Delightful Dozen - Congratulations

We had a couple people at my office retire this week so today's project is one of the cards I made. I used the Delightful Dozen stamp set, which is one of my favorites because it has a stamp for every occasion year round. So, you get more bang for your buck...gotta love that!

Stamps: Delightful Dozen (122652)
Paper: Early Espresso Card Stock (119686), Crumb Cake (120953), Whisper White ( 100730), Berry Blossoms Designer Series Paper (122350)
Ink: Early Espresso (119670)
Tools: Blossoms Punch (Occasions Mini #125603), Round Tab Punch (119864), Crop-A-Dile (108362), 1" Circle Punch (119868), Square Lattice Embossing Folder (119976), Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (113439)
Accessories: 1/2" Crumb Cake Seam Binding (122332), Hemp Twine (100982), Neutrals Assortment Designer Buttons in Crumb Cake (119743)

Delightful Dozen Stamp Set

LAST CHANCE - today is the last day for the biggest sale of the year; Sale-A-Bration... FREE paper, card stock, brads, ribbons, fabrics, embossing folders and best of all STAMPS! So if you have been thinking about placing an order...today you could get free gifts and tomorrow you won't. So don't wait and miss out!!

To place an order for Stampin' Up! products, click here and go to SHOP NOW .

Thank you for choosing me as your Stampin' Up! Demonstrator and please check out my Rewards Program that I offer to all my customers. I truly appreciate your business!

Have a beautiful & creative day!

Happy Easter

Happy Thursday Friends!

Today's card is a little punch art Easter bunny crawling into a hole. I love the holidays but Easter is definitely one of my favs! I realized yesterday Easter is fast approaching and I haven't made too many Easter projects yet this year, so I better get busy.


Stamps: Delightful Dozen (122652)
Paper: Whisper White (100730), Neutrals Patterns DSP Stack (117157), Pretty In Pink Card Stock (100459), Basic Black (121045)
Ink: StazOn (101406)
Punches: hole -2" circle I cut using the Circle Scissors Plus (112530), Extra Large Oval (119859), Small Oval (retired), 1/8" circle punch.
Accessories:Bitty Buttons (118761)

Your chance to earn FREE gifts during Sale-A-Bration will be ending March 31st!! You will receive a free Sale-A-Bration gift for every $50 (before Tax & shipping) you spend on Stampin' Up! products. To view free items and for more details, please click here to view on-line brochure.

Clearance Rack get great products at amazing prices up to 60% off, but only while supplies last and those purchases also count towards $50 needed for Sale-A-Bration.

To place an order for Stampin' Up! products, click here and go to SHOP NOW .

Thank you for choosing me as your Stampin' Up! Demonstrator and please check out my Rewards Program that I offer to all my customers. I truly appreciate your business!

Have a beautiful & creative day!

Use Basic 6" x 6" Pattern Multiple Ways

Today's project is so easy and fast to make. I used the same basic 6" x 6" pattern I used to make the Valentine's Candy Box , made 4 cuts and I turned it into a basket.

Here's how:

1. 6" x 6" card stock in Early Espresso card stock (119686).
2. Score at 2" on all 4 sides.
3. On one side cut on both score lines up to intersecting score line and then repeat on the opposite side.
4. Cut 8 pieces of Berry Blossoms Designer Series Paper (122350) that measure 1-3/4" and adhere to 8 outer quadrants. The center square will be the bottom of the basket, so you don't need to embellish.
5. To assemble basket bring two flaps up, behind center panel. With a paper piercer (116631), poke a small hole and insert brad. Repeat on opposite side. For added strength you may want to also secure sides with sticky strip in addition to the brads. The brads are new from Summer Smooches collection, are covered in fabric and will be available April 1st!
   
6. To make the handle, I used the Tasteful Trim Bigz XL Die (120893) and the Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (113439). I cut one in Early Espresso and another in the Berry Blossoms DSP and adhered them together, alternating the pattern, so both could be seen. Adhered to each side of the basket with sticky strip (104294).

This size basket is perfect for small treats such as Hershey Kisses, jelly beans, etc.:

To make a medium size basket, for larger treats , the only steps will change are 1, 2, 4 & 6:

• 9" x 9" card stock
• Score at 3" on all 4 sides.
• Cut and adhere 8 pieces 2-3/4" of Designer Series Paper.
• The Tasteful Trim Die is perfect for creating 4 different size handles for your basket.
  

To make a large basket, to hold more & bigger treats:

• 12" x 12" card stock
• Score 4" on all 4 sides
• Cut and adhere 8 pieces 3-3/4" of DSP.
• I would use the largest, ( Ric Rack Pattern) of the Tasteful Trim die as a handle.
  

Reminder: Sale-A-Bration ends March 31st, so if your thinking of placing an order, and would like FREE products, you have a few days left to to take advantage of this offer.

Please click here to order Stampin' Up! products online 24/7. Thank you for choosing me as your Stampin' Up! Demonstrator. I truly appreciate your business!

Have a beautiful & creative day!

3 Ways To Heat Emboss a Metal Brad & Video

Today I have a video showing you 3 Ways To Heat Emboss a metal brad:

1. Using a tweezers, dip top of brad into a Craft Stampin' Spot ink, then into Clear Embossing Powder and set with Heat Tool.
2. Dip top of brad into VersaMark, then into colored embossing powder, set with Heat Tool.
3. Dip top of brad into VersaMark, then into Heat & Stick Powder, heat with Heat Tool until powder melts, then dip into your favorite color of Stampin' Glitter and briefly heat again to set glitter.

I hope you enjoyed these techniques and learned something new.

Please click here to order Stampin' Up! products online 24/7. Thank you for choosing me as your Stampin' Up! Demonstrator. I truly appreciate your business!

Have a beautiful & creative day!

14 Ways To Heat Emboss

Heat embossing can be an elegant addition to your stamped projects. It adds dimension, texture and sparkle. You can Heat Emboss; card stock, Designer Series Papers, Glossy White card stock, vellum, brads, On Board chipboard, and so much more!

First I'll cover the products needed to Heat Emboss like a pro:

• A heat tool (never use a hair dryer-they are not the same), Stampin’ Emboss Powder that comes in 11 exclusive Stampin’ Up! colors, and Craft ink or VersaMark ink.
• Stampin’ Emboss Powder is fine powder that comes in clear and an assortment of colors.
• Craft ink is a pigment ink, and is used for heat embossing because it is thicker than the Classic dye ink and gives a wet, sticky surface for the embossing powder to stick to.
• Craft ink refills come in 40 Stampin’ Up! colors, so you have a great variety of colors you can heat emboss. Just use clear embossing powder and the Craft color of your choice.
• VersaMark ink also works for heat embossing. It can be used with clear embossing powder when you want to add a glossy finish to a project without adding color. Or use VersaMark with colored embossing powders.
• Powder Pal, which comes with 2 trays in different sizes and a brush for easy clean up. This will keep your work area clean and keeps embossing powder contained. Then use the funnel end to return the excess powder back into the container.

The basic steps of Heat Embossing:

• Choose the card stock, ink, embossing powder and the stamp image you want to use.
• Gently rub the Embossing Buddy over your paper to remove static and prevent extra granules of embossing powder or glitter from sticking to your project in unwanted areas.
• Stamp your image onto card stock using VersaMark or Craft ink. Hold onto the card stock you are stamping, because the inks are “sticky” your card stock may stick to the stamp when it is lifted.
• After stamping, pour embossing powder over the image, cover thoroughly.
• Shake or tap off the excess powder onto a Powder Pal tray, and pour it back into the container.
• Turn on the heat tool and let it warm up for a minute, then hold it about 1-1/2 - 2 inches above the card stock. Move the heat tool around as you heat the image to avoid scorching. Heat the stamped image until the powder melts and turns into a shiny, raised image. Do not over heat as the ink could melt into the paper and the paper can become scorched.
• Let project cool for a minute before handling.
  

14 ways to Heat Emboss:

1. Heat emboss stamped images and greetings on cards, scrapbook pages and 3-D projects.
2. Try embossing several layers to achieve a thick dimensional look.
3. Stamp your image with VersaMark ink, apply Heat & Stick powder, heat with Heat Tool, then add Stampin' Glitter (Dazzling Diamonds, Fine Galaxy or Supernova), and heat again.The glitter will adhere perfectly to your project.
   
4. Mix Stampin’ glitter to clear embossing powder to add a little sparkle to your project.
   
5. Stamp an image, then use the VersaMark pad directly to the paper. Cover the whole surface and emboss with clear powder to create a shiny effect.
6. Emboss Resist Technique - Heat emboss an image on Glossy card stock, then sponge Classic ink around and over the image. Use a soft tissue to wipe off excess ink. Your embossed image will stand out from the surrounding color.
7. Watercolor Resist Technique- Once you've embossed an image, scribble around and over the image using a Watercolor Wonder Crayon, and blend using an Aqua Painter. Wipe the color from the embossed image, and allow to dry completely.
8. Emerging Color Technique – Much like the Emboss Resist Technique, except begin by stamping colored images (bold images work best) onto Glossy card stock. Then use VersaMark to stamp a large bold image over the top of the other stamping. Heat emboss with clear embossing powder. Then sponge Classic ink on and around the embossed image. Wipe off and you will see the colored stamped images showing through the clear embossed image.
9. Joseph’s Coat Technique – Another variation of the Emboss Resist Technique, use a sponge or brayer to create a rainbow on color on Glossy card stock. Stamp image, again a bold image works best, using VersaMark. Heat emboss with clear embossing powder. Sponge Black Classic ink all over the image and card stock. Wipe off with a soft tissue and see the beautiful color showing through.
10. Emboss Metal Technique - you can easily change the color of a silver brad using colored embossing powder. Holding the brad with tweezers, dip the top of brad onto VersaMark pad, then dip into the embossing powder. Heat again until the embossing powder is melted.
11. Faux Metal Technique - you can make your own faux metal letters and embellishments by building layers. For example, if you wanted to make a circle letter tag, you would emboss a card stock circle tag with silver or gold embossing powder. To build layers, just repeat the process until the desired effect is achieved.
12. Irregular Embossing - Hold your embossing ink pad at an angle and swipe it randomly along the edges of your paper, then emboss the swiped areas. Try this with gold powder for a vintage look.
    
13. VersaMarker - This pen acts as a highlighter and will give you more control over areas you want to emboss. Try highlighting small sections of your image, then embossing.
14. Emboss Vellum - Stamp image or greeting onto vellum using VersaMark or Craft Ink. Apply clear or colored embossing powder and carefully heat until power is melted. To speed up the process & prevent the vellum from warping, lay the vellum on top of a piece of aluminum foil while heating.

Tips:

• If you are getting smeared edges or splatters of ink, your ink pad may be too wet. Remove some excess ink by pressing ink pad surface onto scrap paper.
• If you are getting splotchy embossed images, your ink pad may be too dry. Add a few drops of ink refill around the surface of the pad.
• Paper dries out very quickly when heated and that makes it curl and become crisp, be careful not to over heat.

I hope you enjoyed these tips and techniques and learned something new about heat embossing and will try one today.

Clearance Rack get great products at amazing prices, but only while supplies last.

Please click here to order Stampin' Up! products online 24/7. Thank you for choosing me as your Stampin' Up! Demonstrator. I truly appreciate your business!

Have a beautiful & creative day!

Liebster Award

I am honored to receive the LIEBSTER award. They say that Liebster is German meaning dearest, and can be used for favorite or beloved as well. In light of sharing this love I want to thank the very talented Linda Fischer that has bestowed this award onto me. Her work is truly inspiring! Thank you Linda!

The rules for this award are as follows:

1. Thank your Liebster Blog Award presenter on your blog.

2. Link back to the blogger who presented the award to you.

3. Copy and paste the blog award on your blog.

4. Present the Liebster Blog Award to 5 blogs....of 200 or less followers...who you feel deserve to be noticed.

5. Let them know they have been chosen.

The five blogs I have chosen are listed below. Click on over to their beautiful sites, take a minute to look around and don't forget to become a Follower! I know they will appreciate it!

1. Susan ~ http://stampandscrapwithsusan.com/
2. Nicole ~ http://www.impressionsbynicole.com/
3. Frenchie ~ http://frenchieesspot.blogspot.com/
   
4. Mary ~ http://maryscraftroom.blogspot.com/
5. Lynda ~ http://123easypc.blogspot.com/

Click here to view the New Summer Smooches Flyer

Reminder:Sale-A-Bration will be ending soon on March 31st.

Clearance Rack get great products at amazing prices, but only while supplies last.

Please click here to order Stampin' Up! products online 24/7. Thank you for choosing me as your Stampin' Up! Demonstrator. I truly appreciate your business!

Have a beautiful & creative day!