Country Home With A Little Halloween Magic

On September 9, 2020September 8, 2020 By JanetIn Uncategorized

Hello Friends!

Since it’s too hot to do much outside today, I’ve spend my day playing in my craft room. I still have lots of products from the holiday mini catalog that I’ve yet to explore and so today seemed a good day to bring out some of those new toys and “break them in”!

I’ve been wanting to use the Halloween Magic Dies for a non-Halloween card since I got them. There are two nesting labels included in those dies that are quite elegant-appearing and so I opted to use them today to create a layered opening for a gate-fold card. All of the die-cuts featured on this card are from the Halloween Magic Dies with exception of the small, Cajun Craze flowers (Small Bloom punch), and the center sentiment label which is also a punch (Timeless Label). So, let’s do a little Country Home with some Halloween Magic!

I love a little bling, so out came the Wink of Stella to glitter up the Crushed Curry Flowers, Champagne Rhinestones for the flower centers, and Gold Embossing Powder to make the sentiment shine!

LET’S GET INKY!

Materials:

Stamp sets used:

Country Home

Metal Dies:

Halloween Magic

Paper:

Very Vanilla (8 1/2″ x 5 1/2″) – score and fold at 2 1/8″ and 6 3/8″.
Very Vanilla – small scrap for sentiment to be punched out with Timeless Label Punch.
So Saffron (5 3/8″ x 4 1/8″)
Crushed Curry – scraps for 4 flower outline cuts using Halloween Magic Dies.
Cajun Craze – scraps for 10 Small Bloom punched flowers.
Mossy Meadow – scraps for 10 leaf clusters cut using Halloween Magic Dies.
Plaid Tidings DSP – 4″ x 2″ to crop with smaller label die from Halloween Magic Dies.

Ink:

Versamark

Accessories:

Small Bloom Punch
Timeless Label Punch
Wink of Stella marker
Champagne Rhinestones
Stampin’ Dimensionals
Gold Embossing Powder
Heat tool

PUTTING IT TOGETHER:

Score and Fold the Very Vanilla card base as noted above.
Lay the smaller of the two labels in Halloween Magic Dies in the center of the front, making sure the center of the gatefold is running down the center of the die. Use some craft tape to hold the die in place on ONE side.
Open the gatefold with the die still taped to one side, and run through Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine.
Close the gatefolds and keeping the die lined up with the side you just cut, tape the die to the opposite side (uncut side).
Open the gatefold and run through Cut & Emboss Machine again.
When closed now, your opening should line up perfectly on both sides.
Tape the larger label die from Halloween Magic Dies to the center of the So Saffron panel and run through Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine. Save the center label you just cropped out for the inside of the card.
Run the cropped So Saffron panel (with the hole in it) through the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine in the Tasteful Texture 3D Embossing Folder.
Cut that embossed panel in half lengthwise at 2 1/16″
Use a metallic gold paint pen (I like the Uchida DecoColor Premium paint pens – available on Amazon) to highlight the openings on both the Very Vanilla and So Saffron edges.
Adhere the So Saffron panels to the Very Vanilla gate-fold fronts.
Crop out 4 of the outline flowers using Halloween Magic Dies from Crushed Curry CS. Use a Wink of Stella marker to add glitter to them.
Crop out 10 outline leaf clusters using Halloween Magic Dies from Mossy Meadow CS.
Use the Small Bloom Punch to punch out 10 flowers in Cajun Craze and slightly curl petals for dimension.
Arrange the flowers and leaves around the So Saffron “frame” and adhere.
Use the So Saffron label made in step 9 on the inside, centering it under the window made by the gatefold.
Crop a piece of Plaid Tidings DSP with the smaller label die from Halloween Magic Dies.
To get that center in your gatefold window, close the gatefolds and after applying some adhesive, lay it in the middle of your gatefold. It’s the same size as the opening, so it fits perfectly.
Stamp the sentiment from Country Home on Very Vanilla, in Versamark and sprinkle with gold embossing powder, tapping off the extra. Set it with heat tool.
Use the Timeless Label Punch to punch out the sentiment. Apply sentiment label using dimensionals to the center of the Plaid Tidings Label.
Apply Champagne Rhinestones to the center of the flowers.

DONE!

I’m looking forward to cooler weather again; fall will be a welcome change! My last several projects seem to reflect this by the colors I’ve chosen to use! Come on cooler temps!!!!

Until next time, my friends,

I HOPE YOU GET INKY!

Janet

Product List

Country Home Photopolymer Stamp Set [147678] $21.00	Hallows Night Magic Bundle [155188] $46.75	Hallows Night Magic Cling Stamp Set [153356] $21.00	Halloween Magic Dies [153565] $31.00	Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine [149653] $120.00
Plaid Tidings 6″ X 6″ (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [153527] $11.50	Very Vanilla 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock [101650] $9.75	So Saffron 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock [105118] $8.75	Crushed Curry 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock [131199] $8.75	Cajun Craze 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock [119684] $8.75
Mossy Meadow 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock [133676] $8.75	Versamark Pad [102283] $9.50	Versamark Refill [102193] $6.00	Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder [109129] $6.00	Heat Tool (Us And Canada) [129053] $30.00
Small Bloom Punch [152316] $0.00	Timeless Label Punch [149516] $18.00	Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush [141897] $8.00	Champagne Rhinestone Basic Jewels [151193] $6.00	Stampin’ Dimensionals [104430] $4.00
Multipurpose Liquid Glue [110755] $4.00	Paper Trimmer [152392] $25.00	Cutting Blades Multipack [152391] $12.00

Using Partial Die-Cuts To Create A Scene

On September 6, 2020September 5, 2020 By JanetIn Uncategorized

Hello Friends,

Today’s card was made in honor of my niece’s birthday. She loves lighthouses and the Christian symbolism inspired by Psalms 119:105, “Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” She’s an amazing photographer and videographer, so when she comes to visit from Texas, a trip to the coast and taking pictures of Oregon’s lighthouses is always on the list!

She had a birthday recently, and so, when it’s time to make her birthday card, what else other than a lighthouse?! Thankfully, Stampin’ Up has given us a couple of nice lighthouse images to work with over the last few years!

I’ve noticed several Christmas cards on Pinterest recently with partial die-cuts and given that “Sailing Home” has a lighthouse image and coordinating dies, I thought I’d give it a go with a lighthouse scene!

LET’S GET INKY!

Materials:

Stamp Sets Used:

Sailing Home
Happiest Of Birthdays
Celebrate Sunflowers
High Tide

Metal Dies:

Smooth Sailing Dies
Layering Circles Dies

Paper:

Bumblebee – card base (8 1/2″ x 5 1/2″) fold in half for 5 1/2″ x 4 1/4″ card
Basic Black – Mat 1 (5 3/8″ x 4 1/8″) – Cut 2 (one for outside and one for inside)
Whisper White – Mat 2 (5 1/4″ x 4″) – Cut 3 (sunset panel outside, image panel w/cutaway outside, and sentiment panel for inside)

Ink:

Memento Tuxedo Black
SU Sahara Sand (sand)
SU Mossy Meadow (grass)
SU So Saffron, Bumblebee, Mango Melody, Gorgeous Grape, Blackberry Bliss (sunset)

Accessories:

SU Stampin’ Blends: Light So Saffron, Ivory, Light Crumb Cake, Dark Crumb Cake
Gold cord from Wonder Of The Season Ribbon Combo Pack

Putting It Together:

Stamp the lighthouse image from Sailing Home onto one of the 5 1/4″ x 4″ pieces of Whisper White cardstock, in Memento Black ink. The lighthouse should be centered horizontally and down from the top edge of the cardstock about 1 1/2″.
Place the metal die from Smooth Sailing Dies around the lighthouse and watch it very closely as you put it through your Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine – stop cranking it through as it reaches the bottom of the lighthouse, and before it begins to cut the “ground” around the bottom of the lighthouse. Reverse crank it back out of the machine and remove die.
Place the circle from Layering Circles Dies over the lighthouse to where the edges of the circle intersect with the bottom of the lighthouse as shown in the picture below.
Again, watch closely as you put it through your Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine, stopping the forward motion as it meets the base of the lighthouse. As you can see in the picture, I stopped a little bit early and cut the rest of the way with my snips.
Using the sand and grass stamps from “High Tide”, and Sahara Sand and Mossy Meadow inks respectively, create your beach scene around the base of the lighthouse, extending to the sides and bottom of the panel.
Use the Crumb Cake Combo of Stampin’ Blends to fill in around the sand and grass, creating some shadowing.
Color the lighthouse with the Ivory Stampin’ Blend, and the lighthouse windows with Light So Saffron Stampin’ Blend.
Wrap a small piece of gold cord around left side of panel through circle and tie small bow.
Lay the lighthouse panel on top of another Whisper White panel the same size (5 1/4″ x 4) and very lightly mark where your circle is with a pencil.
Put the lighthouse panel aside and using a sponge, create the sunset on that second panel. To do so, start with the lightest color first (So Saffron) and sponge ink in a back-and-forth swiping motion down to the bottom of the penciled circle and a little beyond. Next use the Bumblebee ink, starting at the bottom of So Saffron, and sponge up about two thirds into the So Saffron allowing the color to lighten as you move up. Do the same with the Mango Melody, start at the bottom and bring the color up just into the Bumblebee. Next would be Gorgeous Grape, just up into the Mango Melody, and finish it off with just a little bit of Blackberry Bliss just at the bottom of the circle.
Stamp the flying seagulls from Sailing Home in black ink across the top of the sky.
Apply the black mat 1 to the Bumblebee cardbase front.
Apply the sunset panel on top of the black mat.
Use dimensionals and dimensional strips to pop up the entire image panel; make sure to put some on the back of the lighthouse to keep it popped up. Center over the sunset panel (the 2 panels are the same size) and tack down.
Stamp the sentiment from Celebrate Sunflowers on a scrap of whisper white and crop ends with Lovely Labels Pick-A-Punch.
Apply with dimensionals to bottom area of card.
Stamp inside sentiment from Happiest Of Birthdays with black ink to 3rd Whisper White panel 5 1/4″ x 4″, apply to 2nd black mat, and adhere to inside of card.

DONE!

Just as a reminder, if you’re interested in becoming a demonstrator in any capacity, be it for the product discount, or to produce an income, Stampin’ Up is having a special promotion through the month of September. If you sign up this month, not only do you get the usual starter kit but you will also receive the “Get & Go Starter Kit”! I would absolutely love to welcome you aboard and work with you as much or as little as you wish! I’m simply not the pushy type!

However, I was a cheerleader back in the day, as well as the high-school cheerleading coach when my girls were in high school. If you want to be pushed, I’ll be your biggest cheerleader and coach to help you get what you want out of your Stampin’ Up business! Just ask either of my daughters, or any of my former cheerleaders… this momma can push you ’til you drop if you want me to! (We placed at the OSAA State Competition every year I coached – but it doesn’t come without effort!) In fact, our team motto was, “It’s good to have fun, but it’s FUN TO BE GOOD”!

It’s quite simple to sign up, just click on the tab above that says “Join Stampin’ Up” and you’ll be walked through the process. Or click on the “Contact” tab to ask me any questions or discuss what Stampin’ Up (and I) can do for you. I’m just a click away! 😉

I hope you’ve found some inspiration here today & I hope you get INKY!

Janet

All of the products I used for today’s card are listed below and each picture is a direct link to my online store. Simply click and shop!

Product List

Sailing Home Cling Stamp Set [149457] $24.00	High Tide Photopolymer Stamp Set [143006] $26.00	Happiest Of Birthdays Cling Stamp Set (English) [152539] $19.00	Celebrate Sunflowers Cling Stamp Set (English) [152517] $24.00	Smooth Sailing Dies [149576] $32.00
Layering Circles Dies [151770] $35.00	Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine [149653] $120.00	Magnetic Cutting Plate [149656] $24.00	Bumblebee 8-1/2X11 Cardstock [153077] $8.75	Basic Black 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock [121045] $8.75
Whisper White 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock [100730] $9.75	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $6.00	Sahara Sand Classic Stampin’ Pad [147117] $7.50	Mossy Meadow Classic Stampin’ Pad [147111] $7.50	So Saffron Classic Stampin’ Pad [147109] $7.50
Bumblebee Classic Stampin’ Pad [153116] $7.50	Mango Melody Classic Stampin’ Pad [147093] $7.50	Gorgeous Grape Classic Stampin’ Pad [147099] $7.50	Blackberry Bliss Classic Stampin’ Pad [147092] $7.50	Stamping Sponges [141337] $4.00
So Saffron Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [154905] $9.00	Bronze & Ivory Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [154922] $9.00	Crumb Cake Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [154882] $9.00	Stampin’ Dimensionals [104430] $4.00	Foam Adhesive Strips [141825] $8.00
Wonder Of The Season Ribbon Combo Pack [153537] $9.00	Multipurpose Liquid Glue [110755] $4.00

Falling Leaves and Galloping Steeds

On September 4, 2020September 3, 2020 By JanetIn Uncategorized2 Comments

Hello Friends!

Dean and I went for a horseback ride yesterday morning and I noticed that our maple trees are already losing their leaves. Though the calendar doesn’t say so just yet, I think it’s beginning to look a lot like FALL!

In pondering how fast time goes by, The Steve Miller Band popped into my head as I was riding, and I started singing “Time keeps on slippin’, slippin’, slippin’ into the future; I want to fly like an eagle to the sea…” About that time, Jake, my horse, must’ve been listening carefully to the lyrics (or he doesn’t like my singing), as he picked up the pace and suddenly I was feeling that “wind of heaven which blows between a horses ears”! I reined him back, which he did readily, and then he blew as if to say… FINE, just no more singing! This reminded me of my son, Adam, when my kids were young. My daughters liked to sing in the car, and Adam would ask them to stop. They rarely did upon his request, and finally Adam would be begging me, “Mom, pleeeease make them STOP!” I guess Jake was either 1) giving me my wish to “fly like an eagle”, or 2) was saying in his own way “pleeease stop singing!” Either way, I stopped singing and we settled back into a nice easy walk!

Oh how I love my horses! The following just about sums it up for me and my boys (horses)!

But I digress…

I was speaking of seeing the maple leaves already falling, and that’s what prompted today’s card! I had just one more Madrone bark leaf leftover from my card a few days ago and wanted to incorporate that.

I had wanted to use bark for the larger leaf also, but I didn’t get glycerin applied to my flattened bark soon enough and the bark was quite brittle, so I started the process described in my last post all over again, this time applying glycerin to the bark as soon as it came out of the water. It should be ready for working with by tomorrow!

A couple quick notes before we get down to the inky business:

Stampin’ Up updated the Clearance Rack a couple days ago, so be sure to check out the deals there! I noticed there’s quite a bit of cardstock and embellishments, as well as designer series paper deeply discounted so check it out!

Also, if you’ve been kicking around the idea of joining my team, now is a GREAT time to do so! Through the month of September, if you sign up to be a demonstrator, you’ll receive not only the regular starter kit ($125 worth of products for $99 – plus all the business supplies and FREE shipping), but you will also receive the “Get & Go Starter Kit” which includes enough cardstock pieces to make 16 cards, a pack of Rhinestone Basic Jewels, the So Much Love stamp set, and the Queen Anne’s Lace stamp set. This is enough to easily get you set up for your first event if you choose to do so! Though, as I’ve mentioned before, many join simply to be “hobby” demonstrators (getting the discount and being able to pre-order ahead of the public). That’s what I did initially, and I can promise you I will never push you to do more than you want to do! So, if you’re interested or have questions, please just click on the “Contact” tab above and I’ll get back to you promptly!

Let’s get INKY!

Materials:

Stamp sets used:

Winter Woods (trees)
Gather Together (leaf)
Life Is Beautiful (sentiment)

Paper:

Very Vanilla cardstock
In Good Taste DSP (frame)
Gilded Autumn (inside)
Bumblebee cardstock (large leaf)
Early Espresso (bottom border)

Metal Dies:

Layered Squares
Gathered Leaves
Many Mates

Ink:

Soft Suede
Early Espresso

Accessories:

Preserved Madrone bark
Embroidered Ribbon
Gold thread from Forever Greenery Ribbon Combo

Putting It Together:

1. Fold the Very Vanilla cardbase in half and stamp the trees from Winter Woods across the front using Soft Suede ink.
2. Cut the window in the left side of the front using Layering Squares dies.
3. Using the same size square die that you used to cut the window in the front, and the next larger scalloped square, cut the frame for the window from the In Good Taste DSP.
4. Adhere that frame around the window in the front.
6. Stamp the sentiment at the top of the panel, beside the front window, in Early Espresso ink.
7. Cut a piece of Embroidered Ribbon long enough to just slightly overlap the ends when wrapped around the front panel through the window.
8. Adhere ends of ribbon on the front side of the card using Mini Glue Dots. I adhered the ends on the front side of the card so the inside would have a neat & clean look, and I could hide the ends on the front with embellishments.
9. Cut a piece of the Gold Thread from the Forever Greenery Ribbon Combo and tie in a bow.
10. Adhere that and a die-cut leaf over the ends of the ribbon.
11. Using the metal die from the Many Mates die set, cut the border embellishment from Early Espresso cardstock.
12. On the inside, adhere a 5 1/4″ x 4″ piece of Gilded Autumn DSP.
13. Stamp the large leaf image from Gather Together stamp set in Early Espresso ink, onto Bumblebee cardstock. Crop the image out with the associated die from Gathered Leaves Dies.
14. Adhere the leaf to the inside of the card, aligning with the window in the front of the card.

I chose not to stamp a sentiment on the inside of the card so that I can write a personalized, handwritten note.

DONE!

Until next time, I hope you get a little INKY today!

Janet

Product List

Gather Together Bundle [153036] $38.50	Gather Together Photopolymer Stamp Set [150589] $17.00	Gathered Leaves Dies [150662] $26.00	Winter Woods Cling-Mount Stamp Set [151359] $23.00	Life Is Beautiful Photopolymer Stamp Set [154871] $17.00
Layering Squares Dies [151772] $35.00	Many Medallions Dies [153584] $34.00	Gilded Autumn Specialty Designer Series Paper [153520] $15.00	In Good Taste Designer Series Paper [152494] $21.00	Very Vanilla 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock [101650] $9.75
Bumblebee 8-1/2X11 Cardstock [153077] $8.75	Early Espresso 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock [119686] $8.75	Early Espresso Classic Stampin’ Pad [147114] $7.50	Soft Suede Classic Stampin’ Pad [147115] $7.50	3/8″ (1 Cm) Embroidered Ribbon [153554] $7.00
Forever Greenery Trim Combo Pack [152475] $9.00	Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine [149653] $120.00	Mini Glue Dots [103683] $5.25	Fine-Tip Glue Pen [138309] $7.00

Adding Nature’s Touch & Getting Back To The Future!

On August 30, 2020August 29, 2020 By JanetIn Uncategorized

Hello Friends!

A couple days ago, my husband, Dean, brought me some rolled-up, dried-up tree bark from a madrone tree, with the suggestion that maybe I could find a way to incorporate it into my cardmaking.

Madrones grow quite prolifically around here and make the best firewood; they’re a hardwood and burn quite cleanly.

They have a smooth, rusty-orange-colored “exfoliating bark” which peels, curls and falls off as part of the natural process; they shed quite aggressively as demonstrated in the pictures below.

You see, when I first began my Stampin’ Up business, in brainstorming various ideas to make my business stand out from others, I had the idea to use “natural” elements and incorporate Stampin’ Up products into them; and not just cards. After all, we have lots of “natural elements” growing all around us. My husband is a retired taxidermist who enthusiastically prodded me in that direction.

This idea was solidified when we were out clearing roads on our property following a particularly bad snowstorm that downed literally hundreds of trees on the ranch. My attention was drawn to wild honeysuckle vines growing up and through many trees around us. They had a twisted, grapevine sort of look, and I wondered aloud to Dean, “Do you think that would dry and make a good wreath, something like a grapevine wreath?”

Well, there’s one way to find out! He helped me pull a couple long lengths of honeysuckle vine from a tree. I brought them home and using a 5-gallon bucket turned upside down as a form, wrapped the honeysuckle vine around it until I was happy with the “thickness” of it. I then used another piece of honeysuckle vine to “weave” through and around the “wreath-on-a-bucket” to hold it all together and tied it off with some florist wire. I left it sitting on the front porch for about a week, letting it dry, and when I removed it from the bucket “form”, it held it’s shape great and looked quite similar to a grapevine wreath.

This was shortly before Easter and so I simply went and bought silk tulips which I arranged around the wreath and topped with a burlap & ribbon bow, and a cross.

That wreath has been tulip-clad since, coming out of the closet in the Springtime to adorn our front porch.

HOWEVER, Dean reminded me of my initial “business plan musings” when he brought me that dried-up madrone bark; and my mind drifted back to that honeysuckle wreath.

First things first though, I had tree bark to contend with! The bark was quite brittle, so rehydrating seemed the first step toward making it useful!

I put some water in the kitchen sink and placed the rolled-up bark in the water.

It only took a few minutes until the bark was pliable enough that I was able to flatten it in the water.

I pulled it out of the water and laid it on some paper towels between waxed paper, and then placed my good ol’ dictionary on top for weight.

I checked on it a few days later and it was mostly dry. So, taxidermist husband suggested that I use some glycerin to moisturize and help preserve it.

I dabbed some glycerin on the bark with a cotton ball and put it back in the paper towel/waxed paper sandwich with the dictionary on top.

When I checked on it again a couple days later, it was dry but still fairly pliable. I left it open to air for a couple days to see if it would curl back up, but it didn’t! It stayed flat and pliable YAY!

Next test was to see what I could do with it.

Stamp on it – yep, worked! It took a little extra time for the ink to dry, but eventually did. Staz-On would probably work great, though I’ve not tried that yet!

Metal dies? Yep, worked like a charm!

So, here are the results of my first tree-bark embellished card!

Unfortunately, the leaf die I used is from a retired SU die set, “Seasonal Layers”, but I will be following this project up with others using the “Gather Together” bundle. After using it, I also realized that the gold thread is retired, but the gold cord from Wonder Of The Season Ribbon Combo could easily be substituted.

Hmmm… I haven’t tried embossing the tree bark yet! That will be the next test I guess. I’ll have to repeat this process and try embossing it while it’s still somewhat moist and then see if it will dry with the embossed impression!

I have since pulled that aforementioned honeysuckle wreath out of the closet and stripped it of its tulips.

I’m going to see over the next few days, what I can do with it using Stampin’ Up products and natural elements only! (wish me luck!) I currently have some Myrtle tree branches soaking in some “Never Say Die” plant preservative that Dean had in his taxidermy supply which I plan to use as a “green” element if the plant preservative works! So far, I don’t see the branches soaking the preservative up, but time will tell and I’ll keep you posted!

And now…. GETTING BACK TO THE FUTURE!

The rest of my initial business plan a few years ago consisted of “stamp camps” at our cabin (still waiting to be built) up on one of the mountains on our property which has a spectacular view overlooking forested hills and valleys, which we would access by horseback (for those who wanted to… those who didn’t could be brought up by vehicle or hayride (?) depending on the season!)

Oh my! Dean may regret bringing me that tree bark and reminding me of those initial ideas! I have two horses now…. but if there was enough interest, SURELY I would need at least four more, RIGHT!?! And just another idea….ride a horse up, and zipline back down!!! WooHOOOoooo!!!

What do you think?

Let me know in the comments below…. Do I need to press Dean to get that cabin built??? More horses??? and who’s game for a zipline????

A weekend spent stamping, horseback riding, ziplining, collecting honeysuckle vines for your own wreaths, more stamping, eating, relaxing on the deck around a firepit….hmmmm…. the possibilities are endless!!!

I think the next weekend after stamp camp would be spent telling stories on each other, sharing pictures, laughing, and scrapbooking those memories…

They would be stamp camps to remember for sure!!! LOL!!!

BUT, BACK TO TODAY….

LET’S GET INKY!

Materials:

Stamp sets used:

Autumn Goodness (pumpkins/fruit image)
Pallet Thoughts (sentiment)

Dies / Punches used:

Seasonal Layers – retired (leaves)
Layering Circles
Triple Banner Punch

Paper:

Early Espresso – card base – 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ (score at 4 1/4″ and fold in half)
banner mats – (1 5/8″ x 4 3/8″) ; (1 1/8″ x 3 7/8″ ); (7/8″ x 3 1/8″)
sentiment mat – 2 1/4″ x 1/2″
image mat – 3″ x 3″ – crop with Layering Circles die
Gilded Autumn DSP – mat 1 – 5 3/8″ x 4 1/8″
Regals 6×6 DSP – Cajun Craze DSP 1 1/2″ x 4 1/4″ ; Old Olive DSP 1″ x 3 3/4″
Neutrals 6×6 DSP – Crumb Cake DSP 3/4″ x 3″
Very Vanilla – 3″ x 3″ and crop with 2 1/2″ circle die; 3/8″ x 2 1/4″ for sentiment strip – hand crop reverse banner ends with snips.

Ink:

Early Espresso

Accessories:

Stampin’ Blends – Pumpkin Pie, Cinnamon Cider, Granny Apple Green, Daffodil Delight, Cinnamon Cider
Gold thread – retired
MADRONE TREE BARK! 🙂 (could substitute Cinnamon Cider CS – but not as much fun!) LOL
Basic Black Stampin’ Write Marker – hand draw the veining on the leaves

Putting it all together!

Stamp pumpkin image from Autumn Goodness stamp set on Very Vanilla CS and color with Stampin’ Blends.
Crop image using Layering Circles Dies.
Adhere image panel circle onto Early Espresso scalloped circle mat (cut with Layering Circles dies).
Crop out small leaves and draw veining on them using Early Espresso Stampin’ Write Marker.
Punch banner pieces using Triple Banner Punch. The widths of the CS/DSP may not fit the guides perfectly, so just make sure they’re center before punching.
Adhere the three DSP banners to Early Espresso banner mats.
Adhere the Gilded Autumn DSP mat to Early Espresso CS base front.
Adhere banners, starting with largest (Cajun Craze) first, down a smidge from the top and to the left side of card front. Next, place Old Olive banner slightly higher and about midline on Cajun Craze banner. Finally adhere Crumb Cake banner slightly down from top of Cajun Craze banner and over top of Old Olive banner.
Wrap gold thread around your fingers several times, slip off and adhere ends with glue dot. Apply with same glue dot about center over the Old Olive banner and with glue dot to the right side so the image panel will cover.
Adhere the image panel over the ends of the gold thread and to right side of card front.
Stamp sentiment on Very Vanilla sentiment strip and hand trim ends with snips. Apply to Early Espresso sentiment mat.
Adhere sentiment under image panel.
Scatter leaves on card front, adhering in place.

DONE!

I know it seems like a lot of trouble to go to with regard to the tree bark, just for a few leaves that could’ve simply been cut from cardstock, but this is just the first trial! And quite frankly, though I don’t know that the pictures really pick it up, the color is richer and they have a “woody” look and texture that I love. I’m going to continue trying to use it in various ways and see what I can come up with! So, stay tuned!

Until next time, I hope you get INKY today!

Janet

Product List

Autumn Goodness Bundle [155194] $45.75	Autumn Goodness Photopolymer Stamp Set [153454] $17.00	Pallet Thoughts Cling Stamp Set [153217] $22.00	Gilded Autumn Specialty Designer Series Paper [153520] $15.00	Regals 6″ X 6″ (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [153073] $11.50
Neutrals 6″ X 6″ (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [152485] $11.50	Early Espresso 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock [119686] $8.75	Very Vanilla 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock [101650] $9.75	Layering Circles Dies [151770] $35.00	Banner Triple Punch [138292] $23.00
Early Espresso Classic Stampin’ Pad [147114] $7.50	Basic Black Stampin’ Write Marker [100082] $3.00	Pumpkin Pie Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [154897] $9.00	Cinnamon Cider Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [153105] $9.00	Granny Apple Green Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [154885] $9.00
Daffodil Delight Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [154883] $9.00	Real Red Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [154899] $9.00	Wonder Of The Season Ribbon Combo Pack [153537] $9.00	Paper Snips [103579] $10.00	Mini Glue Dots [103683] $5.25
Paper Trimmer [152392] $25.00

Reindeer Reign Supreme For Christmas…Or, Is That An Elk?

On August 25, 2020August 24, 2020 By JanetIn Uncategorized

Hello Friends,

Continuing with the Christmas theme today… I can’t believe Christmas is only four months away! I’ve gotten my shopping started, but far from finished. I do have a pretty good jumpstart on cards, however! I guess if I’m going to have my Christmas shopping done by the end of this month, it’s crunch time! Amazing how time slides right by…

Today I’m sharing a card that I put together combining items from three different bundles from the Aug-Dec Mini Catalog (holiday catalog). That’s just what I do when I can’t decide on a single set! Hmm… let’s see how I can combine these! Anyway, this is what I came up with. As detailed below, I used North Pole Wonder Dies (deer, snow & sentiment tag), Pine Woods Dies (trees), and Wrapped In Christmas (sentiments).

I’ve been using so much Misty Moonlight and Snowflake Splendor, I decided it was time to get a little more traditional with the reds and greens.

My reindeer actually looks more like an elk, as that’s what I’m used to seeing. I had to Google reindeer images to remind myself what a reindeer actually looks like, but I had already colored his chest hair darker (like an elk), whereas per Google images, a reindeer has lighter-colored chest hair. Oh well, in our neck of the woods, an elk is more appropriate! We’ve actually had to chase a dozen or so elk cows & calves out of our apple and pear trees in our yard several mornings recently. I wake up to the sound of branches snapping and elk “chirping” at each other. They’re fun to watch up close like that, but boy do they wreak havoc on the trees! Therefore, it’s up out of bed and a stroll out the door with a “get outta there ladies!”. They scatter readily, thankfully, up the hill with a leap over the fence and they’re gone until tomorrow morning! They’ve pretty well eaten up all the apples and pears already, so they’ll be on to greener pastures soon enough!

Dean managed to catch a couple pictures the other morning as they moved across the driveway and up the hill after being chased out from under the apple trees! A couple stragglers stopped to see if we really meant it, or if they could sneak back to the apples! Moments like this never get old…

It is frustrating at times, though. I love flowers and working in my flowerbeds, but then there’s this…

Yep, little buck just walked right up on the deck to check out my geranium. My plants don’t stand a chance! Later that evening, his big brother surveyed the scene from the hill behind our house, just waiting for me to finish watering so he could come help himself to whatever tender little morsel he chose! Dean took this photo and had to zoom in, so it’s a little fuzzy, but you can tell he’s just waiting for me to finish watering so he can come help himself!

Ahhh…. the country life! They eat my flowers and our apples, but at least they’re quiet!!!

But, back to my “elk” card! LET’S GET INKY!

Materials:

Stamp sets used:

Wrapped In Christmas

Dies used:

North Pole Wonder Dies (part of the Wishes & Wonder Bundle)
Pine Woods Dies (part of the In The Pines Bundle)

Paper:

Whisper White for cardbase (5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ – folded at 4 1/4″); Mat 2 (5 1/4″ x 4″); sentiment tag cut with die from North Pole Wonders (2″ x 4″); snow cut with die from Pine Woods (1″ x 5 1/8″); inside sentiment panel (5 1/4″ x 4″)
Garden Green Mats (cut 2) for base mat on front and mat on inside (5 3/8″ x 4 1/8″)
Tis The Season DSP – green (5 1/8″ x 3 7/8″); red (1 3/4″ x 3 7/8″); two green strips (1/8″ x 3 7/8″)
Mossy Meadow pine trees – scraps for 2 large and 1 small pine tree cut with dies from Pine Woods.
Cinnamon Cider scrap large enough for detailed reindeer (elk) die.

Accessories:

Gold Cord (part of Wonder Of The Season Ribbon Combo Pack) – two 6″ pieces and one 4″ piece.
Dark Cinnamon Cider Stampin’ Blends.

Putting it together!

Adhere Whisper White mat to Garden Green mat.
Adhere red DSP strip to left side of green DSP mat.
Adhere both 1/8″ strips of green DSP to left side of red strip.
Cut snow in Whisper White using North Pole Wonder Dies and adhere to bottom of DSP panel, clipping ends flush as needed.
Cut tag in Whisper White using North Pole Wonder Dies and stamp with sentiment from Wrapped In Christmas, and flourish underneath, using Cherry Cobbler ink.
Cut trees in Mossy Meadow using Pine Woods Dies – 2 large trees, 1 small.
Cut reindeer (elk) from Cinnamon Cider CS using North Pole Wonder Dies.
Use Dark Cinnamon Cider Stampin’ Blends to color chest hair, antlers and hooves.
Adhere center tree – I cut the trunk of the tree off and placed the treetop at the top of the card panel, and the trunk on the snow hill. Otherwise, it’s too short and the tree has no trunk once the tag is placed.
Adhere the tag over tree and to the right side of the card.
Adhere the smaller tree to the right side.
Adhere the second large tree to the left, covering the hole in the tag.
Adhere reindeer (elk) over tree and tag. I lined the deer’s leg up over the tree trunk, as it looked funny to have the trunk sticking out from under the deer’s belly.
Cut two pieces of gold cord 6″ long and adhere ends to back of card with tape or glue dots to make it appear you wrapped the cord around twice. (Doing it this way just saves ribbon/cord.)
Cut a small piece of the cord, tie a small bow, and adhere with glue dot on top of cord.
Adhere entire panel stack to front of card base.

For the inside of the card, stamp the sentiment from Wrapped In Christmas in Cherry Cobbler ink on Whisper White panel.
Adhere sentiment panel to Garden Green mat and adhere that stack to the card base.

DONE!

I’m having so much fun hanging out in my craft room and making cards. I love Stampin’ Up! products not only because of their superior quality, but because they make it so EASY to create beautiful things with color coordination, product coordination…. etc., etc., etc.

If you’ve found yourself placing large Stampin’ Up orders and have no intention of ceasing that, I would love to chat with you about becoming a demonstrator. Many demonstrators are “hobby” demonstrators only – no classes, no blog, etc. That’s how I started my business… I wanted the demonstrator perks of a product discount, ability to order new products earlier than the general customer, and access to the Stampin’ Up community. It took changes at work, and my upline (who happens to be my sister, Krista Thomas of regalstamping.com) counseling me on the possibilities I was sitting on, to finally say okay… I’ll look at this as a business rather than a hobby; and brightacrescreations.com was born.

If you’re placing orders to average $100/month or more, we should seriously talk. I would love to build a team of friends who have the same interests as I, and seriously, no pressure to “get out there and sell, sell, sell!!!” Our creative journeys are our own, but if you’re interested in sharing your journey with like-minded friends, Stampin’ Up is a great company in which to do so. Hobby demonstrator or business-minded demonstrator… I’d love to have you on my team! If you’re interested at all… just click on that “Contact” tab up above, and I would be happy to discuss the fun and adventures, as well as business end of things!

Stampin’ Up’s Statement of the Heart is this:

“To love what we do and share what we love, As we help others enjoy creativity and worthwhile accomplishments, In this we make a difference”

In a time when this country is so polarized and politicized, finding common ground in creativity, I do think we can make a difference. Reaching out to others with beautiful cards, scrapbook pages, or whatever else, handmade and personal…who doesn’t like happy mail? And, if we’re honest, who doesn’t like to sit back and admire one’s own creativity…Wow! I made that! We can make a difference by promoting positivity. For me, that’s where I find satisfaction; i.e. I just put my heart and soul into that envelope that I just dropped in the mail…hopefully the recipient feels that! Or, I opened the world of creativity to someone new and now they can feel that same satisfaction! In this, I can make a difference…

If any of this appeals to you on any level, please reach out to me… we could make a wonderful team! Together we could definitely better our best!

Until next time, I hope you get INKY!

Janet

Snow Wonder Tri-Fold Peek-A-Boo Card

On August 24, 2020December 20, 2020 By JanetIn Uncategorized4 Comments

Hello Friends!

Today I will be showing you how to make a tri-fold peek-a-boo card featuring Snow Wonder from the Stampin’ Up August-December Mini Catalog (otherwise known as the holiday catalog)! I am so in love with this little snowman! He has so much personality and seemed like a perfect fit to peek through our little window.

Before we get started, however, I would like to thank Susan Levasseur of WOWNolaCreations.com for sharing this fancy fold on her blogsite some time ago. I saw it there first and have CASE’d it several times since! I think this is my favorite fancy fold ever! So, a huge thank you to Susan! I actually shop for and buy stamps that will work specifically with this fold I like it so much!

I’ve put together a video below to walk you through step-by-step how to make this card. I’m still new at making these videos and for whatever reason, it rattles me just a little bit knowing I’m being recorded! I guess you could say I’m camera-shy (always have been)! One definitely learns one’s nervous habits quickly through this process! I’ll keep working on it, however, and be a pro in short order! (hopefully!!!)

I’ve also included a written tutorial that you can refer to.

So, with no further ado, LET’S GET INKY!

Materials:

Paper:

Misty Moonlight cardstock (CS) for card base – 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches; score at 4 1/4 inches and fold in half.
Misty Moonlight CS for “flap” – 5 x 5 1/2 inches.
Night of Navy CS for mat under DSP – 5 1/4 x 4 inches.
Snowflake Splendor DSP 5 x 3 3/4 inches.
Whisper White for inside panel 5 1/4 x 4 inches; for “lace trim” on triangular piece (2) 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches; for scallop trim around circle 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches; for front tag 1/2 x 2 3/4 inches.

Stamps:

Snow Wonder

Ink:

Tuxedo Black Memento

Accessories:

Winter Snow Embossing Folder
Layering Circles Dies (largest scalloped and 2nd largest circle)
Ornate Borders Dies
2″ circle punch
Adhesive-backed snowflakes
Stampin’ Blends: Crumb Cake Combo, Misty Moonlight Combo, Light Balmy Blue, Dark Real Red, Dark Shaded Spruce

PUTTING IT TOGETHER!

Fold cardbase in half and set aside.
Adhere the DSP to the Night of Navy mat and set aside to dry.
Using the 5 1/2 x 5 inch piece of Misty Moonlight, score the 5 1/2 -inch side at 3/4″.
On the non-scored sides of that piece of cardstock, measure to 2 3/4″ and mark lightly with pencil.
Use a paper trimmer to connect the pencil dots, to create the triangular flap.
Use the 2nd largest (plain) circle from Layering Circles Dies, and cut the hole in the center of the “flap”.
Emboss the flap using the Winter Snow Embossing Folder.
Use the largest scalloped circle die and the 2nd largest plain circle die from Layering Circles Dies to cut the scalloped “ring” to go around the hole on the front of the card flap. Adhere this ring to flap front around hole.
Using the border die from Ornate Borders Dies, cut two strips of “lace” for the triangle edges of the flap. Adhere to edges and trim off excess.
Now bring in your card base… THE CREASE WILL BE ON THE RIGHT FOR THIS CARD (it opens backwards).
Crease the flap on your score line and insert the card base with open side into the crease of the flap. (Remember – your card base will be backwards from usual, i.e. open side on left/crease on right). Make sure the top and bottom of both flap and card base are even.
Punch a circle from a Post-It note using the 2″ circle punch, making sure the adhesive edge of the Post-It note is on the punched circle (so it will stay in place).
Lay the punched circle in the center of the hole on the flap (will be on the front of the card base) to guide where the hole needs to be punched for the “peek-a-boo” hole.
Remove the flap piece and place the card front, with the Post-It Note circle attached, in the 2″ punch with the Post-It Note circle aligned with the punch and punch your hole.
Now when you lay the flap back over the card base, your holes should center up.
Place the Whisper White inside panel in the card base with even borders (where it will be glued down, but don’t glue it yet!), close the card and lightly trace the circle onto the white panel with a pencil. (This marks where to stamp your snowman!)
Remove the Whisper White inside panel and stamp the snowman from Snow Wonder with his head close to the top of the pencil-lined circle. Stamp the sentiment above the snowman. Color with markers as desired.
Now lay the DSP with Night of Navy mat (that you glued earlier) on the card base front. Hold it in place and carefully open the card keeping the DSP stack in place. Lay the 2″ circle Post-It Note in the center of the circle again, lift the cardbase off, and punch the hole in the DSP stack.
Adhere the DSP mat to the card front, lining up the holes.
Adhere the inside (white w/snowman) panel to the card base.
Apply some adhesive to the straight edge of the flap (behind the score line) and apply to the back of the card so that the flap folds over the open edges of the card base.
Stamp the front sentiment on the small piece of Whisper White and hand trim the ends into a banner.
Apply to front of card with dimensionals.
Scatter some Adhesive-backed snowflakes on front.

DONE!

I’ve got so many other ideas for this “Snow Wonder” snowman that I can’t wait to put some of them together to share with all of you! I will, however, try to intersperse them with other products as well! I feel like a kid in a candy store right now! I ordered so much from the holiday catalog, I don’t know where to start! (Terrible problem to have, right?!)

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you have comments or questions! Just click the “contact” tab at the top of this page and I’ll be happy to get back to you as soon as I can!

Until next time, I hope you get INKY!

Janet

Product List

Snow Wonder Bundle (English) [155185] $49.50	Snow Wonder Cling Stamp Set [153344] $22.00	Winter Snow Embossing Folder [153577] $7.50	Layering Circles Dies [151770] $35.00	2″ (5.1 Cm) Circle Punch [133782] $18.00
Ornate Borders Dies [152724] $34.00	Adhesive-Backed Snowflakes [153545] $6.00	Snowflake Splendor Designer Series Paper [153512] $11.50	Misty Moonlight 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock [153081] $8.75	Night Of Navy 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock [100867] $8.75
Whisper White 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock [100730] $9.75	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $6.00	Misty Moonlight Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [153108] $9.00	Crumb Cake Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [154882] $9.00	Shaded Spruce Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [154903] $9.00
Real Red Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [154899] $9.00	Balmy Blue Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [154830] $9.00	Pumpkin Pie Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [154897] $9.00	Paper Trimmer [152392] $25.00	Paper Snips [103579] $10.00
Multipurpose Liquid Glue [110755] $4.00

“Glisten” versus “Sparkle”

On August 20, 2020August 19, 2020 By JanetIn Uncategorized

Hello Friends,

I’m sure you’ve all heard the phrase, “Women don’t sweat, they glisten!” Well, with these temperatures, I’m surely glistening when working outside!

After taking care of my horses this morning, I showered the “glisten” off and decided to create a little sparkle in my craftroom!

I’m completely in love with the Balmy Blue Glimmer Paper! I love sparkle and bling and this Balmy Blue Glimmer Paper shimmers and shines so beautifully.

It pairs so well with the Snowflake Wishes bundle that I chose to let the glimmer paper and DSP do all the work today! Stampin’ Up always comes up with such beautiful designer series papers, and the quality is so much better than the big-box stores! (personal opinion, of course!) The cool blues and purples with the lovely watercolor effect…Snowflake Splendor DSP is gorgeous! So, why not feature it and let it speak for itself?!

LET’S GET INKY!

Materials Used:

Paper:

Whisper White: card base – 8 1/2″ x 5 1/2″; mat 2 – 3″ x 2 1/2″; mat 3 – 4 1/8″ x 1 3/8″; front sentiment panel – 2 5/8″ x 1 1/2″; inside sentiment panel – 5 1/4″ x 4″
Snowflake Splendor DSP: mat 1 – 5 3/8″ x 4 1/8″; featured panel – 2 3/8″ x 2 7/8″
Misty Moonlight: front embossed panel – 1 1/4″ x 4″; inside mat – 5 3/8″ x 4 1/8″
Balmy Blue Glimmer Paper: 2″ x 6″ – Use So Many Snowflakes Dies to cut 1 large, 1 medium, and 2 small snowflakes

Stamp Sets Used:

Snowflake Wishes (front sentiment)
Wrapped In Christmas (inside sentiment)

Ink:

Misty Moonlight
Balmy Blue

Accessories:

So Many Snowflakes Dies
Winter Snow Embossing Folder
Adhesive-Backed Snowflakes
Misty Moonlight/Silver Baker’s Twine (Flowers For Every Season Ribbon Combo)

PUTTING IT TOGETHER:

Adhere mat 1 (DSP) to card base.
Adhere DSP to mat 2 and wrap Baker’s Twine 3 times around panel, securing with tape on the back of panel. Tie small bow with the Baker’s Twine and apply with glue dot.
Run Misty Moonlight 1 1/4″ x 4″ piece through Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine in the Winter Snow Embossing Folder.
Adhere embossed piece to mat 3.
Cut 1 large, 1 medium, and 2 small snowflakes from Balmy Blue Glimmer Paper using So Many Snowflakes Dies.
Stamp sentiment on 2 5/8″ x 1 1/2″ Whisper White piece using Misty Moonlight ink.
Adhere DSP panel to left upper corner of card front.
Adhere embossed Misty Moonlight panel across bottom of DSP panel.
Adhere sentiment tag to bottom right card front over Misty Moonlight panel.
Adhere glimmer paper snowflakes on card front and then scatter the Adhesive-Backed Snowflakes randomly to fill in the gaps!
For the inside of the card, stamp the sentiment from Wrapped In Christmas in Misty Moonlight (on Whisper White panel), and then stamp snowflakes (Snowflake Wishes) in Balmy Blue.
Adhere that white panel to the Misty Moonlight mat and adhere all to card inside.

DONE!

So, which camp are you in? Do you like the summertime “glisten”, or the wintertime holiday “sparkle”? I guess I’m somewhere in-between! I love summertime if I can lounge by a pool or on a beach somewhere – somewhere to rinse off the “glisten”. And, I love wintertime if I can cozy up next to the fire with a good book! Being cozy by the fire, and the Christmas season definitely puts a sparkle in my mood!

I hope you’re allowing yourself some time to get INKY and getting ahead of the holiday rush! If you’ve purchased Stampin’ Up products from me, my biggest wish is that you USE THEM!!! Take these hot days and spend some time making cards to give to those you love! It’s good for the heart and mind!!!

Until next time… I hope you get INKY!

Janet

Product List

Snowflake Splendor Suite Collection (English) [155115] $94.75	Snowflake Wishes Bundle (English) [155172] $55.75	Snowflake Wishes Photopolymer Stamp Set [153444] $26.00	So Many Snowflakes Dies [153560] $36.00	Winter Snow Embossing Folder [153577] $7.50
Wrapped In Christmas Cling Stamp Set (English) [153481] $22.00	Balmy Blue Glimmer Paper [153513] $5.00	Snowflake Splendor Designer Series Paper [153512] $11.50	Whisper White 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock [100730] $9.75	Misty Moonlight 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock [153081] $8.75
Adhesive-Backed Snowflakes [153545] $6.00	Flowers For Every Season Ribbon Combo Pack [153620] $10.00	Misty Moonlight Classic Stampin’ Pad [153118] $7.50	Balmy Blue Classic Stampin’ Pad [147105] $7.50	Multipurpose Liquid Glue [110755] $4.00
Paper Trimmer [152392] $25.00

Peace On Earth For The Holidays (Please?)

On August 19, 2020August 18, 2020 By JanetIn Uncategorized

Hello Friends!

Today I’m taking a break from the hot temperatures and Fall cards with a mish-mash of Christmas inspired products. Some are old, some are new, but all are current and orderable in the catalogs. Over the past couple of posts, I’ve let you all in on the fact that I love being in the middle of a quiet forest. With all that’s going on in this world, it’s a place to experience nothing but peace and quiet. A place where one can just relax and breathe in the earthy, natural smells and bask in the gloriousness of God’s creation!

As I pondered the holiday season this year, I wondered if, by some chance, folks would put aside their differences and simply allow “Peace On Earth” (please?)… Oh what a wonderful world that would be, right?

This card today was inspired by my love of forests and my prayer for God’s peace for every living soul on this earth!

LET’S GET INKY!

Materials Used:

Paper:

Stampin’ Up (SU) Whisper White Cardstock for card base – 8 1/2″ x 5 1/2″; score and fold in half at 4 1/4″.
I chose to use a second Whisper White panel the same size as the card base front (5 1/2″ x 4 1/4″) on which to build my scene, to give the card more substance after embossing with the Evergreen Forest 3D embossing folder. Also a scrap for the sentiment tag on card front.
Shaded Spruce – approximately half a sheet (8 1/2″ x 5 1/2″) to crop fur boughs from.
Cinnamon Cider – scrap for pinecones.
Early Espresso – scrap for pinecones.
Gold Foil Paper – scrap for stars and 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ strip.
For the card inside, you will need a Shaded Spruce panel 5 3/8″ x 4 1/8″, and a Whisper White panel 5 1/4″ x 4″.

Stamp Sets Used:

Wrapped In Christmas (front sentiment)
For Unto Us (inside sentiment)

Ink:

Early Espresso

Accessories:

Beautiful Boughs Dies
Stitched Stars Dies
Evergreen Forest 3D Embossing Folder
Gold cord – Wonder Of The Season Ribbon Combo
Real Red 3/8″ Sheer Ribbon
Mini Glue-dots

Putting It Together:

Emboss the Whisper White 5 1/2″ x 4 1/4″ panel using the Evergreen Forest 3D embossing folder. (If you choose to omit this panel, then emboss the front of the card base and build upon that.)
Using the Beautiful Boughs Dies and Shaded Spruce CS, crop out 3 of the larger branches, and 2 of the smaller branches.
Use Snips (scissors) to cut the branches apart into separate boughs.
Arrange these across the top of your card panel and adhere down.
Adhere the 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ strip of Gold Foil Paper across the top, over the top of the bough ends to hide them.
Crop out the pinecones using the small pinecone dies in Beautiful Boughs. The bottom layer is Cinnamon Cider, top layer is Early Espresso. (Cut 2 of each)
Apply a 6 1/4″ piece of Real Red Sheer Ribbon over the top of the Gold Foil Paper, attaching the ends to the back of the panel with glue dots or tape. (Layering over the gold foil gives a pretty sheen under the sheer ribbon)
Adhere the pinecones in a “cluster” just right of center.
Tie a small bow with a piece of the Real Red Sheer Ribbon and place over the top of the pinecones.
Stamp the “Peace on earth” sentiment from “Wrapped In Christmas” in Early Espresso ink on a scrap of Whisper White CS.
Crop the sentiment out using the tag die in the Beautiful Boughs Dies.
Ink the edges of the tag with Early Espresso ink and a sponge.
Apply tag to front panel.
Crop three small stars and one medium sized star from Gold Foil Paper using Stitched Stars Dies.
Cut 4 short pieces (approx. 2″) of the Gold Cord and using a glue dot or liquid glue, attach to the back of each star.
Use Mini Glue Dots to adhere ends of cords up amongst the fir boughs.
Cut 3 more pieces of the Gold Cord, approx 3 – 4″, and tie three small bows. Trim ends as needed.
Use Mini Glue Dots to adhere the bows to the tops of the strings suspending the stars. (I tucked one of the strings up under the pinecones, thus the need for only 3 bows!)
Use a fine-tip glue bottle or Mini Glue Dots to adhere the stars to the card front.
Adhere the 5 1/2″ x 4 1/4″ now fully embellished panel to the cardbase front.
For the card inside, stamp the sentiment from “For Unto Us” in Early Espresso on the Whisper White panel.
Adhere to the Shaded Spruce mat and adhere that to the cardbase inside.

Done!!

This card is a little bit labor-intensive with all of the die-cutting and glue-dotting of the strings, bows and stars, but I’m pleased with the end-result! Let me know what you think!

And, if you’re a praying person, let’s all join in praying for peace on earth!!!

Until next time, I hope you get INKY!

Janet

Product List

Wrapped In Christmas Cling Stamp Set (English) [153481] $22.00	For Unto Us Cling Stamp Set [153335] $21.00	Evergreen Forest 3D Embossing Folder [153576] $10.00	Beautiful Boughs Dies [150661] $35.00	Stitched Stars Dies [150653] $38.00
Whisper White 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock [100730] $9.75	Shaded Spruce 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock [146981] $8.75	Gold Foil Sheets [132622] $5.00	Real Red 3/8″ (1 Cm) Sheer Ribbon [153535] $7.00	Wonder Of The Season Ribbon Combo Pack [153537] $9.00
Early Espresso Classic Stampin’ Pad [147114] $7.50	Mini Glue Dots [103683] $5.25	Fine-Tip Glue Pen [138309] $7.00	Stampin’ Seal [152813] $8.00

Another Masculine Card For Fall Mixing Old With New

On August 18, 2020August 17, 2020 By JanetIn Uncategorized

Hello Friends!

I had so much fun working with one of my old favorites, Rooted In Nature, that I chose to use it again for another masculine card. This time, I paired this older stamp set with some of the new DSP, Gilded Autumn. I LOVE this paper! I’m a paper freak anyway, but…. this…paper!!! The rich, earthy tones in these papers are so ME! You could look around at the decor in my home and say, “Yep…she got her inspiration from Gilded Autumn DSP!” Actually, I’m pretty sure that Stampin’ Up got inside my home and took their inspiration from me! LOL!

At any rate, with these blazing hot temperatures we’ve been having, I think I’m pretty much ready for the Fall season. I’m looking forward to that first rain…Mmmm, I love the outside smells after it rains for the first time after a dry spell. Some rain, a cool breeze, and a hike through the woods… I can hardly wait!!!

Speaking of a hike through the woods… I mentioned some of my favorite places on our property in my last post, so I thought I’d share a few pictures that I took after writing that post. It was hot inside and out, and a shady spot in the forest with an ice-cold beverage sounded like a good idea. As it was too hot to hike (my opinion – not Dean’s), we jumped on a four-wheeler and took a ride to some of my favorite places on the ranch that evening, to sit in the shade and soak up those earthy-good smells!

The pictures truly don’t do it justice, as I’m unable to factor in the smells and sounds of the forest with these pictures. You’ll just have to trust me on this one… God blessed us with a beautiful place to call home!

Another reason I can’t wait for cooler temperatures is that I love riding my horses through these areas. I know Adam, my cowboy son, would scoff at me, but if it’s too hot for me to hike, I can barely ask my horses to hike with me on their back! Yes, they’re a little bit spoiled!

But let’s get on to today’s card!

LET’S GET INKY!

Materials Used:

Papers:

Card base – Very Vanilla cut at 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ and scored at 2 1/8″ and 6 3/8″ for a double gate fold.
Front mats 1 – Cajun Craze cut (2) at 2″ x 5 3/8″
Front mats 2 – Gilded Autumn DSP cut (2) at 1 7/8″ x 5 1/4″
Image panel mats – Cajun Craze cropped with Stitched Rectangles Dies (2 5/8″ x 4″)

Gilded Autumn DSP (green) cropped with Stitched Rectangles Dies (2 1/8″ x 3 1/2″)

Inside mat – Cajun Craze 5 1/4″ x 4″
Inside sentiment panel – Very Vanilla 5 1/8″ x 3 7/8″

Stamp Sets Used:

Rooted In Nature

Metal Dies Used:

Nature’s Roots
Stitched Rectangles

Ink:

Early Espresso
Crumb Cake
Cajun Craze
Mint Macaron

Accessories:

Gold Glitter Enamel Dots
Stampin’ Blends: Cajun Craze, Mango Melody, Cinnamon Cider, Old Olive

Putting It Together!

Adhere front mats (Cajun Craze & DSP) to card flaps.
Stamp large leaf in Early Espresso and Small leaf in Cajun Craze randomly on the Cajun Craze image panel mat.
Stamp tree image on Very Vanilla cardstock.
Color image with Stampin’ Blends. I used Cajun Craze, Mango Melody, Cinnamon Cider and light Old Olive. I just dotted the various colors on fairly randomly, allowing them to blend into each other to look like the turning leaves of Autumn. The tree trunk is Dark Cinnamon Cider.
Crop the tree image out using the die from Nature’s Roots.
Adhere tree image to DSP rectangle.
Adhere that panel now to the stamped Cajun Craze Panel.
Stamp the “Be Strong Be Happy Be You” sentiment from Rooted in Nature three times, once each in Early Espresso, Crumb Cake and Mint Macaron.
Fussy cut one of each block of the sentiment out using snips so that the whole sentiment is tri-colored.
Adhere to stamped Cajun Craze panel, under the image panel, in a staggered fashion.
Place glue only on left half of the Cajun Craze panel and adhere to left front panel.
Randomly apply Gold Glitter Enamel Dots to card front.
On the inside of the card, stamp one large leaf in Mint Macaron in the center of the Very Vanilla panel. Stamp two smaller leaves, one in Crumb Cake and one in Cajun Craze.
Stamp the sentiment in Early Espresso over the top of the stamped leaves.
Adhere Very Vanilla sentiment panel to Cajun Craze mat, and adhere to center of card inside.

I think that this card exudes the sentiment “BE STRONG BE HAPPY BE YOU” and is appropriate for male or female. And, of course, who doesn’t want a card from a family member or friend reminding them how wonderful you think they are! Send this to someone who needs a little encouragement!

Stay cool out there my friends! In fact, stay in and STAMP!

Until next time,

Janet

Product List

Rooted In Nature Cling-Mount Stamp Set [148217] $42.00	Nature’s Roots Dies [151786] $39.00	Paper Snips [103579] $10.00	Paper Trimmer [152392] $25.00	Stitched Rectangles Dies [151820] $35.00
Gilded Autumn Specialty Designer Series Paper [153520] $15.00	Very Vanilla 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock [101650] $9.75	Cajun Craze 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock [119684] $8.75	Early Espresso Classic Stampin’ Pad [147114] $7.50	Cajun Craze Classic Stampin’ Pad [147085] $7.50
Crumb Cake Classic Stampin’ Pad [147116] $7.50	Mint Macaron Classic Stampin’ Pad [147106] $7.50	Gold Glitter Enamel Dots [152155] $8.00	Cajun Craze Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [154879] $9.00	Mango Melody Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [154888] $9.00
Cinnamon Cider Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [153105] $9.00	Old Olive Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [154892] $9.00

Masculine Rooted In Nature Birthday Card

Rooted In Nature – Masculine For Fall

On August 15, 2020August 14, 2020 By JanetIn Uncategorized2 Comments

Hello Friends!

Did I mention we have a lot of summer birthdays in our family? Oh my! This time I needed a masculine card and so turned to an oldie but goodie.

If you don’t own Rooted In Nature, I would encourage you take another look! This stamp set is so classic and so easy to adapt to many different occasions! Of course, living in the Pacific Northwest, trees and forests abound, so this set is just a natural for me and I love it! There are dies to go along with the Rooted In Nature stamp set (Nature’s Roots metal dies), though today I didn’t use them.

Much of our property is forested and one of my favorite places on our ranch is a spot along the creek where the fir trees have grown to such heights that they block the sunlight and thus there’s little undergrowth, leaving a beautiful, open but shady landscape throughout the tall timber. The natural smells are spectacular, especially on a warm day. When I need to just get away for a bit to think, to pray, that’s the spot I head for. It’s so peaceful, so quiet. It’s easy to escape from life’s stressors in that place. A place to let go and let God.

I’m a country girl through and through and oh, how I love this life! Forests and trees are definitely one of my happy places!

And that brings me back to today’s project!

LET’S GET INKY!

Materials Used:

Paper:

Gray Granite Cardstock for card base: 8 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ – score and fold at 4 1/4″
In Good Taste DSP (wood) Mat 1: 5 1/4″ x 4″
Gray Granite Mat 2 (under plaid): 2″ x 5″
Plaid Tidings DSP: 1 7/8″x 4 7/8″
Gray Granite Mat 3 (under image): 2 5/8″ x 3 5/8″
Whisper White (image panel): 2 1/2″ x 3 1/2″
Gray Granite Sentiment Mat: 3 1/8″ x 5/8″
Whisper White sentiment tag: 3″ x 1/2″
Whisper White (inside card): 5 1/4″ x 4″
Plaid Tidings (inside card accent) 4″ x 1/2″

Stamp Sets Used:

Rooted In Nature (tree image)
Blossoms in Bloom (“Happy Birthday”)
Peaceful Moments (inside sentiment)

Ink:

Tuxedo Black Memento
Gray Granite
Cherry Cobbler
Pumpkin Pie

Accessories:

Granite Gray Shimmer Ribbon
Iridescent Pearls
Snips
Sponge

Directions:

Using edge of snips blade, distress both pieces of DSP and Whisper White image panel (run blade of scissors over edges to give rough texture).
Adhere In Good Taste DSP (wood grain) to Gray Granite card base.
Adhere Plaid Tidings DSP to Gray Granite Mat 2.
Stamp tree image from Rooted In Nature in Tuxedo Black Memento ink on Whisper White cardstock (2 1/2″ x 3 1/2″).
Ink edges of image panel, with a sponge, first with Pumpkin Pie, then a little shallower with Cherry Cobbler, and finally around the edges with Gray Granite.
Ink just the very edge of the Gray Granite Mat 3 (under image panel) with Cherry Cobbler ink.
Adhere image panel to Mat 3.
Wrap a small piece of Gray Granite Shimmer Ribbon around the top of the plaid panel, adhering ends to back of panel with tape or glue dots.
Use a second small piece of ribbon to tie in a knot around first ribbon.
Adhere plaid panel to left side of card front.
Adhere image panel to right side of card front.
Stamp “Happy Birthday” with Tuxedo Black Memento ink on 3″ x 1/2″ scrap of Whisper White CS and hand-cut banner end.
Layer sentiment onto 3 1/8″ x 5/8″ scrap of Gray Granite CS and hand-cut banner end.
Adhere sentiment banner overlapping image panel.
Apply Iridescent Pearls, one on left end of tag and two in the upper right corner of card.
Stamp inside sentiment in Tuxedo Black Memento ink on Whisper White panel.
Adhere 1/2″ x 4″ plaid DSP strip across bottom for accent.
Adhere panel to inside of card.

Done!

A masculine card perfect for a late-summer or fall birthday!

I hope you take some time this weekend to unwind and maybe escape to your happy place!

Until next time, I hope you get a little INKY!

Janet

Product List

Rooted In Nature Cling-Mount Stamp Set [148217] $42.00	Nature’s Roots Dies [151786] $39.00	Blossoms In Bloom Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [152684] $22.00	Peaceful Moments Cling Stamp Set (English) [151595] $21.00	In Good Taste Designer Series Paper [152494] $21.00
Plaid Tidings 6″ X 6″ (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [153527] $11.50	Gray Granite 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock [146983] $8.75	Whisper White 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock [100730] $9.75	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $6.00	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Refill [133456] $5.00
Gray Granite Classic Stampin’ Pad [147118] $7.50	Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin’ Pad [147086] $7.50	Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin’ Pad [147083] $7.50	Gray Granite 1/4″ (6.4 Mm) Shimmer Ribbon [152463] $7.00	Iridescent Pearls [153549] $7.50
Paper Snips [103579] $10.00	Paper Trimmer [152392] $25.00