Halloween Stitches

During the month of September I put together a 5 week newsletter that involved “stitching” (for my mom’s SU group). Two of the cards were Halloween themed, so I’m posting them together. I’ll post the other cards in the future.

First up is a hand-stitched web – done with clear filament. To create the web, I started by drawing the lines on the back-side and then pierced the places the lines intersected.

The rest of the card is pretty simple. I used markers to color the candelabra and then cut it out. The sentiment is actually a little of both sentiments from the Wicked Cool set. Again I used markers to selectively color the parts I wanted to use. I don’t bother with a stamp-a-ma-jig…which is why ‘halloween’ is a bit crooked, oh well 🙂



The next card was meant to be a funny card. I have no idea who I would send this too – but thankfully I don’t have to worry about it, the card is in the safety of mom’s stamp room.

The foot was hand drawn, but I’ve conveniently included it here as a download, if you so desire, lol.

Thanks for stopping by!

All supplies Stampin’Up! unless otherwise noted.
Spooky Halloween
Stamps: Wicked Cool;
Colors: Black, Pumpkin, Razzleberry;
Other: Lots of Tags die; clear filament;
Smell My Feet
Stamps: Batty for You, Baroque Motifs;
Colors: Saffron, Peach, Olive (or was it Limeade?), Black;
Other: Scallop punch;

Index Cards

These cards are all ones that started their lives as index cards for the SCS gallery. It was fun to try to create an index card that I could “finish” as a real card.

The first card is actually the index card. I thought it could stand on its own fairly well. Since the image is the sentiment I didn’t need to add anything else. I kept the theme of stars and stripes when picking the pattern paper and ribbon.

The machine stitching was originally just on the layers, but it got lost in the patterns, so I extended it to the full horizontal. I probably will eventually add a couple vertical stitch lines on the edges, but the back is so horribly done with all the starts and stops I’m not even sure the needle would make it through, lol.



 
This next card is what I had in mind when I created the index. For the index, I could only use the ball and the “Home Run” sentiment since that is all that is part of the stamp set.

After taking the photo for the index, I went back and added the rest of the sentiment. Of course I had to do it word by word so I could squeeze it all in, and so it isn’t as straight as I would have liked.

The ball is hand-cut to have that “crack” graphic (comic-book) look.



 
This final one is another a la carte image, so the index card is sans the greeting, but also without the leaf die cut – mostly because I didn’t want to obscure the image.

The bird image is watercolored. The background is embossed with the Elegant Bouquet folder from SU. The ribbon, I’m not sure about the ribbon, but I think it is an old retired SU color – Cranberry (one of the first InColors).

Thanks for taking a peek!

Chic Boutique

A few months ago my mom held a camp where all 5 cards were made using one set. The set was Chic Boutique (now retired). I designed the cards for the camp. One was a CASE, and I won’t bother posting it here. The others are below.

First up is my favorite. I knew I wanted to use one of the crown charms and so decided the card should have an elegant feel.

I chose Baroque Burgundy DSP paired with black satin ribbon. A touch of the Eyelet Border punch in Vanilla. Then finished off with rhinestones along the middle of the Eiffel Tower image.
 

One item mom had bought, but not in quantity, was the acrylic frames, so she asked me to work one in on a card for this special camp.

I was inspired by some cards in the SCS gallery where folks had gilded the edges of the frame with glitter. Since the only glitter I had on hand was the Baja, I chose a Baja base with a Not Quite Navy mat.

To get the embossing lined up, I used repositionable tape to adhere the white and Baja card base together. I ran that through the Big Shot. Then I gently removed the white panel (yes, it did tear the Baja a bit, but you don’t see that when done); matted the white panel and reattached to the card base.

Next up is a little card that she tweaked because she didn’t like the leaf – but I’m posting this one because I do like it 😀

I started with the bird cage image and chose purple and green to color it (with the fine-tip edge of the markers). I kinda like the leaf on one side and the newsprint peaking out from below. Makes me think of where the bird is, and where it wants to go.

I used Eggplant, Perfect Plum, and Old Olive.

Last up is a fun one. A very simple layout with a touch of paper piecing – just enough to remind customers about the technique.

The colors I chose were Pear, Bride, and Saffron. I’m pretty sure I stamped the sentiment in Olive.

All supplies are StampinUp only. Hollar if you aren’t sure of what I used.

Thanks for stopping by!

Not-so-Vintage Invitation

I created this card for my mom to use. Thankfully she loves this card – she isn’t a big fan of the CAS style.

I have to make 20 of them so I kept it fairly simple. The hardest part will be cutting out all the flowers, but I think it will be worth it.

So, after getting this post practically ready, I realized that I could add a pen frame and it would give the card just that bit of “it” that it needed. It adds another step to the production line, but I think it is worth it!

Thanks for taking a peek!

You’re Invited
All supplies StampinUp unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Vintage Vogue, Sincere Salutations;
Colors: Not Quite Navy, Vanilla, Old Olive, Calypso Coral;
Other: Pearls;

New Stampin’Up!

Last month while I was visiting my mom (an SU Demo), I got to play with her new stamp sets. Now that the catalog is out I thought I would post my cards.

The first set I played with is Pennant Parade. This banner creating set has a coordinating punch. I used the punch to make this simple banner card. I used the new Lucky Limeade color and Daffodil Delight. I also found some white Baker’s Twine in her supplies and fell in love. Because it is twisted, it doesn’t come apart quite as easily as embroidery thread.

After seeing the samples in the new catalog, I realized the Pennant Parade set can be used to make Christmas trees too – that is cool! This card uses 3 different greens, but since they are all pretty close in color, it works. I am actually a little disappointed in the Limeade color – it isn’t quite yellow enough….it just looks a tiny shade lighter than Olive. *sigh, I miss Kiwi*

I used the eyelet scallop border punch to create the ruffle around the circle. After punching a long border piece, I ran my nail down the cardstock to help break down the fibers inside. Then I peeled it apart to make 2 pieces. Then I adhered it to the back of the circle making folds to help it follow the curve.

The next couple of cards use the set My Friend. The font in this set is wonderful.

For the first card I used my new favorite color – Pool Party. I added a border punch to the background to give some texture (and weight to that side of the card). A few butterflies and a large sprinkling of rhinestones finishes it off.

 

The next card is a little retro. I love the dangling baubles image in set and used it to create the top border. I filled in the baubles with the Smooch – Top Coal (love this stuff – had to order it for myself!). The sentiment was inked up with markers. I added the flower/pearl to help balance it all out.

This picture doesn’t show the smooch very well, so I took a detail shot. Click the picture to see it full size.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The final set I played with was Best of Everything.

On this card I used Wisteria – another new favorite color. I even got to use a bit of the new ribbon – love those little ruffles. To create the main panel I used the hyacinth image (well, that’s why I’m calling it anyway) and inked it with Wisteria and stamped a bunch, then went back and did the same image using Pool Party.

The butterflies are actually the single flower – I cut them out and tied ribbon and now they look like butterflies 🙂 The background is 2 lattice dies glued down to the card base.

 
The final card I want to share today was pretty fun to make. Unfortunately I used the now retired Spiral punch (why did they get rid of that??).

I won’t be doing my normal supply list, but everything is StampinUp and should be in the current catalog (except the Spiral punch on the last card). BUT if you have any questions, just leave (or send) a note and I’ll answer.

Thanks for stopping by!

Garden Lattice

I created this card for my mom. I’ve seen some really cool lattice cards lately. I thought I’d make my own by pairing up a couple dies. I started with a Top Note and cut a rectangle window in it. Then I cut a lattice die and glued it behind the Top Note. The flowers are stamped on watercolor paper and then watercolored.

Thanks for taking a peek!

card
All supplies StampinUp unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Four Frames, Teeny Tiny Wishes;
Colors: Always Artichoke, White, Perfect Plum;
Other: Botanical DSP, Watercolor paper, Lattice die, Top Note die, Leaf die, White Organdy ribbon, Decorative Label punch; machine stitching;
Technique: watercoloring

Spring = Birds

This was created for the Stampin’ Royalty spring challenge (src67). Spring definitely means birds to me. I am no professional bird watcher, but I love seeing birds – and hearing them!

When I first put this card together I was using the Summer Sun card stock as the base, a yellow bird, and Pacific as the mat to the green pattern – it was ALL wrong! The card base was too harsh, so instead I used a piece of tone-on-tone pattern paper; that made it better. The yellow bird was just not popping, so I made it blue instead. Almost there. With the bird blue I decided the sentiment would be blue and so I needed a different mat color. I pulled the yellow cardstock back out and that felt right. So much happier with this version.

Thanks for stopping by.

hi
All supplies StampinUp unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Cheep Talk;
Colors: Summer Sun, Pacific Point, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive;
Other: Good Morning Sunshine DSP, Lots of Letters chipboard, border punch; machine stitching

Cards of Different Colors

Today I am posting the final card that I created for mom’s Inside-Out camp. I ended up making two versions (ya know, in case she runs out of DSP in the one color). I did CASE the card from Selene (view hers); and while her card is based on a sketch, I did copy her ribbon/button & border punch – so I’m referencing her card instead of the sketch (I did find her card before I found the sketch). I changed the colors and images from Selene’s card and used DSP instead of stamping for the background.

Anyway. I’m really happy with how these turned out. They both make me smile, even though the evoke different feelings. To see either card in more detail, just click on the photo.

For the flowers, I used markers to color the rubber before stamping. I used a lighter and darker color to add some shading.

 
Since the camp is about decorating the insides, this post wouldn’t be complete without a peek at the inside. I went very simple with just using the same supplies – DSP and Border Punch.

Thanks for stopping by!

All supplies StampinUp unless otherwise noted.
Blue Card
Stamps: Friends Never Fade;
Colors: Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, White;
Other: Markers (Real Red, Cherry Cobbler, Choco Chip, Olive), Greenhouse Gala DSP, Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding, Button, Linen Thread, Scallop Eyelet Border Punch;
Yellow Card
Stamps: Friends Never Fade;
Colors: So Saffron, Daffodil Delight, White;
Other: Markers (Regal Rose, Rose Red, Choco Chip, Olive), Greenhouse Gala DSP, Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding, Button, Linen Thread, Scallop Eyelet Border Punch;

Peek-A-Boo Bird

Here is another card I created for mom’s Inside-Out camp. This is a window card – where some of the inside peeks through a hole in the front. I CASEd the layout from a card in the StampinUp 2010 catalog (p45).

This window is achieved by using StampinUp’s Movers & Shapers dies. First, the front of the card base and the DSP were die cut. Then, between those two layers I added a square of Window Sheet (acetate). The cage is stamped onto the acetate – the bird is on the inside of the card.

 
I did have, um, we’ll call it fun 😀 , trying to figure out the logistics of the inside. I knew when mom & I discussed having a window card that I wanted to use Aviary and have the bird peeking through from the inside. However, when I actually tried to decorate the inside it was rough making it seem “natural” but not show through the window (and we’ll just pretend that you can’t see that ONE note from the wheel peeking through the bottom of the window).

Wonderful Friend
All supplies StampinUp unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Aviary, Wonderful Favorites, Music Notes Wheel, Cheep Talk;
Colors: Pear Pizazz, Peach Parfait, Daffodil Delight, Vanilla;
Other: Sunny Garden DSP, Acetate, Rhinestones, Scallop Border Punch, Movers & Shapers dies (or you could use a Coluzzle 😉 );

Honey of a Day

Yesterday was a honey of a day. It was gorgeous! My hubby and I sat outside and enjoy the sun for a bit and then we took the kids to the park. I really am loving my new home and neighborhood!

Thankfully not only was the sun out, but my muse came to play too! I’m working on some more camp cards for my mom. This camp’s theme is Inside-Out. We’ll show different ways of decorating the insides of cards.

First up is a pocket card. While this may not seem like a traditional card, the “inside” is decorated – and I want to remind her folks to think outside A2 (something I don’t do often myself). Of course, we’ll just overlook the fact that the “base” of this card is indeed A2 sized 🙂

The hive was stamped onto dotted pattern paper and cut out. I just used a marker to color in the hive base (you can still see the dots of the paper). On the inside, I used a marker to color the honey, but left the pot plain. And another touch of different pattern/same color DSP.

To enlarge the photo above, just click on it. Thanks for stopping by!

Buzzin By
All supplies StampinUp unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Buzzin By, Sanded;
Colors: Old Olive, More Mustard, Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip, White, Black;
Other: Regals Patterns DSP, Olive 1/8″ Taffeta ribbon, Eyelet, 2 1/2″ Circle Punch;
Techniques: Paper Piecing, Pocket Card;