Saturday Showcase- This little piggie.....

Here is a quick and easy card that I recently made for a SUDSOL challenge: 

This card is 4" x4" base in pacific point cardstock.  The mat layer is real red,  The image is from the soon to retire Button Buddies stamp set and he was stampin in pumpkin pie ink.  His nose is a red button.  The greeting is from the Around Array stamp set. 

Thursday Tool Talk- Dry Embossing on Vellum

I wanted to take a minute to share with you a great tip for embossing vellum.  

This great sample is by Andrea Walford

Here is another sample I found on Google Images- no creator found. 

Our cardstock vellum is found on page 160 item #101856 $7.95 Quantity of 20 sheets 8 1/2" x11"

The beautiful translucent nature of this cardstock makes a beautiful addition to any card or scrapbook page.   I personally love embossed butterflies made of vellum. 

Sometimes, when embossing vellum with an embossing folder, you may find that the pressure is too much for the delicate vellum and it cuts the vellum.  

Here is my solution:  

Multipurpose platform with 2 tabs open
cutting plate
embossing folder with vellum and a piece of paper towel inside
cutting plate

I have heard that a piece of copy paper can replace the paper towel, but I have not tried it yet. 

Quickie Wednesday- something different to start out a new month....

Here is a quick card I made using a new Vintage Card Kit from Archivers, that I received in the mail.  

It contains a set of five Tim Holtz Blueprint stamps, a pack of Bo Bunny Mamarazzi 6"x6" paper and  Bazzill cardstock for the bases.  

Here is my first card using the telephone stamp: 

I love the simple graphics and the male themed, distressed  papers.  Something totally different for me....but every once in a while, I need to change things up a bit.  Hope you like it. 

Tip Tuesday- Storage- Part Four of Four- Reinkers

Reorganizing Ink Refills

from STAMPIN' UP BLOG

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MESSY MONDAY – REORGANIZING INK REFILLS

For a long time I stored my Classic Stampin’ Ink Refills on the top of my Color Caddy. Makes sense—the bottle colors were supposed to be in the container above the row of corresponding ink pad colors. However, when I needed one I would end up looking through many (if not all the bottles in that section)—twice—to find the one I wanted to use. Sometimes I wouldn’t find it at all because I didn’t return it to the proper location the last time it was used. (It seems like a silly thing to be frustrated over, but there you go!)

 So, a while back I decided that it was time to reorganize my refills! My thought process . . . will I organize them by spectrum? Where will I put them? How can they be easily accessed?

Here was my solution!

Each color family is in its own placon box—and to my surprise, they all fit together . . . nice and snug! They don’t slide around, turn upside down, or end up out of order (heaven forbid)! And— because the cute factor IS important—I added labels to the boxes with theLabels Collection Framelits Dies and my favorite cardstock color from each color family. (Tip: To protect the label from getting dirty, die cut a label Window Sheet piece to attach over the top.) 

Of course, with the new storage boxes coming out, and new colors, I knew it was already time for an update. And, wouldn’t you know—MDS is here to help me, too! There is a new download called “Label This Craft Room.” It is a great tool for organizing your craft room/space supplies. This time, I made the font my favorite color and printed on Whisper White Cardstock. 

See the Label Your Craft Room download here.

I hope this little tidbit has helped—and that when you can buy the new storage boxes on May 31, you’ll be just as excited to organize. I have certainly wanted to use my refills more often now that I can find the one I need in a jiff!

Angie B.
Sr. Concept Artist

Masculine Monday- for the little guy- Guest Stamper Carole A

Today I wanted to share a great card with you by guest stamper Carole A.  

Carole made this card for her Great Grandson Wyatt's third birthday.  

It features the stamp set Little Friends on page 52 #122667 $21.95 and one of our new Photopolymer stamp sets called Designer Type #132956 $16.95.

I love how she totally customized this card by using the banners to put his name on the card, as well as making it a learning tool so he can count the 1's to add up to three.  Love It!  

Thanks so much for sharing your work and inspiring others!  

SCRAPBOOKING TIPS FROM STAMPIN' UP

Today I wanted to take a minute to share with you a great article for scrapbookers that was recently featured on the Stampin' Up! blog.  
It gives great tips and tricks for journalling, something we all struggle with from time to time. 
Hope you enjoy it! 
Documenting April + a few tips and tricks

from STAMPIN' UP BLOG

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DOCUMENTING APRIL + A FEW TIPS AND TRICKS

It’s April! Things are starting to green up and bloom, we are spending more time outside playing . . . or at least we did last year. This year our April has been cold and snowy and I am still waiting for my tulips and the trees in my yard to bloom. Oh well. I so loved working on my pages for April. I say that every month, but it’s true. I love it! There is so much satisfaction in documenting these memories so I will never forget.  

I am getting a little more adventurous with my journaling. I really don’t like my handwriting but I decided to suppress my perfectionist instincts this month and just go for it. I am happy to say that it wasn’t as painful as I had feared. I actually like having some handwriting on my pages.  

This month I have put together some ideas and tricks to help get you started documenting your life.

1. Fill a card with journaling. If there is a design on the card . . . just journal around it. Don’t want to fill up the whole card? Draw a frame around the card with a Stampin’ Write Marker.

2. Journal around an object. Here I used the uni-ball Signo Gel Pen to journal around the frame on this Happy Easter card. I love the white handwriting on the black card!


3. Don’t be afraid to add journaling to a card . . . even if it doesn’t look like it was made for journaling.



4. Add fun bold type over your photo using My Digital Studio. The font I used here is Abadi MT for “play” and Arial for the ampersand.



5. Add a frame of journaling around a photo.


6. Use the pattern on the Designer Series Paper for journaling.


7. Make the page protector work for you. Here I cut out the long horizontal photo strip on the page protector and just sewed the pieces I wanted to use back together.


8. Make a fun envelope to hold the journaling on subjects that are close to your heart.



9. Color on your washi tape. I love, love, love, washi tape. To add a different look to the gray-striped Epic Day This and That Designer Washi Tape, I colored it with Melon Mambo and Lucky Limeade Stampin’ Write Markers.



10. Add a journaling card in an unexpected way. Originally this journaling card was 3" x 4" with lines on it for journaling. I love the hello sunshine sunburst, so I just cut off the bottom part and added the top part to my card. (I can use the bottom part later.)



11. Add a little dimension and flair. I made this little flair button by running the large Soda Pop Tops through the Big Shot. It is then the perfect size for a little saying punched out with the 1" Circle Punch.

I hope this helps to get you inspired to dive in and start recording the moments in your life.

Arika B.
Concept Artist

National Scrapbook Day- Saturday May 4th- Special Event

Hi Everyone! 

It is almost that time again....are you ready?  

National Scrapbooking Day is Saturday May 4th!  

What will you be doing to celebrate?  

Well I am hosting my monthly POTLUCK FREE CROP from 10 am to 4 pm....this is usually only open to girls who attend my classes....but this month, in celebration of National Scrapbook Day.....I am going to open it to EVERYONE.

I say the more, the merrier.  Now if you are not a scrapbooker, but a cardmaker, you can still join us. 

I look at this as a fun day of creating and friendship. 

Now seating is limited....so you must contact me to reserve your seat.

You bring your own projects and supplies and something to contribute to the potluck lunch. Suggestions are sandwiches, cheese and pickles, chips and dip, veggies and dip, or a dessert.  

Tea coffee and water are supplied all day long. 

Hope you can join us!

SCRAPPIN FRIDAY- JUKEBOXES AND ROLLER SKATES

Tutorial Thursday- Pom Poms - three kinds!

Stampin' Up! have done it again!  

They have shared with us three great ways to make Pom Poms!  

This great trend was hot in the 60's and are recently making a comeback in the crafting world! 

Be sure to share with me the ways you have used these pom pom's in your crafts!

Just follow the easy steps pictured below.


If you would like to create a garland, just thread a needle with a length of Baker’s Twine and run it through the pom poms.
*****
After I finished making the Baker’s Twine pom poms, I began to wonder what would happen if I wound 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon around a fork instead of Baker’s Twine. To my surprise, the result looked very much like a marigold!
Then I thought: How can I create a bigger pom pom flower? The old-fashioned way: using cardboard donut shapes made with super-thin white cardboard, a 2-1/2" Circle Punch, a 1/2" Circle Punch, and our Daffodil Delight 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon. When I finished winding, cutting, and tying, out popped a daffodil . . . just the thing for embellishing a Mother’s Day gift! (Believe me . . . I don’t usually get this lucky!)




I could have kept going with flower-making . . . but then I saw a paper pom pom garland on Pinterest. I HAD to try that, too. The result: today’s Tricky Tip features three ways to make small pom pom projects—using Baker’s Twine, 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon, and Designer Series Paper. They are all so easy and fun!

Retired List Contest Winner

Here are my guesses for the 12 retiring stamp sets;

1) stylin snowfolk pg 16
2)christmas blessings pg19
3)day of gratitude pg27
4)topsy turvey celebration pg 41
5)every little bit pg 53
6)dress up pg 67
7) word play pg135
8) clock works pg 105
9)gently falling pg 86
10) papaya collage pg 75
11)build a blossom pg 95
12) silver setting pg 109 Dorothy 

That is 8/12 for Dorothy! Great Job! 

Well here is my list ?!?

Open Sleigh

Animal Talk

Fabulous You

Topsy Turvey Celebration

Hand Knit

Button, Button

Daring Adventure

Postage due

Hoop La La

Nature's Pace

Established Elegance

One In a Million

These are my guesses based entirely on my likes/dislikes!  See what Happens!  Carole

That is 8/12 for Carole!  Another Great Job! 

Geez I hate when this happens.  You both did so well.  

As per my contest guidelines, I am going to use random generator to choose a winner. To be fair I will give you each numbers as you entered the contest. 

Carole entered first so her number is one, and Dorothy entered second, so her number is two. (I had other entries, but they did not have as many correct as these girls did, or they were late entries and did not qualify)

Ok, drumroll please....and the winner of the ribbon cutter is: 

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:1Powered by RANDOM.

Congratulations Carole!

Quickie Wednesday

For this edition of Quickie Wednesday, I wanted to share this super easy card with you:

  

I ran the white cardstock through an embossing folder and then grabbed a sponge and some ink and touched the raised areas. I used a decorative corner punch to jazz up the corners a bit.  The butterfly was embossed and pearls added. The decorative label punch for the greeting was layered.  If you want to know how this layering is done....just email me for the directions-Shel@shelscreativecorner.com

Tip Tuesday- Storage Part Three of Four

Here is part three of four in our Storage Series from Stampin' Up!

As much as I love my surroundings to be clean and organized, I am a hopelessly messy crafter. The busier I am, the bigger the messes I make. I’m always on the hunt for cute storage items that I can use to help keep me organized.
There are certain things that I love to keep close at hand—Paper Snips, a Bone Folder, SNAIL Adhesive, coloring & splattering tools, and the new Remember This and That Rotary Stamp.
In the dollar section of the local discount store, I found these darling metal buckets. They’re a great height for Stampin’ Write Markers and other tools. Using Basic Black Cardstock, the uni-ball Signo Gel Pen, the Big Shot, and Window Frames Collection Framelits, I created little chalkboard labels.

Now I can keep my essential supplies close at hand, while also attempting to be less messy. Feel free to share your thoughts on how you keep your space organized. (I need all the help I can get!)

Here’s to a Tidy Tuesday, a Well-Kept Wednesday, and a Flawless Friday!

Masculine Monday

Here is a great masculine card I made for a swap.  

I texturized the cardstock with the lattice embossing folder. 

The ribbon slide is actually a recycled pop can tab.  These can easily be colored with nail polish or permanent markers. How fun and great for the environment! 

Have you got any recycling tips for cardmaking or scrapbooking that you want to share?  Email me at shel@shelscreativecorner.com....I would love to hear from you!