Lovely As A Tree

This was Stamp Club week and I was taking requests - for a sympathy card, note cards and the technique using the Woodlands embossing folder.  Unfortunately, 2 of the gals who made the requests were unable to make it this week!!  Oh well, such is life.  This is such a busy time of year.

This sympathy card was so easy to make but was a big hit with everyone.  It uses everyone's favorite stamp set, Lovely As A Tree.  The sympathy sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes.  First I stamped the trees on Smoky Slate with Basic Gray ink and punched out a hole using the 1 1/4" Circle Punch.  Stamp the tree on a scrap of Soft Saffron and line up the trees on the scrap behind the trees on the Smoky Slate piece.  Trim the scrap of Saffron so it doesn't peek out at the top, bottom or sides.  Mat the whole thing on a piece of Soft Saffron.  It gives the illusion that you have stamped those trees on the large piece of Saffron.  

The next card uses the Woodland embossing folder.  I rubbed Soft Sky ink all over the embossing folder (on the side that has "Sizzix" in the top corner).  Next I stamped the trees (Lovely As A Tree) with Chocolate Chip ink directly on the embossing folder.  I used a Q Tip to go over the birch trees and removed some of the ink off of them.  Next I inserted a piece of white card stock in the folder and ran it through theb Shot.  If you want your trees whiter, you can use a dauber and rub some White ink over them.  Use the Chocolate Chip marker to make the marks on the birch tree.  The sentiment on my card is from a previous Paper Pumpkin kit.

We also made a Note Card Portfolio with note cards and envelopes.  I'll be sharing those later.

Lovely As A Tree in the Snow!

I got up this morning looking for a yard full of snow BUT .... none!  All morning all that was on TV was weather reports about the big storm that we were supposed to get.  The governor gave a press conference this morning and had the National Guard, Dept. of Transportation, and I don't remember who else but it was crazy!!  Charlotte started getting the snow around 9 or 10:00.  I was still looking for it.  Finally around 1:00 pm it started and it snowed for hours.  Actually it is still coming down as I am writing this (10:30 pm) with sleet mixed in.  I'm going to try and talk Sonny in taking a walk with me tomorrow.  He wouldn't today - said it was too cold!!  It is really beautiful.  The last time I measured it was 4"  It is supposed to snow/sleet all night tapering off tomorrow afternoon.

Snow after about an hour

My footsteps down the driveway checking for mail at 4:30 - no delivery! 

Still coming down (4:30 pm)

4" at 4 pm after 3 hours of snow

So what is a gal to do when she is snowed in?  Make a few cards and that is just what I did.  I had fun playing with some of my stamps and dies from Saleabration and the Occasions catalog that I had not had time to play with yet.  I'll be sharing those with you in the next few days.

But first I pulled out "old faithful," Lovely As A Tree.  This is such a great stamp set.  It has been around since I started with SU 9 years ago and Shelli told us at convention last summer that it would probably never retire!  I have a real good friend that is going through some major health issues and is having to do chemo this week.  I made this card for her.

I taped off the middle area and sponged Soft Sky at the top, Old Olive in the middle and Always Artichoke at the bottom.  Next I stamped the trees in Old Olive and Always Artichoke.  Finally I stamped the trees in Memento Black.  The card is matted with Always Artichoke and finally matted onto River Rock card stock.

More Christmas Card SAS

I've been working fast and furiously on my Christmas Stamp a Stack for Saturday and Monday.  I have the cards made, the packages bundled up and I am now working on some great door prizes!  I love giving my customers and friends special hand made gifts.   Here are a few more of the cards we will be making on Saturday.

Christmas tree from Lovely As A Tree

Gift Card Holder - Starbucks anyone?

Cute little elf shoes made from the Top Note Die!!

Drier Sheets

I had my Stamping Club last Thursday and was busy preparing for it.  My Tuesday group meets this week.  Those dates threw me off!  My clubs meet on the 3rd Tuesday & 3rd Thursday.  Well, this month (and next), the 3rd Thursday comes before the 3rd Tuesday!  We did two cards together and then I had optional cards for them to choose from.

I taught the Drier Sheet Technique and they loved it!  Half of the group did the card using Lovely As A Tree and the other half did the card using Easy Events.

• Using White Craft Ink, stamp a small leaf background all over Night of Navy card.  Set aside to DRY!
• Using Labels Die and the Big Shot, cut out Labels in Cherry Cobbler, Night of Navy and the SU Adhesive Sheets.
• Stamp birds from Easy Events onto white card stock and color with markers.
• Using Labels Die, cut out the white bird label.
• Adhere SU Adhesive Sheet  on TOP of the stamped image.
• Peel off the top protective sheet & adhere a USED drier sheet on top.  Trim the edges. 
•  Pour glitter on top of the drier sheet using your fingers to rub it in.
• Stamp sentiment on white scrap and punch out with Oval Punch.  Adhere red rhinestone.

This card uses the same technique.  The colors I used are River Rock and Night of Navy.

 I realized today that I never posted my Stamping Queens Sketch on Wednesday.  It's funny - I wrote a post with the intention of posting the card.  I was watching TV at the time and I guess I got distracted because I now see that I posted one of the cards for Stamp Club!!  See - I tell you, I'm losing it!!  


I used My Digital Studio to create this card.  But, you could make it without MDS.  It uses the DSP and one of the stamps from Saleabration, Everyday Enchantment and  Fresh Vintage.  I used Calypso Coral card stock for the base.

 Here is another card using Fresh Vintage.  This is a very simple card to make:

It is a white on white card.  I used my Corner Rounder Punch on the top layer.  The flower is stamped in Cherry Cobbler.  The trim on the bottom is stamped and embossed in Gold.  A great sympathy card or you could change the colors and ribbon and make it bright and colorful for a birthday or other occasion.

 I

November Club Projects

I had my Stampin' Club meeting this week and I think everyone enjoyed the projects we made.  I did it a little different this month mainly for my Thursday group which is larger than Tuesday's group.  They all made the 3D project and a shaker card but were able to pick the 3rd card they wanted to make.  I had made 4-5 cards with instructions and they chose their favorite.  At the next club meeting, I will have the same kits available (except for the Christmas cards) for their choice as well as doing a couple of projects that all will make together.  I am trying to eliminate the problem of everyone sitting around and waiting for the punch, stamp, ink, etc.  If I can just train them to read the instructions that are sent to them and printed out, it would be a snap!  

I haven't taken a picture yet of the 3D project that we did so I will share it later.

The shaker card is taken from the mini catalog because it is just so cute!!  They did have an option of including another stamp image inside the card but most used the little girl from Gift Givers.  Using the Shaker Rounds from the mini sure makes this an easy card to make.

Here are a few of the cards my gals chose:

Lovely As A Tree - done in purple and in Not Quite Navy and glittered.

This one looks so much better in real life.  The medallion in the middle is cut out and popped up and the whole thing is glittered with Dazzling Details

A great fall card but we will make this also in the winter and just substitute the saying for something else.  The Crumb Cake rectangle is stamped using my E clear block.  The stamp set is French Foliage.

I'm excited!  We will be going to the airport tonight to pick Ashley up.  She will be here for 10 days which I am sure will fly by.  We are having a family dinner at an Irish pub/restaurant with my mom, my sister, Angela, Marianne and her family.  I was hoping my brother could come but he will be working tomorrow in the mountains somewhere.