Seeing Stars

I'm back from vacation and ready to start blogging on a more regular basis again. You've heard that before, haven't you? Anyways, vacation was great, other than the speeding ticket that I got after being in town for like 5 minutes. Did you know the speed limit in Steamboat Springs, CO is 25 mph? I learned that the hard way.

Anyhoo, on to stamping. Here is card that uses Seeing Stars, Mambo Melon, Rich Razzleberry and Whisper White. I made this for a mega swap and had to make 50 of them! I also used the two star punches. On the final one, I also used a sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes (which is not shown here).

Holiday Mini Sneak Peak

Here is another sample that I made using a set from the Holiday Mini catalog, available September first, Serene Snowflakes. I also actually used non in-color cardstock and ink! A first for me since I think the new in-colors were introduced. Color are Night of Navy, Tempting Turquoise, and Whisper White. I also used the iridescent embossing powder.

RazzleDazzle Sample

Here is a sample that I made a while ago for a swap. (I like those swaps, can't you tell?) I used Razzle Dazzle and Teeny Tiny Wishes along with Soft Suede and Rich Razzleberry cardstock and ink. I'm going out of town beginning tomorrow, but I will try to schedule some posts for while I'm gone.

More Delightful Decorations Sample

So remember the previous post and the post prior to that, with the Delightful Decorations? Well Laurie was playing with it again and came out with yet another version of it. I this is the final one that she is using for her Chirstmas Card Club tomorrow night. She made up another card with this set to show as a sample and me, being the difficult one that I am, requested to do half and half. I guess that's the advantage you get for being friends and helping design the cards :o) Here are the two cards that I get to make.

Swap Sample

Whew! I made 75 cards last night for swaps! I did have them all designed, but needed to put them together. I have about 20 more to go too. Remember the card that I last posted about, designed by Laurie posted here? I redesigned it a little and this is what I cam up with. The recipe is the same with the exception of the white grosgrain ribbon instead of the silver cord. It's not my favorite design, but it works.

Delightful Decorations

Just wanted to share a card that Laurie also managed to design the night of Build-A-Bear fun. You may recognize the layout from one of the cards she designed for the Stampin' From Our Hearts event pictured here. But she used current paper and a stamp set from the upcoming Holiday Mini (available to order from beginning Sept 1). The stamp set is Delightful Decorations, with the matching ornament punch. The greeting is also from a new set in the Holiday Mini, Four the Holidays. She also used the Holiday Lounge DSP. I had a very minor role in helping with the design, but I will be using this for one of the swaps that I'm in too. Cardstock is Sahara Sand and Real Red. Laurie is using it for her Christmas Card Club (of which I am also a member of) where for the next 4 months, she designs and prepared a different card each month and the members have the option of making 10 or 15 cards. If you're interested in joining, contact me and I will be happy to forward you to her.



I have about 10 other swaps that I signed up for, so stay tuned for pictures of those. Enjoy!

Magnetic Build-A-Bear

I spent the majority of yesterday playing with my Big Shot and Build-A-Bear dies. At covention this year they showed magnetic Build-A-Bears (so I was told, I was unable to attend this year) and I thought I would do a Build-A-Bear workshop, where the mom and kid would make a bear and the clothes to go with it and all would be magnetic so it would kind be like magnetic paper dolls. I bought magnetic sheets that have one side with adhesive and started to play. I ran into a few bumps (okay a lot of bumps) along the way, but finally came up with a finished product. I created this one and stuck it to a tin can that I purchased at Micheal's. I was having fun and made my bear a cross-dresser with white tights and pink skirt.


I was working with my friend, and fellow demostrator Laurie and she came up with the idea of using the magnetic bear and clip board sold by Stampin' Up! to make a calendar board, where you could change the outfit on the bear to fit the season. Again, here she ran into a few bumps, but did have a final project to share. Laurie actually dressed her bear up more appropriately.



Finally, one last picture to share. I was using a lot of scraps cutting out the 4 bears and accessories and Laurie's cat (Oscar) decided that right then and there it was a good place to take a nap.



Things I Learned:
1. It took me almost 6 hours to cut and mount the four bears.
2. If the magnet it thin enough, the sizzlet will actually cut through it.
3. The more layers of clothing, the less chance of them staying on the bear with movement.
4. The magnets do sometimes "fight" with each other and so the layers won't exactly lay where you want them to. (The magnetic fields oppose each other).
5. To get the bear to hang vertically and have a chance of keeping clothes on them, it's best to stick magnets on the back to the bear that will also stick to the clothing. Laurie did this using little closure magnets and it kind of looked like the bear was in the hospital with electrodes on him all over.
6. It's best to run the whole sheet of magnet through the big shot and then cut the accessories separately and adhere to the magnet (at least to save magnet and ensure each accessory is the desired color).
7. A spin off number 3, consider gluing a couple of layers of clothing before adhering to the magnet. For example, I glued the jacket to the T-shirt and then made the combination one magnet to eliminate a layer.

I'm sure there are many more things that I forgot, but before I make this a class, I think I really need to simplify it, so any suggestions would be great.