Stamp Etching Anniversary - CAS #92

Some colour combos just instantly appeal to you, while others leave you cold and wondering what you would do with them.  I found the "instant appeal" when I tuned in for last week's CAS Colours and Sketches #92 challenge and was instantly engaged and excited to create something. 

For me, the rich mixture of the two neutrals and the blast of Hello Honey got my thought processes in motion and just opened up a whole world of possibilities for me.

Here's My Card:
Ever since I purchased my Blended Bloom single wood stamp this summer I've been dying to try out Lydia Fiedler's stamp etching technique and I knew now was the perfect time.  Here's my card:

Supplies:
Stamp Sets:  Blended Bloom, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Card Stock:  Hello Honey, Basic Black, Whisper White
DSP:  Back to Black Designer Series Paper 
Ink:  Hello Honey, Momento Tuxedo Black  
Accessories:  Scissors, 2 1/2" circle punch, paper trimmer, 
Chevron Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Black  Rhinestones, Crystal Effects, Dimensionals, Modern Label Punch

How'd I Do That:
1.  The card base measures 8 1/2 x 5 1/2" and is scored at 4 1/4. Tip: Did you know that you can create a stack of cards in no time, using Stampin' Up!s Cut and Ready Card Bases?   These pre-cut cards are perfect for making multiples, like holiday cards and party invitations because you get 20 pre-scored, pre-cut cards (4 ea. in 5 colors).  The best part is there's no waste.  Finished card size: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2".  2014-2016 In Color Cut & Ready Card Bases 136661  Price: $5.95

2.The first layer on this is a piece of Whisper White card stock  measuring 5 x 3 3/4".  This piece was mounted to the card base with dimensionals.

3.  The second layer is a piece of Basic Black cardstock measuring 4 7/8 by 3 5/8".  This layer was embossed with the Chevron Embossing Folder and then using the 2 1/2" circle punch I punched out a circle on the right hand side approximately 1/4" from the top, bottom and side edges .

 

3. To fill in the area left by the circle punch, I cut a 2 3/4 x 2 3/4" square of Back to Black DSP and glued this to the back of the black layer, making sure all the edges were firmly in place.  Once finished, this layer was glued to the   Whisper White layer leaving a very small margin on all sides.

4.  The flower was created by stamping the Blended Bloom   image three times on a piece of Hello Honey card stock.  I stamped one full image and then two partial images with just the center parts stamped.  All three pieces were fussy cut with scissors.

Blended Bloom is a single image line stamp that comes in wood mount only.  Priced at only $14.95, this is a perfect set to add to your collection.  It is the perfect stamp for trying out blendabilities and water colour techniques.

5.  Once the ink had dried on the flower images, I took my black Stampin' Up! marker and using the fine tip, followed Lydia's example, and etched around the edges of the petals to give them some depth and dimension.  I coloured in the grooves above some of the petals with the wider tip on the marker.  Once all the etching was done and the flower was assembled with dimensionals, I went over the darker areas with Crystal Effects to add some shine.

Hopefully you can see the layers more clearly in this photo. A grouping of  basic black rhinestones completes the flower center.

5.  The "Happy Anniversary" sentiment from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set was stamped in Momento Tuxedo Black ink on a scrap of Whisper White card stock.  I stamped a small floral flourish from a retired stamp set in Hello Honey ink over top of the sentiment and then sponged the edges with Hello Honey.

To pop up the sentiment and give it more focus I punched it out with the Modern Label punch.  To complete the background for the sentiment I punched out two labels in Basic Black cardstock.  I offset and adhered one black label behind the sentiment so that the fluted ends were layered.  I cut the second black label in half and adhered those pieces to the sides of the sentiment.  For a final decorative touch, I added some small jet black rhinestones.  

Tip:  Did you know that if you don't have coloured rhinestones to match your project you can colour them with alcohol ink markers?  That's right, easy peasy just use your Blendability or Sharpie markers. 

To keep the inside of the card clean and simple, I re-stamped the floral image in Tuxedo Black ink and added a 1/4" x 5 1/2" strip of basic black card stock.

As a side note, I realized after I looking at the photographs of the flower that I hadn't finished all the etching on the petals so I went back and finished that.  Here's a last look at the card with the additional etching. 
 

This closeup shows the missing strokes that come from the base of the flower petals.  You create these strokes with a a small flicking movement, which Lynda details in her video.  This is a super easy and fun way to add some life to a line image.

And finally, here is my finished card:

 

 I hope you enjoyed this post and will take the time to leave me a comment.  I'd like to know if you've ever tried the etching technique and if so on what stamped image did you use it on.  

Happy Stampin!
Penny Tokens

World Card Making Day Event- Sunday October 5, 2014

Although WORLD CARD MAKING DAY is on October 4th, I’m celebrating by holding a Drop-In Open House with my friends on Sunday October 5th.  

I’m looking forward to a fun filled time from 10:00am to 1:00pm and would LOVE for you to join me.

This is a great opportunity to see what’s new in the Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalogue, as well as to try out some new stamps and tools.   

I have great samples to share with you and you’ll create a fun and fast Christmas card, matching envelope and tag at my Make N’ Take table. Oh, did I mention there are deals on used stamp sets and products, snacks, beverages, prizes and more.  See, I told you it would be fun.

So drop me a note or give me a call and reserve your spot. 
RSVP at this link:  http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/pennyhanuszak/events?id=1022234
Phone:  778-880-1296

Basics for Babies Fundraiser in Aldergrove

What did you do on the weekend?  I participated in a wonderful fundraiser in Aldergrove on Saturday with my two down line, Ethel and Sheri.  We had a Stampin' Up! vendor table and shared what we love - Stampin' Up, with a lot of great scrappers from the Fraser Valley area.  

This is part of our display.  I made an Autumn themed banner, which you can see at the top of the picture.

Here is the card display board I brought with all my current samples as well as some 3-D samples from last Christmas.  I wanted to give participants a good idea of the range of things that can be made with Stampin' Up! products. 

Some of the cards that I've recently entered in Challenges you can see the details for these in posts since May of this year to current day.  It's hard to believe I've made that many different cards, until you get them all lined up like this.  I guess I have been busy!

Most of the Christmas items displayed here were made with products from last year's Holiday Catalogue.  All of the tutorials for these projects are posted from November to December 2013 on my blog.

Sheri was also selling her Infinity Scarves which are simply gorgeous. 

We also had a lot of the new stamp sets on display as well as MDS Studio free 30-Day trial, Embossing Folder and Card Stock Sample packs  and Project Life.

 

More cards and Card Candy, and you can just catch a glimpse of my Prize Basket with the bright Green bow on the left.

 

I also had some stuff in the back of our table that I was clearing. 

Ribbons, Embroidery hoops, stickers galore, and other non-Stampin' Up! products on my For Sale Table.

I had lots of designer series retired paper for sale and wood mount stamp sets too. 

Oh, and did I mention we had lots of food?  Sheri brought this "to die for" cheese cake sampler, which we had to eat with stir sticks because we didn't bring any cutlery and it was too messy to eat by hand.

 

 

 

 

 

Here's Ethel working on one of her many projects she brought with her.   She is the hardest working gal I know and is always making awesome things.  I'm so proud to have Ethel in my downline!

Sheri worked on some scarves she was knitting and helped with our Make N' Take Table.   I'm so happy that Sheri's on my team too.  We have so much fun stamping together and she's one of the most creative gals I know. 

Remember I said Sheri was creative and funny?  Well here she is showing us how to eat cheese cake on a stir stick.  Next party I'm going to have all my little cut up brownies on stir sticks................... let me tell you they were fun to eat and it looked really cool, and best of all no messy plates to clean up after. 

My prize draw was for a $25.00 gift certificate of Stampin Up Products, five of my cards, a small SU promo stamp and ink spot, and some chocolate.

Basics for Babies is a partnership with the Lower Mainland Food Bank's to assist them in providing for the tiniest in need. The charity was created in 1994 when JRfm General Manager, Gerry Siemens, recognized the chronic shortage of baby necessities at local food banks.

This need for donations for babies never changes except that more people are have recognized the need and are helping to raise more awareness and funding specifically for this program at local food banks.  JRfm radio station reports that the Vancouver Food Bank alone provides more than $150,000 in baby items per year and it's difficult to imagine all those little babies in need out there.

JRfm created a partnership with Food Banks BC to ensure that all babies in the Lower Mainland get the nutrition they need. There are a total of 93 member food banks across the province associated with Food Banks BC.  

Their vision is a hunger-free future, and they work hard to support and inspire each one of their member food banks so that they can in turn, achieve hunger-free communities all over BC.   

Last year, our food banks in BC helped close to 100,000 people throughout the province... 30% WERE CHILDREN!  Since 1994, the JRfm listeners, have donated more than 1.86 million dollars in cash and over 400,000 pounds of diapers, formula, baby food and pabulum.

How Can You Support This Worthy Cause?

 Make a Donation - This is What is Needed Most:

• Cash Donations can be made online at the JRfm link above 
• Diapers (especially larger sizes of 4, 5 & 6)
• Formula (including soy-based due to allergies)
  
• Baby food
  
• Baby cereal
• Diaper Cream, Shampoo, Baby Wipes, Baby Bottles and Pacifiers
  

Note:  Please avoid donating Clothing, Blankets & Toys.

Make Basics For Babies Your Workplace's Charity This Year

Throw a fundraiser, make it a party! However you want to help out, your workplace can collect cash, diapers, formula or pabulum for babies who need help in your city.  DEADLINE for all workplace donations: December 17, 2014.

 

Happy Anniversary............. CCMC319

Another beautiful Tuesday and my stamping friend Sheri and I spent some great quality time together this morning, starting with a walk in the sunshine.  We returned all revved up and ready to stamp.  

Earlier in the day I'd printed off some of this past week's sketch and colour challenges, so we spent some time looking at various ones before deciding to do the Create With Connie and Mary CCMC319 challenge.   

Although we both worked on the same sketch you'll see that our cards are totally different, and that's the whole point of doing a challenge.  To check out Sheri's card click here.   I hope you'll also check out the wonderful cards from the CCM design team and other submissions and leave them some comments.  
Here's the Sketch: 

Here's My Card:

Supplies:
Stamp Sets:  Kinda Eclectic, Teeny Tiny Wishes, Full of Life (R)
Ink:  Momento Tuxedo Black, Smokey Slate
Card Stock:  Pink Pirouette, Smokey Slate, Basic Gray, Whisper White, Silver Glimmer Paper  
Accessories:  Beautiful Baroque Embossing Folder, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Oval Framelits, Bitty Banner Framelits, Elegant Butterfly Punch, Basic Rhinestones, Trimmer, Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Sticky Strip.

How I Assembled It: 

1.  The card base was cut from Basic Gray card stock measuring 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" and folded at 4 1/4".

2.  The Pink Pirouette layer measures 3 1/2" x 5 1/2" and was embossed with the Beautiful Baroque Embossing Folder.  Before adhering this piece to the card base, I put sticky strip down each long edge of the layer and adhered strips of Silver Glimmer paper that measured 1/2" x 5 1/2".  I attached this whole layer to the card base with sticky strip.

3.  The oval layers were made by cutting out two ovals, one in Smokey Slate and one in Silver Glimmer paper, with the #2 framelit from the Ovals Collection Framelits (see picture below).  Using the #3 size framelit I cut out a Basic Gray oval.  The smaller Smokey Slate and Silver Glimmer Ovals were offset so that the glimmer one only slightly shows on the left side of the Smokey Slate oval.  I used Glue Dots to adhere the glimmer paper to the cardstock, and then dimensionals were added to the back.  Once this piece was attached to the larger oval then the entire element was mounted to the bottom left of the card with sticky strip.

4.  The butterfly from Kinda Eclectic was stamped in Smokey Slate ink on Smokey Slate card stock and then punched out with the Elegant Butterfly Punch.  I punched out butterflies in Basic Gray and Pink Pirouette using the Beautiful Wings Embosslit and then adhered them below and above the stamped butterfly image.  

Beautiful Wings Embosslit is one of my favourite die cuts.  Just look at all those cute little butterflies

Basic Rhinestones were added to the smallest butterfly image.  The butterfly embellishment was then attached to the oval embellishment with dimensionals and glue dots.  I usually cut the dimensionals into smaller pieces and strategically place them on the underside of the butterfly to make it look like it's in flight.
 

Kinda Eclectic is a 6 piece stamp set that comes in clear and wood mount styles. 

5.  The sentiment Happy Anniversary from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set was stamped in Momento Tuxedo Black ink on a small strip of Pink Pirouette card stock.  This piece was then cut out with the Bitty Banners Framelits and adhered to the Oval with glue dots and dimensionals. 

The Bitty Banner Framelits are ideal for making small framelits.  They match the Itty Bitty Sentiments stamp and can be purchased for 15% off as a bundle. 

Teeny Tiny wishes is an ideal 24-piece sentiment stamp to have in your collection.  It covers almost every occasion.  This set comes in wood, clear and brush stroke versions (MDS).

6.  For the inside of the card I used a 3 3/4" x 5 " piece of Whisper White card stock with a stamped  sentiment from the retired Full of Life stamp set.  The sentiment I'd chosen was a love theme, however I have to confess that somehow I grabbed the wrong stamp and didn't realize it until I added the pictures to this post.  Can you see my red face?  It's glowing with embarrassment.   

Don't worry before I give this to the lucky couple that are celebrating their anniversary, I'll be redoing the inside of the card.  Lol!  That's a new one on me!

Okay here's one last look at this card.  Hope you'll leave me some comments and let me know what kind of goof ups you've made that have left you with a red face.  I'd love to hear about it, and will reward the funniest story with some card candy.  

Happy Stamping!
Penny Tokens  

Making A List and Checking It Twice....... PCCCSC#108

When I saw the sketch by Paper Craft Crew Card Sketch Challenge this week,  I had a pretty good idea where I was going with it. To begin with, the sketch simply screamed "letter or postcard", so I knew I had to roll out something with that theme in mind.  

Even though there are crystal clear skies and it's 30 degrees outside, one thing led to another and I was on my way to making my first Christmas card of the season.  I hope you enjoy the sketch PCCCSC#108 and my rendition. 

Here's the Sketch Challenge:

Here's My Card:

Supplies:
Stamp Sets:  Santa's List (R), Post Card, Postage Due, The Open Sea
Ink:  Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede
Card Stock:  Crumb Cake , Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Champagne Glimmer Paper
Accessories:  Small Star Punch(R), Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack, Postage Stamp Punch, Modern Label Punch, Candy Dots (Neutrals - Soft Suede, Regals - Cherry Cobbler), Trimmer, Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Sticky Strip

The Post Card stamp is timeless and I never get tired of creating with it.  This set comes in wood, clear and brush stroke images (MDS).

The Postage Due stamp set is perfect for those romantic travel type cards and scrapbook pages.  It has four beautiful images and comes in wood, clear and brush stroke images (MDS).

How I Made It:

1. Cut the card base from Crumb Cake to measure 8 1/2 x 5 and fold at 4 1/4"
2. Cut a piece of Cherry Cobbler to measure 3 6/8" x 4 7/8" for post card layer
3. Cut a piece of Cherry Cobbler to measure 2 3/4 x 6/8" to mount the sentiment on
4. Cut a piece of Cherry Cobbler to measure 1/2" x 5" for the strip on the inside panel
5. Stamp the Post Card stamp on a 4 x 5" piece of Very Vanilla card stock with Soft Suede Ink. On a 1 1/2" x 5" piece of Very Vanilla re stamp the post card stamp but just capture the top portion of the stamp.   Cut the full post card image to measure 4 3/4" x 3 3/8".  Sponge the edges with Crumb Cake. Stamp the list from the Open Sea set in Crumb Cake on the right hand side of the post card, and then stamp the Santa from Santa's List on the left hand side in Cherry Cobbler.  Mount this piece onto the 3 6/8" x 4 7/8" layer of Cherry Cobbler. Put dimensionals on the back side and set aside.
6. Cut the second image with the "post card" and scroll work image down to 4" x 1".  Sponge the edges with Crumb Cake.
7. Cut a 1/2" x 4 1/4" strip of Champagne Glimmer paper and adhere it to the left hand side of the card base.  I wanted to see a little bit of the Crumb Cake from the card base beside the glimmer paper, so I left a 1/8" margin on the outside edge.  Use glue dots on the back of the Post Card strip and position it over the Glimmer Strip leaving an 1/8" margin on three sides.  The reason you use Glue Dots instead of sticky strip is that they adhere better to the glitter base. 
8. To build the stamp layer, stamp two images of the 2 cent stamp from  Postage Due in Cherry Cobbler ink.  Fussy cut around the edges of one of the images and sponge edges with Cherry Cobbler.  Cut around the "2 cent square" on the second stamped image and sponge the edges.  Punch out a 1" piece of Champagne Glimmer paper with the 1" square punch and adhere the two cent square with glue dots.  Trim the glimmer paper to 1/8" on all sides of the 2 cent block. Pop this piece up with dimensionals to the center of the first stamp image.
9. Using the Postage Stamp Punch punch out a piece of Soft Suede card stock and then adhere the stamped image to this piece.  Adhere the layered stamp in the top right hand corner of the post card and place three candy dots beneath it. 
10. Stamp the sentiment "He's making a list........" in soft suede on a small scrap of Very Vanilla card stock. Punch out this piece with the Modern Label Punch and sponge edges with Crumb Cake.  Adhere the sentiment to the 2 3/4" piece of Cherry Cobbler and mount beneath the Santa image with dimensionals.  Note:  The sentiment is larger than the Modern Label punch so in order to get everything in I cut the strip I'd stamped the sentiment on to measure 1/2" by 3" with the sentiment centered in the middle.  I then inserted each end of it into the Modern Label punch from the top of the punch and just punched each side separately.  Once finished I sponged the sentiment with Crumb Cake ink.
11. Punch out two small stars from the Champagne Glimmer Paper with the Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack and attach them to the sentiment label with glue dots.  
12. For the inside panel cut a piece of Very Vanilla card stock to measure 3 3/4" x 5" and sponge the edges with Crumb Cake ink.  Stamp the sentiment "Hope you're nice." in the top right hand corner in Soft Suede ink.  Punch out 2 small stars and one Itty Bitty star and mount with glue dots below the sentiment.
13. Cut a strip of Champagne Glimmer Paper measuring 3/8" x 4 7/8" and mount to the strip of Cherry Cobbler.  Attach this strip 1/4" from the bottom of the card liner with sticky strip.  

Although this looks like a lot of work, once I decided where everything was to go, it assembled really quickly. 
 

It's fun how the list from the Open Sea just seemed fitting for this card.  It's stamped in Crumb cake ink.  I deviated from the sketch by adding my stars to the outside of the sentiment rather than two larger sized stars beneath it.  It seemed to work better this way.  If you look really close to the left hand side of the picture you can see the Champagne Glimmer paper just peaking out beneath the post card banner. 

It's very hard to see in this picture but the glimmer square just beneath the 2 cent block adds just enough of a glimmer to add extra interest to this element.  I can't seem to get enough of these Candy Dots, they are so handy to use.  They come in each of the colour families and really add a nice finishing touch to a card or scrap book page, when just a small element is needed.

Here's a full view of the inside of the card.  The strip at the base of the card seems to pull the everything together and give it balance.

For the stars I used the retired Stampin' Up small star punch and the star from the Itty Bitty Accents punch pack. They are the perfect size to group together and look so dazzling when punched on glimmer paper!

Here's one last look at my card.  Leave me a note and let me know if you've started making Christmas cards yet, and what your favourite seasonal stamp sets are.  I'm still using retired stamp sets first because I love them and secondly because I'm waiting for my Holiday Catalogue order to come in next week.  I can't wait to start creating with my new White Christmas and House stamp  sets. 

I hope you'll check out all the wonderful design team and participant cards over at  the Paper Craft Crew site and leave them a comment or two while you're at it.  As always, there's a really great selection of cards.

Happy Stamping! 
Penny Tokens 

Fancy Friday Blog Hop Challenge

Today I found a really fun challenge on Connie Collin's Constantly Stamping blog.  It's called the Fancy Friday blog hop. 

This challenge, presented by the Fancy Friday Blog Hop is to create a project using the beautiful color palette found on this chair from faceliftfurniture.com.  

The way this challenge works is really simple, you just have to use any or all of the colors in this palette plus neutrals to create a stamped project and post a comment on any of the Fancy Friday blog hop blogs, with a link to the project.  Now that is pretty simple.  Oh and did I mention that by playing along I'll be entered for a chance to win the Seasonally Scattered stamp set?   

Here's My Project:

 

The colours in the chair palette simply screamed "Fall" and "Thanks Giving" to me, so I knew I wanted to make a card with that kind of theme. As yet, I don't have any of the new fall stamps so I decided to dust off my Wonderfall* stamp set and coordinating  Autumn Accents Bigz Die Cuts .   I was stuck for a sentiment stamp until my friend Sheri loaned me her "Let Your Hair Down" hostess stamp set and once I saw it, I knew what I was going to do. 

The Autumn Accents Bigz Die contains 4 leaf images.  Although the Wonderfall stamp set is retired, you can still purchase the MDS Digital "Wonderfall" package for only $8.85.  Click here to see the Wonderfall Album on My Digital Studio.

The Let Your Hair Down hostess stamp set is available for free if you place an on-line order in my store for $200+ or hold a workshop in your home or mine with sales over $200.  Check out my event calendar for the month of September there are lots of opportunities for workshop nights.

I used all the colours in the colour palette plus Whisper White card stock for my neutral colour.  When you're making a card like this the "stamp-a-ma-jig" is your best friend in your stamping tool box, as it helps to keep your stamped sentiment perfectly spaced and aligned.  

Remember to clean your stamps before changing the colour for each stamped line.  TIP:  Since this is such an easy card to make I would suggest you stamp off several of the sentiment layers, a line at a time, and set them aside for other cards. I'd do the same with the leaves and stamp several of the images in various colours and then set them aside.  That way you are not having to clean and wipe off your stamps as much.

I simply love this bouquet of leaves tied up with some linen thread.  All of the layers are adhered together with glue dots, except for the acorn which was mounted with dimensionals. 

This is a view of the inside of the card.  The sentiment from the retired Friend to Friend stamp set is stamped in Blackberry Bliss ink.  The large leaf in Island Indigo was stamped directly to the card liner but the two acorns
were stamped separately and then adhered with dimensionals.  
 
Supplies:
Stamp Sets:  Wonderfall (R), Friend to Friend (R)
Ink:  Island Indigo, Tangelo Twist, Blackberry Bliss, Real Red, Early Espresso 
Card Stock and Measurements: 

• Card front measuring 4 1/4" x 11 was cut from Early Espresso and then embossed with the Hounds tooth Embossing Folder (R).  
• The next layer on the card front is a piece of Real Red measuring 4" x 4 3/4"
• The final layer of Whisper White measures 3 3/4" x 4 1/2"  
• The inside layer of Whisper White measures 5 x 3 3/4" 

Scraps of Whisper White were used for the leaf images.

Accessories:  Stampa-ma-jig, Autumn Accents Bigz  Die, Big Shot Machine, Hounds tooth Embossing Folder, Linen Thread, dimensionals, glue dots. 

Okay folks that's it for today's stamping!  Glad you dropped by for a visit, and I hope you liked this card and will follow the links in the blog hop.

Happy Stampin'
Penny Tokens