Heat Embossing with Donna!

This month I'm featuring the Fancy Doily stamp set. It comes with three sentiments and I've used With Sympathy and Congratulations this month so this week I wanted to used the Best Wishes sentiment.

I heat embossed the medallion in the upper left corner of the card in Tangerine Tango. Then I heat embossed another medallion in Tempting Turquoise on a scrap sheet of paper. I punched out a 1 1/4 circle from the middle of the medallion and placed it on top of the orange medallion and added a glittery brad. Then I heat embossed the sentiment in Tempting Turquoise.

I wanted to add the sentiment as two words one on top of the other so it would fit better on the card. Since the stamp is horizontal, I ended up cutting it in half and putting both words on the stamping block one on top of the other. I tried to only stamp one word and then the other word, but I couldn't get it centered. Once I cut the stamp it was much easier. And I cut it in a straight line, so it will be easy to put it back together and use it horizontally when I need to.

Here is a picture of the Fancy Doily Stamp Set in it's nifty Gel-a-tin tin. You can see the Best Wishes is one horizontal stamp.

Here is the Best Wishes on the Gel-a-tin stamp block.

And, finally here's my heat embossed Best Wishes card.

Materials
1. Card stock - Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Tangerine Tango - Stampin' Up
2. Stamp set - Fancy Doily - Gel-a-tins
3. Embossing Powders - Tempting Turquoise, Tangerine Tango - Stampin' Up
4. Heat Tool - Heat It - Ranger
5. Glitter Brad - Stampin' Up

gel-a-tins classes in Canada!

gel-a-tins DT member Jodi teaches classes at a store in Welland, Ontario.  If you're local be sure to check out the class schedule on the website below for a chance to learn some techniques from her while making some gorgeous projects with gel-a-tin stamps!

Today I want to share with you two layouts for a class I taught at the Scrapping Nook ( http://www.thescrappingnook.ca )! I used the cute alphabet stamp set called : Off to School Letters

It is super cute and PERFECT for school layouts! Here is the first layout:

The letters were first stamped and then cut up and staggered to get the title effect I was looking for. Here is a closer look:

Here is the second layout I created:

I stamped the letters and then coloured them in with my sharpie marker for a unified look! I love this about stamping!

Hope this gives you some great inspiration to finish up some school layouts!

Other Material Used on layout: Little Yellow Bicycle Paper and Chipboard, Ranger Ink, Bazzil Cardstock, Twine from the Twinery, Unknown Ribbon, Wooden Dowel

Love card by Linda

We all know that sometimes it is just hard to find the time to sit down, design, and create a card for someone. Today, I would like to share with you a way to create a simple card. It took me less than 30 minutes to finish this cutie and I am pleased with the result.

First, create a card using cardstock (4.25" X 5.5") and adhere patterned paper rectangle that has been stamped with light color dye ink for the base of the card. The stamp set that I use here is called 3-D alpha set. I arrange the word love and stamp the word about five times from top to bottom. For the embellishments, I used vintage lace, layered with floral, and head pin. To finish, I added 3 pearls as shown on the picture.

Other Materials:
Patterned Paper: Fancy Pants
Paint: Liquitex acrylic
Head Pin: Webster page
Flower: Prima
Lace: Prima
Pearl: Queen & Co

I hope you enjoy this card and can't wait to see what you create. happy Stamping!

Have a Magical Day!

Even though I loved using this month's brand new set ONCE UPON A TIME to create embellishments and backgrounds for layouts, I just could not help myself and whipped up a very quick and easy card making use of the "Princess and Unicorn" stamp.

Instructions:
Stamp your image to a piece of white cardstock (or bleedproof paper) and colour with pens.
Then tear a piece of patterned paper into a rectangle shape and run an inkpad along the edges for a distressed look. Take another smaller piece of paper and cut along the edges with a pair of decorative scissors (or use a border punch).
This piece of paper will be the base for you image. When you adhere it to the background, make sure to leave a little space to enable you to tuck a journaling card behind paper and image.
For the final touch, adhere the image to the background using adhesive foam dots to raise it slightly. Then you want to add a sentiment of your choice to the card and you are done.

Told, you it was quick and easy

Supplies:
Cardstock - Poundland
Papers - American Crafts
Journaling card - Belle Blvd
Pens - ProMarkers
Ink - Clearsnap Chalk Ink

Turn your stamps into coloring pages!

As soon as I opened this stamp set (Once Upon a Time), my daughter and I both fell in love with it! She is only 7 years old and I thought it might be a little tricky for her to colour in. I came up with the idea to stamp the image and then photocopy it and enlarge it on my printer at the same time. The idea worked perfectly and I was able to produce the same image on a large scale! I also run a home daycare, and it just so happens we are doing a Once Upon a Time theme, where we are learning about princesses, castles, and storybook fun! This stamp set was perfect even for little ones, to color, once the image was enlarged! I even did an introduction poster to hang up in the daycare: Here is the poster with the stamped image too!

This idea can be used for scrapbooking stores to make coloring pages for the little ones, while mom shops away too! I just LOVE this idea! To see more of what my kids have done, be sure to stop by my blog today: http://luvalotland.blogspot.com/!

Instructions:
Stamp a clear image onto white cardstock.
Place it on your printer and use the enlarge feature.
You may have to play around with how much to enlarge it, but once you have correct proportions, you will have coloring sheet that you can reuse over and over again!
Have the kids colour, paint, and even glitter away!

Some sizes when I photocopied:

With this technique, anyone can use "stamps". Here is my youngest daughter painting her picture:

Thanks everyone, for letting me share this fun technique! Have a great weekend!

gel-a-tins double duty card!

What is a double duty card? It is a card, yes, but this card is also an ornament.

I got this great idea from a friend who made this wonderful canvas backed card and thought, I have plenty of canvas, what can I come up with?

I started with this canvas star, and I stamped the wreath from my set with embossing ink then embossed it in black.

The extra embossing powder stuck in the canvas and burned a little, but that is not big deal for this type of project.

Here you can see I distressed it a little more and colored the image in slightly.

This is the finished product all embellished.

My idea was to have the ornament on the front of the card, but the ornament would have to be removable.

Here is the front of my card, embossed with white.

I used some glue that dries to a tacky gum type substance. It will hold on forever but when you want to remove the item, you just peel it off.

See how the star sticks to the front?

I love the way this turned out and think I am going to make these for all my kids that need "teacher" presents.

Thank you for stopping by today. I hope you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving today.

This has been Jeannie from The Polka Cabanahttp://polkacabana.wordpress.com/ with today's post.

Making coasters with Donna!

My stamp set for this month is called Fancy Doily. It comes with a great medallion stamp and three sentiments. When I was looking around Hobby Lobby the other day I saw this acrylic coaster and thought it might be the right size for the Medallion stamp in the Fancy Doily set , so I picked one up and here's what I came up with - seasonal coasters. I thought these coasters would be great to make as cute, simple and affordable gifts or you could make them to match your own decor. They're easy to make and you can switch them out and completely change the look any time.

Original coaster

It's really easy to make a coaster. Just take out the cork.

Cut out a 3 inch circle.

Emboss the medallion on the circle.

Place the circle with the embossed medallion in the coaster.

 Put in the cork back in and you're done!

 Here's my Fall Theme coaster. I used Pumpkin Pie card stock and embossed in gold.

This is my Christmas Theme coaster. I used Wild Wasabi card stock and embossed in Cherry Cobbler.

And finally, here's my Valentine Theme coaster. It used to be a card. I created a bright pink background using alcohol inks and embossed in white. But, the card didn't work out for me so I cut out the white medallion and used it here.

These coasters were so affordable, fun and easy to make. Let me know if you get a chance to make some. I would love to see them.

Materials
1. Acrylic Coaster - The Paper Studio
2. Stamp Set - Fancy Doily - Gel-a-tins
3. Embossing Powders - Cherry Cobbler, Gold, white - Stampin' Up
3. Card stock - Pumpkin Pie, Wild Wasabi - Stampin' Up
4. Glossy White Paper - Ranger
5. Alcohol Inks - Ranger
6. Heat tool - Heat It - Ranger

Giving you a break!

From time to time I find myself giving my dear friend a gentle reminder to slow things down a bit. It is perfectly acceptable to take a few minutes for yourself...so I thought up this little card set to help her enjoy those moments just a little more. Using Gel-A-Tins Coffee Break and Love Knots, I created this set of cards and pocket for such an occasion.

A tea pouch is tucked away inside each card, but you could also add your own scrumptious treat or even a gift card.

Supplies:

Gel-A-Tins Coffee Break
Gel-A-Tins Love Knots
Bazzill Basics Paper - cardstock
My Minds Eye - paper
Melissa Frances - paper
Websters Pages - paper
Prairie Bird Boutique - wrinkle ribbon
Really Reasonable Ribbon - satin ribbon, lace, bakers twine
Spellbinders - scallop circle die
Papertrey Ink - scallop circle die, buttons, twine
Sizzix - circle die
glassine bag
doily

Today, I would like to share with you this card that I created using the 3-D alphabet and sweet cakes stamp sets. I just love this alphabet stamp set, each letter is so sweet and unique. This card's measurement is 4.25" X 5.5". First, I adhere two different patterned papers and machine stitch them and applied the lace on the bottom of the card before adding the title and cupcake images. I use pink, blue, and purple pigment ink to stamp the alphabets and embossing powder with light blue glitter for accent and adhere some pearls as shown on the picture. The top of the cupcake stamp was adhered with foam tape to create 3D effect.

Other supplies:

Cardstock: Momenta
Patterned paper: Crate Paper
Ink: Tsukineko
Pearls: Queen & Co
Glitter Powder: Pink Paislee
Embossing Powder: Recollections
Lace: stash

So if you are looking for a cute "just because" card, this will be the one for you to try and I'm sure it will brighten someone's day. Happy Stamping!

Building Sandcastles - Layout

I had lots of fun this month creating my own background with the "Fairy Castle" stamp of the brand new ONCE UPON A TIME set to create this layout, showing yours truly digging away at the beach to create my very own sandcastle.

Instructions:
First I used a generous helping of walnut spray and spritzed it randomly over an 8.5 x 11 sheet of white cardstock. While the spray was still wet I sprinkled a few pieces of white embossing powder over it and set my heatgun to work. I love the effect the white embossed areas give to the overall look of the page.

I then decided where I wanted to place the photograph and stamped the image around the area in a slightly offset fashion.

All I needed to add now, were stickers and tags to add my journaling and the title.

Supplies used:
Cardstock - Poundland
Inks - Stampin' Up
Stickers - Jenni Bowlin, Making Memories
Tags/Journaling spost - Bella Blvd, My Minds Eye

A Note for my Princess

Having a 7 year old girl who took one look at the ONCE UPON A TIME stamp set, and said it was her most favorite stamp that I have, I knew I had to make her something, to surprise her! I often add little notes to her lunchbox, with a little treat, so I decided to create a little envelope that I can put little notes in for her! I LOVE how this turned out, and I can`t wait until she comes running off the bus to tell me all about her Princess note. Here is what I created:

Instructions:Stamp the castle image from the Once Upon a Time Stamp set onto an envelope of your choosing (I chose a kraft envelope). Color the image in with your copic markers. Add Patterned paper to fit the top half of the envelope and add ribbon and trim accordingly. Add your sentiment for your prince or princess. Add a flower.

Supplies Used:
Kraft Envelope, Felt Flowers, Ribbon and Trim, copic markers, Basic Grey Alpha Stickers, Pink Paislee Patterned Paper.

More Sweet Cakes with Jeannie!

I thought that since last week when I used the set Sweet Cakes, I had used Shrink Film and the cupcakes were tiny.

So this week, I am using the stamps full size.

I decided to use coordinating papers from Authentique Paper - Fair Weather collection.

I love using un-usual prints for things like cupcake card. I think it gives the card lots of personality when I use non-traditional types colors/prints for something like cupcakes.

To describe briefly how I made this, let me start with the background.

I used an embossing folder on the white paper first, then I used gold ink here and there and used clear embossing powder to make the embossing shine.

After those steps were done, I sprayed some Tattered Angels on it and let it dry.

I then attached my ribbon and did the sewing around the edge

For the cupcakes, I stamped them on different patterned papers, cut them out and adhered them to the gray paper. I had already distressed the gray paper and cut them to size.

I then adhered all the cupcakes to the card front, and embellished the cupcakes with dimensional glaze, glass beads and that sparkly white powder.

The final step was the phrase. It did not fit in the frame, so I stamped it again and went outside the frame as shown.

I hope you like this card as much as I do. It is fun to come with different techniques to use on cards and I always enjoy sharing a tip or two.

I am enjoying working with Gel-a-Tins, they are simply wonderful!

This has been Jeannie with The Polka Cabana with today's post.

Supplies:

Printed Paper - Authentique Paper - Fair Weather

Black Cardstock - Stampin' Up!

DG3 Art Gel

Flowers #2 Embossing Folder - Sizzix

Glass Beads

Brownie Chocolate Delight - Sweet Stamps.com

Stampin' Up Denim Ribbon

Stampin' Up! Metal Frame

3m Dimensional Foam

Sewing Machine & Thread

Sympathy Card by Donna

This sympathy card uses the stamp set called Fancy Doily. It's a great , versatile set that comes with this beautiful medallion stamp and three sentiments.

To create this card I started by making a 5 x 5 inch square card. Then I cut a 3.75 square from ivory paper and sponged the background using three colors of ink - Soft Suede, Cajun Craze and Old Olive. Then I inked the edges with Soft Suede ink. Next, I stamped the medallion and sentiment using Soft Suede ink. I layered this panel with a 4x4 square of Cajun Craze card stock and a 4.25 x 4.25 square of Old Olive card stock and adhered them to the card. Finally I added the brown corduroy button.

Here's another view.



Materials
1. Card stock - Ivory, Cajun Craze, Old Olive, Soft Suede (Stampin' Up)
2. Stamps - Fancy Doily (Gel-a-tins)
3. Ink - Soft Suede, Old Olive, Cajun Craze (Stampin' Up)
4. Button - corduroy brown (Stampin' Up)

Just Can't Wait!

The story goes..."twas the night before Christmas", but I just couldn't wait. It is that time in the crafting world when we begin to make our to-do lists, bring out those holiday colors from our craft rooms and get to work.



Tags are a project for any holiday, but especially Christmas. School events, holiday parties, decorating a tree and topping a gift...so many ways to put your tags to good use. Used Love Knots to create the background of the tag, Twas the Night Before candy cane for the background of the tiny label and Coffee Break circle for the background of the larger label.

Supplies:

Gel-A-Tins Twas the Night Before
Gel-A-Tins Love Knots
Gel-A-Tins Coffee Break
Glue Arts - adhesive
Bazzill Basics Paper - cardstock
My Minds Eye - paper
Papertrey Ink - label die
Quikutz - label die
Frost It Pink - bells
Kaiser Craft - adhesive pearls
embroidery thread
lace
button
twine
ribbon

Sweet Day Card by Linda

I would like to share my first project using Sweet Cakes stamp set. I love this stamp set and! It is so adorable and versatile. This card was created with kraft cardstock and distress with white acrylic paint. I use small cupcake image for border on the bottom of the card then adhere scrap paper and sewing stitch on all sides. I wrap lace and pink ribbon for accent and add mini cherry stamp, glued on the head pin as shown. I stamp the tag with the sentiment: wishing you a sweet day and embellish with leaf and button. On the right bottom part of the tag, I glue the strawberry image using glue dot for 3 D effect. The large cupcake was stamped and added with pink glitter to finish.

Other supplies:
Kraft cardstock, scrap paper, tag sticker, ribbon, lace, pearls, silk leaf, wooden button, head pin, white acrylic paint, dark red ink.

Summer Fun Layout!

If, like me, you do not have children you may wonder sometimes on how to make use of specific stamp sets that are geared towards kids' pages or cards.

During November I hope to show you that cute sets like the brand new ONCE UPON A TIME can be used in so many ways and are certainly not restrictive at all.

As soon as I saw the set I was taken by the gorgeous flower stem and knew immediately that I wanted this to become an important feature of my layout. I just LOVE fussy cutting images and the flower stem is perfect to be turned into an embellishment.



Instructions:
I tucked each of the hand cut stems underneath the papers edge and adhered them to the background with the aid of some adhesive dots, to get some dimension by raising the images.
As you have probably noticed, I love to layer papers and embellishments on my layouts and thought that adding the sentiment "One Upon a Time" from the set, would look really cute tucked underneath one of the background papers.



Supplies used:
Papers - Authentique
Stickers - American Crafts, Jenni Bowlin
Vellum Butterflies - Jenni Bowlin
Inks - Stampin' Up
Other - Gesso, Punchinella, Walnut Spray