Tool Talk Thursday

Normally on Thursday's Tool Talk I talk about one specific tool. 

This one is going to be different.  Today I am going to give you some Tips and Tricks.  

Here they are: 

Be sure to let your heat gun heat up before aiming it at your project. This should only take 10 seconds or so, depending on your gun...Hold the gun far enough away from the paper to prevent burning or warping..

Line a clip board with aluminum foil. Then put your image to emboss under the clip portion to hold it steady. The foil will bounce the heat back to the image from the backside and emboss faster and more evenly..

Blend, blend, blend! Use a light touch with your colored pencils at first and gradually add different colors until you get the color you like. Remember to blend, blend, blend.

Store your markers horizontally for longer life.

Store your dye ink pads upside down to keep the ink at the surface of the pad. 

Go to the wallpaper store and ask for old wallpaper books.  The sample pages are a great size and can be used in so many ways.  Some of the designs are great for backgrounds and some of the pictures can be cut out, mounted and put a card with a 3-D effect.

Be sure to clean permanent ink off your stamp immediately to prevent staining of the rubber... 

Use "Post-Its" for masking. They are sticky and thin so they work perfectly for 

masking, or for holding your framelits in place when you are running them through the Big Shot. 

I hope some of these tips and tricks are new to you and help you in your stamping/cardmaking /scrapbooking. 

QUICKIE WEDNESDAY

Today we are going to do something a bit different....we are going to have a colour challenge.  

I am challenging you to use these colours to create a card, a 3D project or a scrapbook page.  

Email me a photo of your project and your name will be entered in a random draw for a free card class or scrapbook class!  How fun is that!  

Anyone can participate, any size cards, 3d items or scrap pages- digital or standard....let your creative juices flow and have fun. 

Draw will be made on February 15th, so get cracking girls!  

Here are your colours: 

TIP TUESDAY

Today's tip is also a card share.  

You know how sometimes you just need a card in a hurry....well here is your answer- punches! 

I literally created this card in less than 5 minutes.  

Basic Black card base, Melon Mambo Mat, four squares of whisper white cardstock and punched the butterflies out of the melon mambo mat....a quick greeting, a few pearls and I was done!  

How fun is that! 

MASCULINE MONDAY

Today I want to share a great manly card that I made this past Thanksgiving for my youngest son Jesse: 

I used a leaf image to create a background on very vanilla cardstock.  

Then I stamped the truck image from the Countryside stamp set and watercolored the image with my blender pen and stampin write markers.  

I fussy cut the image and used dimensionals to adhere it.  

The greeting is from my all time favorite set- Teeny Tiny Wishes.

  The greeting was punched with the word window punch and attached to the modern label punch which was also adhered with dimensionals.  

The mat is chocolate chip and the card base is lucky limeade. 

SHOWCASE SATURDAY

Here is a card I made for an online challenge.  

Products used in this card:


It features two stamp sets; Hearts a Flutter and Pennant Parade.
Heart Framelits and Hearts A Flutter Framelits
Small Heart Punch, Scalloped Lace Border Punch, and Tiny Tag Punch
Wild Wasabi Ink and Wisteria Wonder Ink
Whisper White, Wild Wasabi, Wisteria Wonder Cardstock
Spritzer tool
Sponge
Subtles brad

SCRAPPIN FRIDAY

This weeks layout features "The Boyz"...namely my youngest son Jesse and his two boys Richard and Noah. 

This layout features lettering cut out with my Big Shot and Typeset Alphabet Bigz Dies on page 192 product #127553 110.95.

I use this set of dies ALOT!  

I also used some retired playdate paper to create a border effect.  

Tell me, aren't they a handsome lot!?

THURSDAY TOOL TALK

Ok, I just HAVE to share this amazing tip with you.....

You know how in some of our more detailed dies, like the finishing touches edgelit or the delicate doilies sizzlet, there are lots of tiny open areas for the cardstock to get stuck in.  

 

If you do, then you also know how dang frustrating it is to sit there for twenty minutes with a paper piercer and poke each and every one of those tiny holes, so that you can use the die again. ( and if you are like me, you have multiple layers in there and only clean it out when it will no longer cut) 

Well....hold on to your seats ladies.....you are going to love this simple and oh so easy tip: 

Spray with Stampin Mist (or water works too) and let it sit for a minute.  This softens the paper and they pop out MUCH easier.  You will have the whole die done in less than a minute.  

QUICKIE WEDNESDAY

For this edition of Quickie Wednesday, I wanted to give you a card sketch and show you the card that I made from the sketch. 

This is the simple sketch I used. 

And here is my card: 

Products used:  

Easy Events Stamp Set
Stampin Write Markers
Blender pen
Piercer & Piercing Guide
DSP- Be of Good Cheer
Cherry Cobbler Cardstock
Gumball Green Cardstock
Stazon ink

TUESDAY TIP

We all have the same problem....inky fingers!!!

Some days it is worse than others.  

Well here is a great  product I have discovered that will scrub all that ink off your hands, lickety split.  

It is called a loofa and it has a sponge inside it.  This can be found at any dollar store and costs just $1.00!  It comes in many colors from the natural beige to yellow to blue to red- I thought the red was festive!

This combined with dish soap does the trick for removing those pesky ink stains! Give it a try- you will be glad you did! 

MASCULINE MONDAY

Happy Monday everyone!   Today's instalment of "Masculine Monday" features this colourful birthday card!  

Actually I was crafting with friends, and one of them were making daisies with the Big Shot(page 187 $122.95 #113439) and the Bigz daisy die(retired).  She had all these different sized circles as left overs.  

Well my creative mojo had "got up and went", and I was just gabbing with the girls....until I saw the circles.  

I glued the circles on chocolate chip cardstock(page 156 #102128 $8.50) with Tombow(page 177, #110755 $5.25), and then embossed it with the square lattice embossing folder(page189 #119976 $9.95).  

A quick greeting stamped on very vanilla cardstock (page 156 #101650 $9.25) from the Sassy Salutations stamp set(page 143 #126707 $21.95), a bit of sponging, a mat and a few dimensionals(page 177 #104430 $5.25).  A permanent marker and a few pearls(page175 #119247 $6.50) and voila- my card for masculine Monday!  

Here again is proof positive that even those tiny scraps should be saved- you could grab a few different sized circle punches and make your own circles.  A quick change to more feminine colours and this would make a great girl card too!

SATURDAY SHOWCASE

Today I wanted to share with you, two great Christmas cards I received in a swap from other Stampin' Up demonstrators. 

 by Deb Ekert

by Eleanor

SCRAPPIN FRIDAY

This layout has an antique feel....as it should, as this photograph is of my paternal grandmother Mabel Bonar Lewis, her sister Alice Bonar Lewis, and her brother Milster Bonar.  Also in the photo is cherished playmate Jake the puppet.  This phot was taken on the family homestead in Salisbury New Brunswick.  I am unsure as to the date, but my best guess is somewhere around 1931.

I distressed the edges of the paper as well as the title piece.  I tea dyed a piece of lace to make it look old.  A handmade flower and we are done! 

THURSDAY TOOL TALK

We now have Oval Framelits Dies!  You'll find the collection in our new Spring Catalog, on page 4. Ovals Collection Framelits Dies Item #129381 Preferred Price: $32.95 You can also get the bundle on the same page: Oh Hello Bundle includes the oval dies and the Oh Hello stamp set Item#131101 $46.95 Easily cut stamped images from the Oh, Hello Stamp Set. Largest scallop oval: 4-1/4" x 5-1/8". 6 dies.

QUICKIE WEDNESDAY

For this weeks edition of "Quickie Wednesday" I wanted to share with you, a great card I received in a swap. 

This card was designed by fellow demonstrator Donna Dorion. 

She used a piece of the designer series paper Snow Festival for her vertical mat.  She  used whisper white as her base and her horizontal mat.  Her greeting stamp is from the More Merry Messages stamp set, stamped with Marina Mist ink, 

  A quick zip through the big shot with the finishing touches edge-lit gives this a classy feel.  

She also took a piece of white organza ribbon and inked it with marina mist ink so that it would coordinate.  

Thanks for sharing Donna!

TIP TUESDAY

Today, for tip Tuesday, I want to share with you four tools that I must have on my worktable at all times. 

1.  Stamp-a-ma-Jig- I use this on each and every card I make.  Now this takes a bit of getting used to, but you will never have a crooked image or greeting again.  No more wasted cardstock! It allows you to perfectly position you image where you want it. This is found on page 7, item#101049 $15.50

2.  Stampin' Scrub- Extra large size, easily cleans stamps so they are just like new!  This is found on page 15, item#126200 $23.95

3.  Paper Snips- are the absolute best scissors for cutting precisely.  They cut all the way to the tips.  This item is found on page 180, item #103579 $14.95

4.  Tabletop Paper Cutter- Precise and superior straight cuts.  Blade has a five year replacement warranty.  Arm extender so it cuts up to 12 x 12 pages. No little replacement blades to repetitively buy, as with smaller cutters.  This item is found on page 180, item #106959 $64.95

MASCULINE MONDAY

Here is great card for guys of any age.  It features the stamp set called Horse Frontier page 85, item#126347 $17.95.  

Two shades of blue cardstock, an embossing folder to add some texture (I used Argyle page 189, item#127750 $9.95) and a piece of jute twine for the handmade tag make this an easy and appealing card. 

PAPER PUMPKIN....

IT'S A MAGICAL PAPER ESCAPE EVERY MONTH!

Sweep away the mundane-your creativity carriage awaits!

I'm Paper Pumpkin . . .

I come to your door each month (a fully decked-out creativity carriage). I'll help you to escape your life with some paper fun.

I come in a sweet box, but you'll really love what you find on the inside:

All the stamps, ink, paper, and accessories to create pinable projects. Create stuff like cards, journals, décor, and more!

Paper Pumpkin by Stampin' Up! is a new monthly kit program that anyone (even you) can enjoy!

Get Started

It's so easy to get started. Simply sign up for the program starting Monday, January 14 by visiting www.mypaperpumpkin.com and click Get it. Every month a new, surprise project kit arrives at your doorstep. Just think of the anticipation of creating a fun project to pin, showoff, and share with your friends and family-every month!

Of course, you'll want to know more. So here's the nitty gritty:

• Each month we send you a unique, surprise kit with a project-cards, journals, décor, and more! (We've even colour-coordinated, measured, and cut everything for you!)
• Each kit includes stamps, ink, paper, and accessories-everything but adhesive.
• Each kit gives you a 30-minute creativity escape.
• We will ship your Paper Pumpkin on or around the 15th of the month.  
• You need to sign up for a kit by the 10th of the month to get that month's kit. If you sign up on the 11th of the month, your first kit will come the next month. (Let's say you sign up on May 10th, we'll send your kit around May 15th. If you sign up on May 11th, we'll send your first kit around June 15th.)
• A Paper Pumpkin membership $24.95 per month (and shipping is included!) 
• There's no commitment, you can cancel your monthly Paper Pumpkin at anytime. You can also skip a month if you want.

Here's How You Order

Sign up for your monthly Paper Pumpkin starting Monday, January 14 by visiting www.mypaperpumpkin.com and click Get it.

Starting in early March, you can try Paper Pumpkin for one month by visiting our online store.

A Free Gift in Your Very First Kit

The Welcome Kit is the very first Paper Pumpkin you will receive in your first month of membership. The Welcome Kit includes a free gift-a clear acrylic block!

Questions? We've Got Answers

Why are we offering Paper Pumpkin?

Paper Pumpkin is the perfect introduction to Stampin' Up! We designed it for crafters that want to create a project each month, but aren't quite ready to build a stamp collection (yet).

How does shipping work with Paper Pumpkin?

Your Paper Pumpkin will be automatically shipped to you each month (so fun!). Because we are auto shipping these, the pricing structure is slightly different from our other Stampin' Up! products.

SCRAPPIN FRIDAY

This layout uses a circular theme throughout the page.  Even the title follows the circular theme.

A solid background with a coordinating print makes this page visually interesting. 

 A minimalist page...but very visually stimulating. 

I used circle templates to achieve the circles and arcs. 

THURSDAY TOOL TALK

The tool that is the topic of today's post is framelit dies and edgelit dies. 

Have you ever had an issue, when using framelit dies or edgelit dies, that the die moves on you when you are placing it and ruins your cut? 

Well I have 2 solutions for you: 

1. (My personal favorite) use a post it note to hold the die onto the cardstock in the exact position you want. It NEVER tears the cardstock and is strong enough to hold the die in place. 

2.  Use painters tape (make sure you stick it to your pants a few times to remove the tackiness) Many demonstrators use this method successfully....but I have had issues a couple of times when I didn't remove enough of the tack. I know, operator error. :)  

QUICKIE WEDNESDAY

WEDNESDAY'S ARE NOW FOR THAT QUICK CARD YOU NEED IN A HURRY.  

A GREAT BASIC CARD THAT YOU CAN MAKE IN JUST A FEW SHORT MINUTES.  

This card is a great example.  It was made by fellow demonstrator Oona Hayes, and I received this as part of a swap.  

She has used the stamp set Baby Boutique on page 63 of the annual catalog.  Product #126352 $17.95.  

To give this card some great interest and dimension she cut out the focal image with the Labels Framelits on page 190 of the annual catalog Item#125598 $32.95.  

Then she matted the focal image on another die cut shape using patterned paper and the Apothecary Accents framelit on page 191 of the annual catalog.  Item#127003 $31.95.  

A couple of brads is all the card needs.  Quick, easy and a very, very nice card ! 

TIP TUESDAY

FOR THIS WEEKS TIP TUESDAY, I THOUGHT I WOULD COUNT DOWN WITH YOU, MY TOP TEN PICKS FROM THE NEW SPRING MINI. 

HONESTLY, THERE ARE SO MANY GREAT NEW PRODUCTS, IT WAS REALLY HARD FOR ME TO CHOOSE! 

10.  CLOUDY DAY EMBOSSING FOLDER.  PAGE 28- ITEM#127022- $9.95  This is going to be a GREAT background for all kinds of cards! 

9.  HAPPY WHALE CLEARLIT DIE. PAGE 29- ITEM#129403 $9.95  This is soooo cute!  Great for card making and scrapbooking. 

8.  NATURAL BURLAP 7/16 RIBBON.  PAGE 20- ITEM#129287 $8.95  Finally!  A GREAT ribbon for guy cards and for those distressed rough cards and scrap pages. 

7.  THAT'S THE TICKET STAMP SET.  PAGE 27-ITEM#128075 $20.95   Coordinates with the ticket duo punch on page 182 of the annual catalog,,,,great for lots of occasions!

6.  HEXAGON EMBOSSING FOLDER.  PAGE 6- ITEM #129378 $9.95  GREAT folder.....hexagons are a hot trend right now!

5.  BITTY BUTTERFLY PUNCH.  PAGE 13-ITEM #129406 $21.95   The bitty butterfly is the yellow one....the pink butterfly is the elegant butterfly on page 184 of the annual catalog.  I wanted to show you how little this guy really is! 

4.  OCCASIONS PAPER PIERCING PACK  PAGE 27 ITEM#129387 $10.95  Coordinates with all the new framelits and a few of the punches.....LOVE IT! 

3.  SWALLOWTAIL STAMP PAGE 18  ITEM#129216 $16.95  At first I hesitated on whether or not to buy this background stamp.....and boy oh boy am I glad I did!  The detail in this stamp is AMAZING! 

2.  HEARTS A FLUTTER BUNDLE.  PAGE 11  ITEM#131097 $44.95  Yes a bundle is in the number two spot....and these hearts and banners are SUPER!  Yeah Stampin' Up!  

1.  SECRET GARDEN BUNDLE  PAGE 17  ITEM#131099  $44.95  And of course. my number one favourite item is the floral bundle....great stamps and great dies- Stampin' Up! truly hit the mark with this one! 

Well that is my top ten picks.....like I said earlier....LOTS of really. really great products.  Remember to sign up for classes and get your chance to try out some of these great products for yourself!

MASCULINE MONDAY

NEW YEAR, NEW BLOG FORMAT.  

NOW MONDAYS ARE GOING TO BE FOR THE GUYS IN OUR LIVES....FROM THE WEE LITTLEST ONES 

TO THE YOUNG BOYS

TO THE TEENAGERS

TO THE MIDDLE AGED ONES

AND THE  GREY HAIRED WISE ONES

LET'S FACE IT GIRLS, GUY CARDS ARE DIFFICULT BY TIMES....SO MONDAYS ARE NOW GOING TO BE GEARED TO MAKING CARDS FOR THEM.  

IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS FOR GUY CARDS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH MY READERS....EMAIL ME AT SHEL@SHELSCREATIVECORNER.COM.  

COME BACK NEXT MONDAY FOR OUR FIRST CARD!  

SATURDAY SHOWCASE

Today's showcase features swap cards I received in the mail from other Stampin' Up demonstrators.