CRAFTDOC

Last week did not include much stamping.  May is my gardening month - I had almost everything done by the Memorial Day weekend.  I don’t know how much longer I can do all my edging and mulching - it is so much work.  But at least I am healthy now and it was good exercise.  Here is how my pond garden looks today:

My other big job last week was to take my daughter to Houghton College for Welcome Weekend.  It was a beautiful weekend on campus.  I even met another mom named Kim Wilson!  Here is Caitlin  walking across the quad on her way to the laptop class.  She asked me if I got a laptop when I went to Houghton.  No comment.

And finally this morning I took some time to be creative.  I combined the WW001 challenge (for demos) and the SC126 challenge (sketch) from www.splitcoaststampers.com to come up with this card:

Stamp Set:  Heartfelt Thanks

Colors: Certainly Celery, Brocade Blue, Pretty in Pink, Barely Banana, Basic Black

The background is stamped in Versamark ink

Technique: Chalkboarding - stamp in Craft White ink, pounce on some pastels with a sponge dauber, add the second step stamp in craft white.

I even used some barely banana eyelets.  I have been so in love with our colored brads that I haven’t used eyelets in ages!

I saw a cool idea about making medallions using the stair steps corner punch and thought that it would make a great monogram card.  The original tutorials that I saw are here and here and Cami has some great variations here

1.  Cut a 2 by 2 inch piece of cardstock (or 2 sided designer paper).

2.  Corner punch all 4 corners using either the stair steps or wrought iron punch.

3.  Fold all 4 corners to the back.

4.  Adhere with a small piece of sticky strip, or put a glue dot on each corner.

5.  Punch out a circles with the 1 1/4 punch, stamp the monogram and layer on top of the medallion.

This card uses the Palette O Prints and Sweet Shop Ribbon.

Stamp set is Typeset Alphabet for both cards.

This last card was a May class by mail project using Au Chocolate designer paper and chocolate chip and very vanilla cardstock.  I think I’ll repeat it for my June techniques class too!

Today’s Tip is for my class by mail participants who might want some help with fraying the grosgrain ribbon for the tag and anyone else who hasn’t tried this cool technique. The strands can get really slippery, so I like to use dental floss threaders.

1.  Cut off the bottom edge of a 6 inch piece of grosgrain ribbon.

2.  Pull the strands down, separating them from the top of the ribbon piece.

3.  Double up the threads, and pull the loop through the hole.

4.  Pull the ends through the loop and tighten.  Trim ends.

Stamp Set:  Typeset Alphabet

Paper:  Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Au Chocolat

Ink:  Chocolate Chip

I’m finally feeling lots better!  Now to get caught up on life.  I made these 2 pages right before I got sick.  My son had 3 different spring concerts (plus rehearsals) in one week!  He made it through like a trooper and I had to tell the story.

The alphabet is Typeset upper.  The faux filmstrip is made with the spiral punch. The notes are another story.  The new cuttlebug dies are out at my Michael’s, but they wouldn’t use a coupon for them.  Finally, after the manager called the company, they now will honor the coupons for bug stuff! 

And the strips of black cardstock that I used to make a staff are yet another story.  I was thinking about designing these pages before I went to bed, and dreamed that I mounted a fudge striped cookie on the page.   When I woke up, I thought that maybe the black cardstock would be a better embellishment!

I have been too sick to stamp this week, so here’s an old one from my files.  I did think to call Stampin’ Up! from my hospital room Wednesday morning to register for convention.  It’s a good thing I remembered since Session I was filled within a few hours!  Now I have to wait for the hotel registration to start this morning - and then back to bed and rest up from this bug.

Now that the retiring stamps list is here, I am pulling out some old favorites to play with!  This card was made for this weeks sketch challenge (SC122)  here on  SCS.

Retiring:  Petal Prints, Vintage Violet cardstock, Vintage Violet stitched ribbon

New:  Palette O’ Prints double sided designer paper (Almost Amethyst) -  May Special

Just a quick one - I need to get some yard work done today while it is nice.

Stamp Set: Polka Dots and Paisley

Ink: Certainly Celery, So Saffron

Paper:  So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Palette O’ Prints

I promised my customers a tip on how to make the most of your ribbon.  My friend Edie is the expert on this technique, but I’ll give it a try. 

1.  Take one end of your ribbon, loop it around a finger and tie it in a knot.

2.  Remove the ribbon from your finger.  Snip the loop in half.

3.  Trim ends, and attach to your card. 

Another tip - I place my ribbon face down onto the glossy sheet leftover from my stamp stickers.  Apply either monoadhesive (SNAIL) or Anywhere glue stick.  Adhere to your project. The excess adhesive just rubs off, and you can use the glossy sheet over and over.

Stamp Set: Warm Wishes

Paper: Mellow Moss, Very Vanilla, Au Chocolat

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Chocolate Grosgrain Ribbon