her if she liked wanted to used that idea on her card and she said yes. I think she gave one of these cards to her daddy. ;)
This is the Starring You stamp set.

And then we still had time, and she was still quite interested in stamping, so I asked her if she wanted to stamp some little girls. And she did. This one is tricky for someone who is only 2 and 3/4 years old to line up, so I did that part, since I am older than her, by a bit. And then she colored them in with the Stampin' Write markers (gentle, gentle). She even lined up and stamped her own greeting. These are the All in the Family, Family Accessories and Family Phrases stamp sets.


She's quite a fun little girl. She loves helping her mom, gran, and auntie cook. She's eager to do her own little projects. So, for these cards, she did everything except ink up the stamps; her mom said she had to come home clean, so she wore an apron and went to town! No, I'm not recruiting from the cradle; I'm just having some quality time with my niece. Sorry the pictures came out sideways; the photo reader was having trouble saving any changes.

All in the Family Tags

These are some simple tags that I made with the All in the Family stamp set.

For this one I used Certainly Celery and Very Vanilla card stock. I used the 1 1/4'' punch to cut a hole in the top of the celery card stock, and then I used that circle as the background layer for the girl. I cut her circle with the 1'' punch. I used Basic Black and Certainly Celery ink. For the girl I used a blender pen and picked up some color from the lid of a several squeezed stamp pads (Celery again, Bashful Blue, Pink Pirouette, Close to Cocoa, and Apricot Appeal). I "SNAILED" the narrow Certainly Celery Grosgrain Ribbon to the wide Very Vanilla Grosgrain Ribbon.

Here you see it in action. I actually used this for a hostess gift.

Here's a variation on that theme. I stamped the boy and girl in only one color because it was a make and take, and I wanted it to be quick enough for 10 people to do while sharing materials.
The boy is Not Quite Navy and the girl is Ruby Red (card stock and classic ink).

I don't know if you think they are "lame" because they're not like a typical tag that you tie to the item itself or tape onto the wrapping paper. I took the idea from a water bottle "flavor-on-the-go" holder. It hangs on bottles with narrow necks (Bath & Body Works soap, wine?, and I'm not sure what else, but leave a comment if you have other suggestions.