Meerkat Valentine

What in the world are Meerkats?  When Stampin' Up first introduced the Meerkat stamp in the Sale-a-bration catalogue that was the first time I had ever seen this animal.  So, I did a little research and found the following:

Meerkats are a type of Mongoose who inhabit all parts of the Kalahar Desert in Botswana, in much of the Namid desert in Nambia, in southwestern Angolia, and South Africa.

They are carnivora a spend much of their day foraging for food and digging deep tunnels.

A group is called a gang or a clan and it is not uncommon for  30 or 40 Meerkats to be part of a gang. This the name of the stamp set "The Gang's All Meer"

Being with Stampin' Up sure gives you an education!

The Meerkat stamp set can be quite versatile using it for birthdays, and/or holiday events.  Today the gang is sending a Valentine message to everyone.

The Meerkats were coloured with Light and Dark Crumb cake Stampin' Blends; the sky behind them with a  Pool Party Stampin' Blend.

Using the Dog Builder punch (which has a tiny heart as well as the dog) a Real Red heart was punched for each of the Meerkats and attached to their hands.  Tiny stitch marks were made with a fine tipped black pen around the outside and a small red rhinestone placed in the center of each heart.

The completed scene was die cut with the So Sweetly Stitched Die and adhered to the card front with dimensonals.

The Real Red card base is layered with Whisper White card stock.  A strip of From My Heart DSP with a lace die cut adhered to the bottom and a 1/8" strip of Real Red to the top was added to the middle.

The sentiment, from "Meant to Be", stamped in Real Red ink and die cut with the Be Mine dies, was added to the left side above the strip.  The rest of the sentiment was stamped directly onto the card front below the strip.

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  The Gang's All Meer, Meant to Be

Inks:  Real Red, Black Memento, Stampin' Blends (Light and Dark Crumb Cake, Pool Party), Fine black marker

Papers:  Read Red, Whisper White, From My Heart DSP

Accessories:  Stitched So Sweetly Dies, Delicate Lace Edgelet die, Dog Builder Punch, Be Mine die, Dimensionals, Real Red Rhinestones

A Team Member's Anniversary Card

Anniversaries need to be celebrated, and when my team members reach an anniversary date of the time of their signing up with Stampin' Up I make a special card for them and either give it to them at a meeting of the team, or I mail it to then

In this particular case, this is her two year anniversary with Stampin' Up as well as a member of my team.

Here is the card I made for her.

I apologize for the editing of the pictures.  An editing program I usually use was giving me grief tonight.

I found the "Friendship's Sweetest Thoughts" stamp set when I was sorting through my stamps and thought it would be perfect for an anniversary card.

The base card  is Fresh Fig, layered with Whisper White card stock embossed with the Dot to Dot embossing folder.  At the far left I added a 2" strip of the patterned Vellum from the Floral Romance DSP. On top of that is a Whisper White lacy die cut which was cut using the Delicate Lace Edgelits. On the stitch line of this die cut I added a  piece of 1/8" Fresh Fig ribbon.

Tip: Adhere vellum  using the Sizzix adhesive sheets rather than tape or glue dots.

The image was coloured with ink pads and a blender pen.

 Tip: With the new ink pads it is difficult to 'squeeze' ink onto the inside of the lid. If ink is needed for colouring with a blender pen etc. place a clear acrylic block onto the ink pad and use the ink from that for colouring.

The image was die cut using the layering oval framelits and matted with a scallop oval in Fresh Fig card stock.  The two layers were adhered together using dimensionals..

The sentiment is from "Best Birds" and is stamped in Fresh Fig ink.  A triple bow is added to the left of the sentient with a glue dot.

To finish the card, I added tiny pearls to the center of each flower, and 3 larger pearls that I coloured with a Blackberry Bliss stampin' blend.  Some clear Wink of Stella was added to the canopy, flowers and cart.

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Friendship's Sweetest Thoughts, Best Bird

Inks:  Black Memento, Sahara Sand, Fresh Fig, Petal Pink, Pear Pizzazz, Mossy Meadow

Papers:  Fresh Fig, Whisper White, Floral Romance DSP

Accessories:  Layering Oval Framelits, Delicate Lace Edgelits, 1/8" Fresh Fig ribbon, Wink of Stella , Pears, Dot to Dot Embossing Folder, Blender Pen  

Hearts Pop Up

For some reason I'm in a 'pop up' kick, making cards that pop up , pop out or explode upon opening. Yesterday I posted a panel pop up featuring "Hey Love" here; and on Sunday an explosion card here.

Today's card is also a pop-up (or pop out), but the pop out's are hearts attached together.

Card Front

The card base is a Thick Whisper White top fold layered with Lovely Lipstick embossed with the Lace embossing folder.

    

On the upper portion I add 2 Whisper White stitched scallop hearts frames left over from another project.

The sentiment, from "Be Mine", was stamped in Lovely Lipstick, and punched using the Pretty Label punch.  To complete the front, two pearls are added on both sides of the sentiment.

Open the card, and out pops 4 hearts attached together.

Here's how to make the heart pop up insert: (The sample below is done using copy paper so as not to use up all my DSP)

1.  Start with a piece of desired paper 8 by 8" (size may vary depending on the pop up)

2.  Fold in half, with the open ends facing down.

3.  Fold right corner down to bottom open ends followed by the left corner

4.  Place selected die to the upper folds, so that the cut edge is just barely over the fold.  You should see a very tiny open space.  Here I use the Sweet and Sassy heart framelit.

5.  Tape in place and run through Big Shot.

6.  Refold.  Place in inside of card  and position lower heart where you want it.  Adhere.  Add adhesive to the top heart, close card and your pop up is adhered in the card.

You can stamp a sentiment in the center of the inside if you wish.

Supplies Used:

Stamp: Meant to Be

Inks:  Lovely Lipstick

Papers:  Thick Whisper White, Whisper White, Love Me DSP, Lovely Lipstick

Accessories:  Lace Embossing folder, Delicate Lace Edgelit, Be Mine Stitched Framelits, Pretty Label punch, Pearls, Sweet & Sassy Framelits

Hey Love Pop Up Panel Card

Valentine's Day is fast approaching! But before that romantic day I have classes the topic of which is, of course, Valentine's Day.  So, I've been busy making cards and treat holders.  I'll post a card today, treat holders later.

This card features the "Hey Love" stamp set in a Pop Up panel card.

Card Front

Inside Pop Up Panel

Card Front

This A2 card has a Whisper White card stock base layered with Lovely Lipstick and then Whisper White card stock.  A 1 1/4" strip of Love Me DSP is added to the Whisper White layer and on top of that is the focal point of the card.

Using the stamparatus, the characters of the "Hey Love" stamp set are stacked one on top of the other - the Ape (being the largest) is on the bottom, the hamster (?) on top.  They are coloured with Stampin' Blends.  Delicate Lace die cuts are adhered to both long sides of this panel.

Inside:

Open the card and a panel pops out.

A 1 by 8 1/2" strip in Basic Black is folded in half and then each half is folded in towards the center. Each end is adhered to the opposite ends of the inside of the card . It provides the base for which the image pieces are attached.  And because the strip is shorter than the inside of the card, the strip pops up when the card is opened. 

The images are stamped on a 1 7/8 square piece of Whisper White matted with a 2" square of Lovely Lipstick.  They are adhered to the Basic Black strip at the centers only.  Below are close up of these images.

"Happy Valentine's Day"  and some hearts are stamped above and below the panel. 

Supplies Used:

Stamp:  Hey Love

Inks:  Black Memento, Stampin' Blends, Lovely Lipstick

Papers:  Whisper White, Lovely Lipstick, Basic Black, All My Love DSP

Accessories:  Classic Label punch, Delicate Lace Edgelits, Stamparatus

Fun Fold Tropical Escape Birthday

This is a really a fun fold. It allows you to show off some off any of our beautiful DSP  For today's card I used the Tropical Escape DSP and even made an embellishment from images in the paper.

In the above picture the card is closed but you can see the beautiful embellishment.  Opening up the card reveals the different patterns in the DSP.

Here's how to make this fun fold:

• Start with a 5 1/2 by 10 1/2" piece of Thick Whisper White card stock
• Score at 5 1/2, 6 3/4, 8 and 9 1/4.  Starting at the left side, fold as follows:  mountain, valley, mountain and valley.  Burnish with a bone folder
• Add DSP matted with Basic Black  and the Whisper White using the following measurements:

Basic Black card stock:  

(1) 4 1/4 by 5 1/4"

(2) 2 1/8 by 5 1/4

(2) 1 1/8 by 5 1/4"

DSP (Tropical Escape)

(1) 4 by 5"

(2) 2 by 5

(2) 1 by 5

Whisper White

(1) 1 3/4 by 5 1/4

Make the embellishment:

Cut 3 palm leaves and 3 flowers (pink) from the DSP.

Punch a 1 1/4" scallop circle which will be the base for the leaves and flowers

Sponge leaves with Granny Apple Green ink ; the flowers with Petal Pink ink.

Using an Emerald Green marker, make markings on the inside of each flower.

Shape the leaves and the flowers.

Using a hot glue gun (you can use tombo if you wish) attach the leaves to the scallop circle base and cluster the flowers at the base of the leaves. Add a black rhinestone to the center of each flower.

Adhere to only half of the first mountain fold from the center.  The embellishment should extend over the edge. ( see first picture)

Die cut a  Delicate Lace Edgelit in Granny Apple green and adhere to first panel. 

• The sentiment, stamped with Black Memento, was die cut using the rectangular, notched framelit from "Farmhouse Christmas"
• Stamp birthday sentiment from "Bunch of Blossoms"

Close the card and wrap a 5/8" white polka do ribbon around the end fold the keep the card closed.  An alternative would be to make a belly band.

Supplied Used:

Stamps:  Painted Glass, Bunch of Blossoms

Inks:  Black Memento, Granny Apple Green, Petal Pink, Emerald Green Marker, Stampin Up Blends

Papers:  Thick Whisper White, Whisper White, Basic Black, Tropical Escape DSP, Granny Apple Green

Accessories:  Stained Glass Thinlets, Delicate Lace Edgelits, Festive Farmhouse Framelit Dies, Black Rhinestones, 5/8" white organza polka dot ribbon

Tent Grace Glass Vellum Sympathy card

This unique card fold would make a wonderful birthday or thank you card, but I chose to make it a sympathy card.  The card stands alone and because I am using the Grace Vellum paper,  a battery operated tea candle can be inserted in the card.

I used the tutorial from Splitcoaststampers  here for directions on how to make this card

The front of this 5 by 10 card was embossed with the Striped Scallop embossing folder (Pg. 223 Annual Catalogue) and then a rectangular aperture was die cut using the Layering Square framelits (Pg. 218).

The Grace Glass Vellum piece, after coloring with blends, was adhered in this aperture.  On both sides a strip of one of the delicate lace edgelits (Pg. 217) was added.

On the inside I added a 5 by 4" piece of Whisper White card stock scored at 1,2,3" on the 4" side (which is mountain and valley folded) adhering it to the front and back of the card.

On the left side 2 branches of Garden green sprigs punched using the "Sprig punch". Three Petal Pink flowers punched with the retired Petite flower punch were added randomly along these sprigs.  A rhinestone was placed in the center of each flower.

The sentiment is from the Painted Glass stamp set.

Supplies used:

Stamp:  Painted Glass

Inks:  Black Memento, Stampin Up Blends

Papers:  Whisper White, Grace Vellum, Petal Pink, Garden Green

Accessories:  Layering square framelits, Striped Scallop embossing folder, Delicate Lace Edgelits, Sprig punch, Petite Flower punch (retired), rhinestones

Something for Baby - SUO Challenges #206

The challenge with SUO here Babies & Kids came at a perfect time.  I'm doing a craft show the end of October, and was in need of an item for a baby shower.

So, for this challenge I decorated a white gift bag I purchased for a baby shower - a girl.

It was not a project I put together in a few hours.  It took longer than I anticipated, but I am a bit of a perfectionist.

I started by placing a 2" strip of Petal Pink card stock down the center.  At the top I folded over a flap, rounded the corners, and placed a Nordic Designer button (retired) on it and on the band below looking as if  this was keeping the bag closed.  I also folded the Petal Pink strip over at the bottom.

Before adhering the Petal Pink strip to the bag front,  I added a strip of Sparkle glimmer paper die cut to each side using the Delicate Lace Framelits,

Below the lower button I added a 2 by 6" piece of Twinkle, Twinkle DSP, the bottom end of which was die cut using the Triple punch.

On a separate piece of Whisper White card stock, and using the Stamparatus, the Baby Bear was triple stamped , using Crumb Cake (stamped off), Crumb Cake, and Early Espresso inks.  This image was die cut using a circle framelit  Before removing the die cut image from the circle framelit, I stippled around the periphery of the image using Crumb Cake ink. It was added to the front of the bag using dimensionals.

To finish the bear I tied a left over piece of ruffled powder pink ribbon with pink Baker's Twine and adhered this to the bear's neck.

The baby shoes were made using a template you can find here.  They were made using Twinkle, Twinkle DSP with the image of the baby deer from "A Good Day" stamped and colored with blends on the front of each she. They are held closed with the new metallic brads, and on t"he opposite side I added a pink "Blossom Element".  I used the white tea room ribbon around the bottom of each shoe, and then tied a piece into a bow and adhered this to the shoe front above the stamped image.  Using a 1/8" hand held punch I punched a hole in the inside part of each shoe and used thick white Baker's twine to tie the shoes to the bag handle.

On the other handle I designed a gift card.

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Baby Bear, A Good Day

Inks:  Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Night of Navy (deer on shoes), Petal Pink blend

Papers:  Whisper White, Twinkle, Twinkle DSP, Glimmer paper, Petal Pink card stock

Accessories:  1/8" Team Room Ribbon (white), Ruffled powder Pink ribbon (scrap piece)  Pink/white Baker's twine, Nordic designer buttons (retired), thick white Baker's twine, 1/8" hand held punch, Triple punch, Circle framelit, Delicate Lace Framelits, Stamparatus, purchased white gift bag.

Wonderful Moments - a Wedding Card

This card was inspired by one I saw on Pinterest, but I added a few of my own design features.

I needed some wedding cards, plus I wanted to try the new Delicate Lace Edgelits I just received.

The image of the bride was stamped on a separate piece of Whisper White card stock and coloured her using watercolor pencils and a blender pen. She was then cut out. 

An extra bouquet of flowers was stamped, coloured, cut out and then placed on top of the bride's bouquet using a small dimensional.

As an addition to the bride's dress, I cut a strip of wedding tulle and tied it in a bow and added it to it's back.  If you look carefully you can see it.  

The bride was then added to the card front, which was a piece of Whisper White embossed with the Tufted Embossing folder with one end die cut with the new Delicate Lace Edgelit.  Some Whisper White polka dot tulle ribbon was added at the edge of the die cut. 

This embossed Whisper White card stock was backed with Basic Black card stock, and added to the Basic Card base of Basic Black also layered with Whisper White. Rhinestone embellishments were added to each of the tufted corners.

Supplies Used:

Stamp:  Wonderful Moments

Inks:  Black Memento, SU Markers (Powder Pink, Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green, Flirty Flamingo)

Papers:  Basic Black, Whisper White

Accessories:  5/8" Whisper white Polka Dot Tulle ribbon, Tufted embossing folder Delicate Lace Edgelits, rhinestones, Tulle (non SU), Blender pen, dimensionals.

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