Hmmm.....with March comes a new class!   2nd Sunday of March and the 3rd Thursday of March are class days - contact me if you are interested.

Here's a Teaser for upcoming Class Projects!   You have to wait a bit more, lol!

And even though we are fed up with snow - this ought to take away the hum-drum of our weather!   Stay tuned for more class info coming soon!

Cheers!

Hey everyone!

Today my friend Hilton dropped by with something I needed to borrow and it reminded me today how to be grateful for friends!  Hilton has been like a surrogate grandfather to my daughter ever since she was knee-high to a grasshopper, and he has been selflessly doing wonderful things for us - and we hope we are doing lovely things back.

And being reminded of this simple fact, that friends - true friends - are a blessing, today I am showing a card I made last month. I made it along with a young girl actually, and hers came out just terrific. So its a simple card but the trick is to make it look more sophisticated than it really is - if you want to really impress someone (wink)!

The trick I like to use?  Just one of many, here it was cutting out small bits and layering them on top - like the tiny bird and flowers. It also helps to frame the "greeting" and give it a place of importance.

I knew this card would be multi-coloured because of the 4 seasons represented - so I kept the background colours down to 2 - IN COLORs Soft Suede and Bermuda Bay. And we stamped on the perpetual favourite, Whisper White! :)

I think this would be a super card to give someone!  Imagine how'd they feel unfolding this card from the envelope!  Give it a try!

Stampin' Up! supplies:  Season of Friendship stamp set; cardstocks: Bermuda Bay, Soft Suede, Whisper White; various Classic Ink Pads; Stampin' Dimensionals

Hi everyone!  LOOK - here's my dining table after I picked out my order and it's always like christmas when you put in a nice-sized order!  CLICK on the picture to see it better!

 The best part of this one is that several items shown here are FREE because of the SALE-A-BRATION rewards going on at STAMPIN' UP!  So if you want to have your own goodies - and your dollars stretch real well - then contact me with your order!  You still have to March 31, so you don't want to forget that - 'K? OK!

I haven't scratched the surface on this one yet - but we are definitely going to have a blast in March's classes!

First - I want to show you up close what the new clear blocks look like - so here's a pic I took....and you can see that they have a groove around their center and the edges are rounded, ...and I can tell you that it really makes a big difference...they are so smooth! Lovin' that :)  I know from experience that you want a) thick blocks so that your fingers don't touch the ink pads...and b) a good grip which is where the indented sides of these come into play - you won't be dropping these and get your paper all smooched up with ink! .....and c) the edges are smooooth - which is much better than the blocks I have with their sharp edges - always bothered me but no more!!!  AND finally, d) they have labels - so you know which size you grab (just in case you don't have to think about it - they are clearly labelled by size, and have the Stampin' Up! logo.

So you have heft due to their thickness, yet lightness of touch due to the nice grip and comfort so you won't be nervous each time you go to use them ....in fact, THESE ARE A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH!!!  Thumbs up Stampin' Up!

And they just look lovely too - don't they?

Alright - here is another tip I want to pass on....the clear blocks can be ordered as a 'bundle' for a 10% discount (for us Canadians, it's $94.95 plus tax & S/H, item # 118491).  But what I did was this - I sat for a moment and thought what sizes do I really need right now?  And also, what sizes will come in most handy?  

So here is what I came up with....instead of ordering the complete bundle - I decided to order the sizes I knew I would use the most PLUS order duplicates of the ones I thought I need at one time!  So, if you take one set of stamps - size C or D will cover the larger flowers, and size A and B will cover the smaller stamps. Size G or H will take care of greetings. 

But sets can have several stamps the same size - and knowing that it would bug me to take one stamp off a block and replace it with another, I decided to order TWO OF THE SAME SIZE in a couple of sizes......my order therefore went like this:  A - 1 block; B - 2 blocks; C - 2 blocks; D - 2 blocks; G - 2 blocks; H - 1 block.  

And sure enough it worked great!  I used my new Vintage Vogue stamp set and I was able to put every stamp in that set on a block all at the same time, and used them through out the night without having to stop to change a stamp.

I know it may not be your first consideration if your budget won't allow it - but you might want to consider this way if you stamp a lot. Or like me - give classes. 

Teeny, Tiny Stamps & Blocks

First - let me say, I am really enjoying working with Pretty In Pink....paper, ink, ribbon - its never boring because it is such a refreshing colour!  Name suits it to a tee! 

But tiny stamps and small blocks - I must say that the small block, block A is so adorable and so is G.  Here is another interesting development that happened ....when I had to do a tiny, tiny heart stamp, I naturally thought of using A - the smallest square block. [picture above]

 But it occurred to me that G block, a small, narrow rectangle block might be better by putting the heart on the very end.  By putting the small heart on the end of  G works because you have better hand/eye control. {just be sure it has the width to equal your stamp size}

This is a consideration when using Stampin' Up!'s CRAFT INK PADS - because they are moist - and any real pressure dips the stamps & block right into the pad - which leaves you with ink where you don't want it.  When I put the tiny heart on the end of G Block - it was less block surface, and the shape was easier to work with -almost like working with a dabber.  A block is working great with other small stamps - you'll find your own methods. I recommend both!

Tiny stamps - tiny problems - what can I say? LOL!.

Well - I hope I gave you something to think about today!  Any questions - just give me a shout!
xxoo everyone! Have a great day!

*************************************************************************** :)

Block A = 1 1/4 x 1 3/16 inch, $ 5.95 # 118487
Block G = 3/4 x 2 1/2 inch, $ 6.50 # 118489
Block B = 1 5/8 x 1 15/16 in. $7.95 3 117147
Block C = 2 x 2 1/4 in $8.95 # 118486
Block D = 2 7/8 x 2 11/16 $ 11.50 # 118485
Block E = 3 7/16 x 4 7/16 in $ 15.95 # 118484
Block F = 4 7/8 x 6 in. $ 22.95 # 118483
Block H = 1 5/8 x 4 7/16 in. $ 11.50 # 118490
Block I = 2 1/4 x 5 7/8 in. $ 15.95 # 118488
Block Bundle = Blocks A - I  $94.95 # 118491

Clear Blocks are made from high-quality, sturdy 3/4" acrylic.  Etched for identification with each corresponding letter.  Each ' Clear Mount ' Stamp Set comes in a handy storage plastic case - about the size of a DVD - storage is a cinch! Case front will display an insert with all stamp images at 100 percent and spine shows thumbnail images of all stamps - making it easy to find your stamp set. Extra Clear Mount Stamp Cases for sale. $6.95/4  #119105

Remember this little album I made previously?  A basic few pages just waiting for more inspirations....

 Well here's a quickie project featuring a mini-album page. You can easily transfer this to the front of a card, tag, ATC or come up with your own idea -maybe just add it to part of a large scrapbook page.

Take a die-cut alphabet letter 'U' and drape some punched out hearts around it. I tried to make the hearts look like they were either leaning into the letter or standing on top of it.

2 Mins is all it took - 1 min. to gather your alphabet die and hearts, and 1 min. to position it on the mini-album page. That's all. Looks great over co-ordinating patterened papers too, but solids would be a great alternative as background.

Add a tiny photo if you like, or on adjoining page.

Easy Smeesy!

Big Shot Sans Serif Alphabet letter 'U', Heart to Heart punch , Real Red, Whisper White cardstock, previous christmas papers from previous Holiday Mini Catalogue  - all supplies Stampin' Up!

...OR NOT - Happy Valentine's to anyone visiiting today!  Hope you are having a lovely day! 

WE are quietly enjoying 'normal' as a week of mid-term mania and illness has passed - and I finished one huge important task, so laid-back normal is kinda good!  I am going to make my famous brownies soon and then a nice chicken dinner after we play some monopoly and then a trip to the treadmill later on just to even things out a bit - :)

Did we make each other Valentine cards?  No. Is that kinda queer in a house full of card supplies? Probably 'yes'.  But I have been more focused on some scrapbooking, and just exploring some of my new goodies and I have something I'd love to share with you...remember the teaser in the previous post?  Well, heeeere it is!  It's Alex's first baby photo!  Hurray - I say that because its been in storage for 22 years!!!  Ain't that something?  SO any photo came come out to say 'hello' any ol' time as you can see here!


Let 'er rip! Stamping
First things first - I made the pages earlier before I knew I'd pair it with this photo I just grabbed some VERY VANILLA cardstock to begin the process.  And look, the previous post makes my point - take some stamps and just let loose!  That's all I did!  There was no plan at all - it was what we call in artisitic terms 'a very organic experience' .

 I used different stamps from different sets, and combined colours I thought would go well together, but there was NO DIRECTION until I stamped the letters - then all I did was aim for a 'fairly' straight line but even then, a little un-eveness looks great.  When I was done, I had two pages, the first one shown here is using our alphabet stamp set Lovely Letters - and for some reason unfathomable to me now, I made an 'W' on the end of "SWEET"...??? Who knows what brilliant idea I had at the time, but I made 'sweet history' of it by covering the odd W with a punched out heart ( Heart Punch) and problem solved.

                                                          

And on the other page I left a lot of room for my journalling.  I don't always know what I am doing with these pages if I design them first without photos, so it only makes sense to leave at least one area bare. Its easier to go back and add more later if you want to. I also ripped the top of the page off, and added another 'ripped' strip of PRETTY IN PINK cardstock - and it works on both front and back of the page, that's the beauty of un-even edges, or tearing techniques! :) {showing 'backside'}

 In the end, I loved both pages!

Now it was time to find some photo worthy of my pages - and looking to my baby albums, I found our first photo of baby Alex, you know, the one they take at the hospital. Our hospital is gone now, made way for a new health center, so I guess it has more significance.  Anyways, we had a near disastrous delivery and our  poor baby was delivered dramatically and as a result was paralyzed down one side, and I never held her right away because a team of 4 came bursting through, grabbed her and whisked her away - and thankfully solved the paralyzation problem. But the poor pumpkin had a fractured shoulder and collarbone and a sore head I image from the forceps used to deliver her last minute , which is why she doesn't sit up straight and look too happy. But she was a trooper and we were even more blessed after such a difficult delivery to have her healthy after all. So this photo goes in the album with pride!

PAGE ACCENTS

I used our Heart Punch a lot to make accents, especially for tumbling some hearts together in a stack!  i only glued the pointed tips of the hearts making a place to tuck the next heart or other item like a note, in the top part - treat it like a "pocket".

Eventually I will be making  more journalling but I decided to start with her birth announcement information, and used my own hand and tried to imitate the scrolled letters in the word, Wonderful, as my inspiration. You only have to try - not be exact - and the results will be pretty good! 

TIP - for preservation methods - write in pencil. I  then "copy over the pencil " in whatever medium I like, here I used a journalling pen in pink ink overtop of the pencil. Reason is that pencil will remain for ever - whereas every pen ink we generally have access to - even 'permanent' inks - fade. They might remain but look yellow over time but pencil endurs. That is why I use it as a "base" for more decorative treatment.  Trust me - as a former Art Conservator, I used to run experiments testing for the fastness or stability of black pens on the market, ones even marked 'Archival' - and through means of speeding up the results, they all altered their appearance. OK, enough of that!

I made a small accent using our Stampin' Up! product 'Build-A-Brad' ....see the small word "My", and then I added lovely grosgrain ribbon in pink/white stripe to really emphasize the photo. Another tie in with that is added under one of the journalling lines. Just a tad bit of ribbon, no biggy, but it is enough to add some ooomph! I used ordianry cross-stitch floss. 

I measured the folds into a pattern - make your own pattern, it all works. If you want to crease the edges with an iron while working, or tack the pattern in place with pins - go for it. I used my bone folder, and some of the floss to tack the ribbon in the back before adding a small tie in the front of each folded 'bow' .  This is the only bit of aggravating piece of work - but its nice to do, and you will be glad you did!!!

So finally - its done and in its new home in my new red linen album!

Thanks for joining in!

Cheers,

Beverly

* all materials Stampin' Up!

Stay tuned.....I'll be back later to show ya! 

Hey - hello to all!  Time is just flying around here and its Tuesday already which means it's my blog time! :)

My daughter and I made these cards not long ago, and in fact, I have a special person in mind to give one of them to tomorrow.  We know lots of winter 'baby' folks, { including myself since it is officially February - and my birthday is looming!}.  But - a friend of mine, a great fella, HILTON turned 76 just a little while ago, and so I will present this card to him.  Its really a good card as the paper colours and birdcage are not overly feminine and lots of men enjoy birds - so all is good!

CARD DESIGN

Its a really simple card - layering, and multi-dimensional dots to boost the focal point of the birdcage up. Elements of repetition are at work to balance the design well....see, the stripes of the paper echo the straight lines of the birdcage while the circular shape of the scallop trim is repeated in the circles visible on the paper, and the roof of the birdcage. All the colours are made to co-ordinate, and the layered borders around the birdcage helps to make all the colours 'pop'.  A bit of ribbon finishes the whole effect! 

CARD SUPPLIES

The card is featuring more of the papers you can find in the Sweet Pea Designer Series Stack - there's plenty to satisfy any taste in this offering: 48 sheets, double-sided and the colours range from soft pinks, vanillas, blues and greens to deeper hues of brown, rose, teal, greens, etc. There are graphic designs {stripes, circles, dots, etc.} and cutesy trees and flowers and elegant butterflies - very versatile. 

AND check out one of the new punches!  This is available in both a border and a corner punch - so cool that we have come so far in just a few years that we all can make gorgeous designs with the tools at our fingertips!  The punch is: SCALLOP TRIM BORDER - and its FREE, FREE, FREE - with Sale-A-Bration!  WHooo-hoo - AND the matching SCALLOP TRIM CORNER PUNCH is available as a separate purchase - so you can use it towards your $65 purchase to enable you to take the border punch home free. 

  The stamp set for the bird in the cage is.....FREE!  LOL - more goodies from the SAB cataloque...this is a different stamp from the same set, HAPPY MOMENTS, which was featured in the previous post.

*Ribbon = regular Stampin Up! IDEA Cataloque

CONTACT ME IF YOU WISH TO ORDER SUPPLIES - OR WANT A FREE MINI-OCCASIONS CATALOGUE - AND SALE-A-BRATION BROCHURE.  

If you can't wait to view the exciting new additions to our collection - click on the LINKS to the right. 

cheers :)