Society of Stampaholics

Smile Card

I'm not sure why I have such a predilection for the Edwardian Period. It may be my early exposure to The Little Colonel series of books. (Yes, it takes you all the way through Lloyd's wedding and then some). Or it could be my falling in love with A Room with a View back in the '80's.  

I love the fashions, the hairstyles, the jewelry, the architecture, the whole feel of that era, and if anybody cares to make a movie or television series set in that time period, I'll automatically give it a look-see, no questions asked. This is why I first decided to watch Downton Abbey on Netflix, and, like the rest of the world, it had me hooked with the first episode. 

As a new staffer at Scrapbook News & Review online magazine, I decided to use DA's costumes as my inspiration for the five card tutorials that will be appearing under my byline for the next issue, and I must tell you....

I. Had. A. Blast.

If you are struggling with your mojo at all, I highly recommend turning to Downton Abbey for inspiration - it won't let you down!

Downtononline.com's photo galleries have EVERY costume worn on the show. 

(So, like, skedaddle on over there and check it out!)

I ended up making more than five cards, and I chose to send one of them to Greta for February's CCC. Technically, I blew the rules (I'm stretching it to fit a generic "Smile" greeting to cover friendship), but I loved this card so much, it had to go somewhere immediately, by cracky! Aaaaanyway, this card is based on a conglomeration of some of the Lady Mary's hats.

I N S T R U C T I O N S

1. Make card base.
2. Cut PP panel (.75" x 5.5") and lace (about 6").
3. Wrap lace around card front and adhere.
4. Adhere PP panel, then feathers.
5. Punch tag, stamp sentiment, and adhere.
6. Stack and adhere flowers and gems.

T I P S

I didn't have any suitable lavendar gems, so I colored some clear ones with a Copic. (You can also use Sharpies.)

Temporarily adhere the tag to your work surface to keep it in place while you stamp the sentiment. 

S U P P L I E S

Supplies not included below: I couldn't find an exact match for the Prima flowers I used, so I gave what I hope is a suitable substitute. I've purchased all of my Prima flowers at Hobby Lobby, Michaels, and Archivers, so you shouldn't have any trouble finding them!

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Thanks for stopping and have a blessed day!
Deborah

If you enjoyed this post, please hit the G+ button below (listed next to the Twitter button right above the comments). I need to establish my author rank ASAP for professional reasons. Thank you so much!

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Happy Graduation Card

2013 March Card Chain Challenge Sign Up!

Welcome to the March, 2013, Card Chain Challenge!

In addition to our usual fun, I've got a prize (to be selected by random generation) for one of our participants, and here is it:

Challenge explained. If you're new to the CCC, it's fairly simple. This is an international card exchange - you sign up to send one handmade card to the person above you on the list, and you will receive one handmade card from the person below you on the list. I also do a reveal of all the cards with links to the challenge participants' blogs / online photo galleries. Please read the Rules and FAQ's if you want to play along. :~D

See example. If you want to see a past CCC reveal, go here.

Creative options. Make a card that uses at least one of the following four options. You can actually use two, three, or all four, but you are only required to use one of them.

Color Palette  

These colors are your guideline - exact matching is not necessary.

OR

Sketch

OR

One of the following themes:

April Fool's Day  or  Trees (in honor of Arbor Day)  or  Friends

OR

One of the following products:

Brads  or  Buttons

You have until Wednesday, March 17, 11:59 p.m., EST, to sign up below and email me a photo of your card (please include a link to your blog/photo gallery). Please sign up using your first name and your state, province or country. EX: Ann from Texas; Betty from Ontario; Cathy from Wales; Darla from Italy.

Thanks for stopping and have a blessed day!

Deborah

If you enjoyed this post, please hit the G+ button below (listed next to the Twitter button right above the comments). I need to establish my author rank ASAP for professional reasons. Thank you so much!

Video: You're a Star

I made a card for the February card challenge at the Hero Arts blog. I decided to be really radical and chose the option to make a card with a "unique fold." As you can see below, my fold change-up is pretty tame, but it's not the "same ol', same ol'" so it counts! (I think it's called a gate fold when you have each side fold into the middle, but don't hold me to that.)

 

I had to remake the card for the video, so here's version #2 - almost identical, as you can see.

Can you spot the seven differences in these two photos? Be careful - one of them is really tricky! (Answers at the end of the post.)

V I D E O

 

T I P 

I used a sentiment stamp that reads "You're a Sweetheart", but the capital "y" had a hanging tail that was too long for my banner. So I decided to ink the first two words with VersaMark and then wipe the ink off the tail of the "y." I ended up with an almost invisible "You're a." After the ink had dried, I took a finepoint marker and traced all of the lowercase letters and the top of the "y." I drew my own tail for the "y" so it would fit on the banner. Easy-peasy!

S U P P L I E S

Did you find the seven differences in the photo? They are: 

1. Card #1's banner is higher on the card;
2. The gems are placed differently on each card;
3. The striped star is stamped on different patterned papers;
4. Card #2's smallest star is stamped with a star in its center;
5. Card #2's background is black; 
6. Card #2's smallest star is adhered with foam dimensional squares;
7. The stamp of the large star is oriented differently in the two cards (Card #1's center-most "STAR" is upside down).  

If you enjoyed this post, please hit the G+ button below (listed next to the Twitter button right above the comments). I need to establish my author rank ASAP for professional reasons. Thank you so much!

Thanks for stopping and have a blessed day!

Deborah

Chupa's Challenge

I was popping about and decided that the sketch challenge at Chupa's blog, Random Acts of Creativity, looked like the kind of thing I would struggle with. Not that there's anything wrong with the sketch. It's a great sketch. 

But I know myself, and I know when I see a sketch that will give me trouble. I decided to do it because I really need to grow (creatively) and it's not going to happen if I never face those challenges that seem difficult or intimidating.

So here's the sketch:

And here's my (very literal) take:

SUPPLIES

(Not pictured) Bazzill cardstock; ombre ribbon (May Arts?)

*My Mind's Eye 6 x 6 OLIVER Paper Pad Lost & Found 3 LF3013 *Clear Hero Arts Stamps FRIENDS cl351 ClearDesign Spring *Inkadinkado 2 CLEAR on Acrylic Blocks SMALL & MEDIUM for Rubber Stamp 93625 *Tim Holtz Distress Ink PAD WILD HONEY Yellow Ranger Ranger Adirondack DYE INK PAD ESPRESSO Brown *Hero Arts Bling GEMSTONES CLEAR Gems ch181 *Kaiser NATURAL Lace Pack Beacon Fabri-Tak Adhesive *Tombow Adhesive Craft Stamp DOT PATTERN Runner 62162 Permanent *Scrapbook Adhesives 126 3D WHITE FOAM SQUARES Adhesive *Glue Dots 3/16 MINI DOT N GO Disposable Dispenser Adhesive *Ranger Inkssentials GLOSSY ACCENTS Glue Dimensional Adhesive *Tim Holtz Tonic Craft SCISSORS Non Stick Micro Serrated *Tonic Studios 12"" INCH PAPER TRIMMER Guillotine Cut Trim *Ranger Inkssentials Non Stick CRAFT SHEET Reusable 15 X 18 Stamp Paint Ink *Ranger Inkssentials INK BLENDING TOOL Applicator Foam IBT23616 Hero Arts LONG AND CUTE TAGS Frame Cuts Dies 2012 DI046 *Hero Arts GEOMETRIC SHAPES Frame Cuts Dies 2013 di059 (W) *Cuttlebug A2 Embossing Folder SWISS DOTS Provo Craft 37-1604

InLinkz.com

I'm not sure how I feel about this card. I struggled a lot with it, but I was eventually satisfied enough to pronounce it finished. I'm never very confident when working with multiple patterns. Some people are brilliant with the mix-and-match.

I, however, am not one of them.

I should have a video for you on Sunday - another struggle - I was all butterfingers and my battery died at one point - lol! If it could go wrong this afternoon, it did! We'll see what we get in the editing room.

Thanks for stopping and have a blessed day!

Deborah

Happy Valentine's Day!

In honor of Valentine's Day, I thought I'd post a lighthearted Memory Box Valentine's card! (You can also use this as an anniversary, engagement, or wedding card.) And I think I'll also enter it in a few challenges (see information below).

I N S T R U C T I O N S 

1. Make 4.25” x 4.25” card from Raspberry cardstock.
2. Cut Licorice and Bubblegum panels and adhere. 
3. Die cut Tupelo Circle from white, and adhere to card.
4. Die cut letters from Licorice and adhere.
5. Die cut Precious Heart Box’s scalloped heart and Owl Heart Tree Set’s medium heart from Currant PP and adhere. 
6. Place girl heart’s googlie eyes and lightly outline the top half with pencil; go over with black pen and draw eyelashes.
7. Adhere googlie eyes on both hearts.
8. Die cut Moustache Set’s small moustache and Hugs & Kisses’ two “o”s and one heart from Licorice.
9. Adhere the two “o”s around the boy’s eyes, the heart as the girl’s lips, and the moustache (with pop-dots).
10. Adhere pearls.

T I P

Spray adhesive is excellent for quickly securing a very intricate and delicate die-cut. 

S U P P L I E S

Supplies: Card: Licorice, Raspberry, White; Patterned Papers: Currant, Bubblegum; Dies: LC Alphabet, Precious Heart Box,  Owl Heart Tree Set, Tupelo Circle,  Moustache Set, Hugs & Kisses; Accents: pearls, googlie eyes; Other: pop-dots

*Memory Box HUGS AND KISSES Craft DIE 98501 *Memory Box PRECIOUS HEART BOX Craft DIE 98523 *Memory Box MOUSTACHE SET Craft DIE 98469 *Memory Box TUPELO CIRCLE Craft DIE 98500 Memory Box OWL HEART SET Craft DIE 98529 Memory Box LARGE Classic LC Alpha Die (98435) *Hero Arts 48 Count 3mm SMALL ACCENT PEARLS ch136 *Hero Arts 36 Count 5mm MEDIUM ACCENT PEARLS ch137 *Darice PASTE ON EYES Googly Embellishments ME4 *Zentangle 3 PENS SET Sakura 50012 *Tombow Adhesive Craft Stamp DOT PATTERN Runner 62162 Permanent *Scrapbook Adhesives 126 3D WHITE FOAM SQUARES Adhesive *Ranger Inkssentials GLOSSY ACCENTS Glue Dimensional Adhesive *Krylon SPRAY ADHESIVE All Purpose *Tonic Studios 12"" INCH PAPER TRIMMER Guillotine Cut Trim *Memory Box METAL ADAPTER PLATE For Intricate Dies 981009 Vagabond Die Cutting Machine *Martha Stewart MINI SCORING BOARD Score Craft Tool 42-05013 New 2012

InLinkz.com

 

Thanks for stopping and have a blessed Valentine's Day!

Deborah

Be My Valentine (#2)

Here's a second version of Be My Valentine - it sort of shows how the same design can be changed up quite a bit.

 

Bazzill Cardstock *Carta Bella DEVOTED 12 x 12 Collection Kit CB-DV9013 Hero Arts Valentine Sayings (CL402) *Hero Arts Memories Rubber Stamp DYE Ink Pad UNICORN 2012 White AF217 *May Arts PINK Silk Ribbon *Wplus9 BANNER TRIO Designer Dies 47095 Spellbinders Nestabilities CLASSIC HEART 6 Dies *s4-137 Nestabilities CLASSIC SCALLOPED HEART Spellbinders *Cuttlebug A2 Embossing Folder SWISS DOTS Provo Craft 37-1604 *Tim Holtz Tonic Craft SCISSORS Non Stick Micro Serrated Vagabond Die Cutting Machine *Tombow Adhesive Craft Stamp DOT PATTERN Runner 62162 Permanent *Scrapbook Adhesives 126 3D WHITE FOAM SQUARES Adhesive *Tombow MONO MULTI Liquid Glue Two Applicators 62191 Beacon Fabri-Tak Adhesive

InLinkz.com

 

Thanks for stopping and have a blessed day!

Deborah

 

Sign Up for the February 2013 Card Chain Challenge

Welcome to the February 2013 Card Chain Challenge! I've decided to add something to the mix this month and see how people respond. I've got a Hero Arts stamp for the person whose card gets the most votes. (I've never tried the InLinkz voting feature before, so I figured I'd give it a shot!)

Here's the stamp (Skyline - K5736):

 

Challenge explained. If you're new to the CCC, it's fairly simple. This is an international card exchange - you sign up to send one handmade card to the person above you on the list, and you will receive one handmade card from the person below you on the list. I also do a reveal of all the cards with links to the challenge participants' blogs / online photo galleries. Please read the Rules and FAQ's if you want to play along. :~D

See example. If you want to see a past CCC reveal, go here.

Creative options. Make a card that uses at least one of the following four options. You can actually use two, three, or all four, but you are only required to use one of them.

Color Palette  

These colors are your guideline - exact matching is not necessary.

OR

Sketch

OR

One of the following themes:

St. Patrick's Day  or  Lions/Lambs  or  Friends

OR

One of the following products:

Chipboard  or  stickers

You have until Saturday, February 16, 11:59 p.m., EST, to sign up below and email me a photo of your card (please include a link to your blog/photo gallery). Please sign up using your first name and your state, province or country. EX: Ann from Texas; Betty from Ontario; Cathy from Wales; Darla from Italy.

Thanks for stopping and have a blessed day!

Deborah