3amStamping Pad

Sunset & Moonrise Silhouette Card Projects

These are the projects for the Sunset & Moonrise Silhouettes Class tomorrow, 11/1/08, 8:30am and Sunday evening, 11/2/08, 7:00pm.  Please click on event calendar at left for details.

It's not too late to reserve your space. You can call me or send me an e-mail to let me know you're coming and to which class session.

Updated Class Schedule Now Available

Click on the link under "Events & Classes" to download the November-January class schedule or click on the events link under "My Calendar" to view.

Crystal Effects - Top 3 Things You Can Do

I love Crystal Effects - it's great for adding dimension to my projects and, as I noted before, it makes a great adhesive for those hard-to-glue materials.

This is my Top 3 List of Uses for Crystal Effects:

1. Create bubbles for under water effects, such as with fish or undersea images.
2. Add water droplets to flower images.
3. Make a glass bubble overlay effect for small images.

What are your favorite things to do with Crystal Effects?  Please share them in the comments link below.

Quick Notes: Make a Bundle of Notes in a Jiffy

Here is a quick and easy method to make a lot of note cards that will fit into an open-end or a regular envelope. You can stamp the envelopes to match, too.

"Say It with Scallops" Quick Notes How-To

 

1.      Cut 1 sheet of Designer Series Paper into 6" x 6" squares.

2.      Fold each square into 3" x 6" note.

3.      Stamp back of each note with personalized stamp.

4.      Stamp "Say It with Scallops" image on Whisper White card stock: one image for each note.  Punch out with Scallop Square Punch.

5.      Stamp the same image on one envelope for each note.

6.      Cut contrasting or coordinating card stock into 2" x 2" squares: one square mat for each note.

7.      Cut Whisper White card stock into 1-3/4" x 1-3/4" squares to add a contrasting layer when using the solid images.

8.      SNAIL punched out image to layer square and/or contrasting/coordinating square mat.  SNAIL layered piece to note front.

9.      Done!

 

Tips:

 

·    Notes may be top fold or side fold, depending upon how you place your layers.

·    Turn your note into a gift card holder by using the Slit Punch to make tabs.

·    1 package of Designer Series Paper makes 48 notes.

·    1 sheet of 8-1/2" x 11" card stock makes 20 scalloped square images, 20 square mats or 30 in-between layers.

·    Try using other stamp sets and other Designer Series Paper.  The secret is to have the lighter colored designs on the inside of the note.

·    Quick matting tip: cut the mat 1/4" larger (in both dimensions) than the wood block size of the image stamp to get 1/8" border all around.

·    Punching tip: make sure your piece of paper or card stock is at least 1" more than the width of the punch so you have enough room to hold it steady while you are lining up the image and punching it out.

 

Step It Up:

 

·    Add eyelets or brads to the stamped image.  Attach layer to quick note front with Stampin' Dimensionals or Mini Glue Dots.

·    Add a small felt flower from Flower Fusion with a brad to a corner.  Attach layer to quick note front with Stampin' Dimensionals or Mini Glue Dots.

·    Add a fabric flower and rhinestone brad from the Pretties Kit.

·    Scallop the note cover edge with the Scallop Edge Punch.

To order your Quick Notes Kit, download the form here. You may use it for reference to order online or complete it and e-mail to me.

Subscribers only: click on "Subscriber & Customer Only Programs" link in the latest newsletter to see the special offer.

"Mom Needs to Work" by Liz Sanpietro

This is an e-book of activities to keep the kids out of your hair while you get things done.  It was designed for work-at-home moms, but I can certainly see its uses for work-at-home grandmas and grandpas, too.  Not to mention stamp-at-home and scrap-at-home moms, dads, or siblings!

Check it out here.

50/50 Board Winner Congratulations

Congratulations to Michele Nothwang, winner of the $50.00 gift certificate from my 50/50 Board.

Too see more about my 50/50 Board, click here.

Contest Winner - September 2008 - Frances Evans

Congratulations, Frances!

Her card shows a very clever use of the My Way Punch, in addition to the Scallop Circle Punch, the 1-3/8" Circle Punch and the 1/16" Circle Handheld Punch.
Stamp Set:Labelicious

Card Stock & Paper: Always Artichoke, Apricot Appeal, Cameo Coral and Very Vanilla; Georgia Peach Designer Series Paper

Ink & Color: Old Olive Classic

Accessories: Copper Metallic Cord, the punches listed above, and Stampin' Dimensionals.

Frances wins a $10 gift certificate from me for her choice of Stampin' UP! products.

If you would like to enter my contest, sign up for my newsletter by clicking on the link in the sidebar at the left.  The rules are published every issue.

Punches - Keeping 'Em Sharp & Slick

I was in a discussion about ways to sharpen decorative and image punches and keep them punching smoothly.  Here are some of the ideas I heard.

Sharpen:

• Punch through aluminum foil several times.
• Punch through fine grain sandpaper a couple of times.

Smooth:

• Punch through a couple of sheets of wax paper two or three times.
• Squirt with WD40 or a very light oil (like peanut or sewing machine) and move the punch mechanism up and down several times to coat it evenly.  You have to then punch through some scrap card stock until there is no oil residue.

What are your favorite ways to keep your punches sharp and slick?  Post your tips in the comments section and we'll have them all together!

Celebrate 20 Years of Stampin' UP! ®

This month, Stampin' UP! celebrates its 20th anniversary and has a special sale going on:  20% off selected birthday stamp sets with any $20 or more purchase!  Click here to see more.