Christmas Stamp A Stack Cards.....

Thought I'd share with you one of the cards that we made tonight at the Christmas Stamp a Stack.  (Jo, we were thinking of you). 

This card is really simple to create, it just takes a bit of time to stick the buttons onto the card stock for the ornament, which very cleverly is actually on the inside of the card.

See? 

Here is a close up of the sentiment at the top, and the clear button with DSP behind, tied off with some kitchen string, which I am loving at the moment, because it is fantastic match for Very Vanilla.

Stamp Set:: Christmas Greetings

Card Stock: Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla

Ink:  Old Olive

Other: Jolly Holiday DSP, Old Olive Grosgrain, Clear Buttons, Button Die, Kitchen String, Ornament Punch, Polka Dot embossing folder.

Happy Stamping......Manda

Hmmmmm........What are these????

If you would like to find out what's in these little pillow boxes, come along to my Stamp-a-Stack of Christmas cards tomorrow night.  $20.00 for 9 cards, 3 each of 3 designs.  If you're interested, email me and I'll give you more details. 

Happy Stamping......Manda

Happy Birthday G!....

One of the things that I love about Stampin' Up! is that it is sooooooo easy to create a fantastic looking gift and matching card. Why?  Because everything co-ordinates so beautifully.  Last night I visited some friends where the husband is having a birthday soon (waving at you M and G!), and I wanted to package his present nicely.  I whipped out some 12 x 12 Real Red card stock and the Celebrations DSP and this is what I came up with.

I made a simple box base out of the hard card backing from the DSP packet, and then wrapped the Real Red card around it.  I had to add a second panel, as the 12 x 12 wasn't quite wide enough to go around the base of the box.  Then I covered each side of the box with DSP, punched a couple of holes for eyelets on the sides, added a ribbon handle and ta dah - a wine bottle gift bag.  Make sure that you use Sticky Strip though!

And here is the matching card, using the matching stamp set, Party this Way.

Stamp Set: Party This Way

Card Stock: Real Red, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White

Ink: Real Red, Wild Wasabi, Bashful Blue, Pacific Point

Other: Antique Brass Eyelets, Real Red 5/8 Grosgrain ribbon, Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch

Happy Stamping........Manda

Vintage Vogue Scrapbooking.....





Thought I'd share with you some scrapbooking that I have found photo's of, that I haven't posted, and that features a still current stamp set. This is another page from the scrapbook for my sister that I showed you lots of earlier.  I decided that after 20 odd posts, you were probably over scrapbooking, but this is one of my favourite pages, and is it uses Vintage Vogue, and the matching wheel, I decided to show you. 

 Here is a close up of the flowers, I've layered creamy caramel (retired) with Baja Breeze and Very Vanilla to create them.  And here is the finished page.  The sentiment along the Baja strip reads "Life happens.  Love helps."

Believe in the Garden.....

I have recently had the sad job of making 50 thank you cards to be sent out to friends and family by my mother-in-law, thanking them for their thoughts and prayers on the untimely passing of my father-in-law.

So I reached for my favourite set from the new IBC, Just Believe, and with colours chosen by my MIL, this is what I came up with (this is just the first 20).

I wanted to keep them rather flat, to make posting them easier, and as requested, there was no ribbon, or frilly bits.  That was a bit of a challenge for me, (I love ribbon and frilly (ready blingy) bits!), so I went with the torn edge for interest and I'm pleased with the final design.  I used markers direct to rubber, to create the multi-coloured image.

Stamp Set: Just Believe

Card Stock: Crumb Cake, Garden Green, Whisper White

Ink: Crumb Cake, Garden Green

Other: Garden Green, More Mustard, Riding Hood Red Stamp'n'Write Markers

Happy Stamping.......Manda

Inviting......

Thought I'd share with you a set on invitations that I've made up for the Gone Dotti Shop at Paddington.  (see link on my side bar!).

They feature several of the stamps from the new set called Inviting.  I have to say that while I am a die hard wood block lover, there are times when I am really appreciating the clear block option, and this is one of them.  Believe it or not, the image below has 3 individual stamps from the set laid out on the clear block. This allows you to stamp the entire image at once, maintaining the same distance and arrangement for all of the invites.

The little bags that I have made to go with the invites are to be used as little 'party bags' and they are just big enough to fit in a few little treats.  Just the way to end a party!  And I love being able to co-ordinate my thank you's with the invites.

Stamps: Inviting, Perfect Punches

Card stock: Kiwi Kiss, Cameo Coral (both retired), Whisper White

Ink: Rose Red

Happy Stamping......Manda

Dasher Again.....

Gotta love Dasher, he is just so easy to work with. 

This is basically the same card as the one a couple of posts ago, but this time I've changed the base colour, and chosen a different DSP combination.  I added the large oval behind the modern label punch because I felt that the Old Olive disappeared into the DSP.  I really like the way that these two punches work together, and it's a combination that I'll be using again (love it when I find another use for something!)

Card stock:  Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla

Ink: Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler

Stamps: Dasher, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Other: Word Window, Modern Label and Wide Oval Punches, Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon, Kitchen String, Cherry Cobbler Button, Jolly Holiday DSP.

Happy Stamping......Manda

Here 'tis.......

 Now that the ink has dried on the brayer (he he he), I thought I'd show you the full card that I teased you with the sneak peek of yesterday. 

I love the look of non-traditional colours on Christmas cards, and this one uses two of the new In Colours, Blushing Bride and Concord Crush. 

The technique that we learnt with this card is one that I've called Coloured Embossing Folders, though I'm sure that I'm not the first to use this technique, nor will it be the correct name.  All we did was load up the Concord Crush ink on the brayer, roll it over the negative side of the embossing folder, and then run it through the Big Shot normally.  The ink, because it is a water based ink, rinses straight off the embossing folder under running water, and then the folder is as good as new.

Card stock: Blushing Bride, Whisper White

Ink:  Blushing Bride, Concord Crush

Stamp: Christmas Classics

Embellishments: Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Concord Crush Stamp'n'Write marker, Dazzling Diamonds, Dimensionals, Blushing Bride Poly-Twill Ribbon.

Happy Stamping.......Manda

Is this teasing?.......

Here is sneak peak of one of the cards we are making at tomorrows class.  Thanks to my 2 clever followers who guessed the technique!!  Stay tuned for the full photo in the next day or so.

Happy Stamping......Manda

Happy Dasher.....

This is a Christmas card that I've made with the Al a Carte stamp Dasher.  He is simply stunning.

I've teamed Dasher with Jolly Holiday DSP and Cherry Cobbler (loving it BTW) card stock.  I've also used my new toy, the spritzing tool.  You can see below the effect this creates.

Happy Stamping.......Manda

Happy Mail.....

Thought I'd share some happy mail that I got in my post box yesterday, from my friend Louise.  It's so nice to get a beautiful card, made with care, rather than one of those awful envelopes with the window in the front!!  Thanks Lou......You made my day. 

Co-incidentally, there is a technique on this card that I have planned for this Friday's technique class at my house.  Leave me a comment and see if you can tell me what it is.  

Happy Stamping.....Manda