The Creative Blog Hop

Today, thanks to Heidi Weaver of the blog Stampin Along With Heidi,I am posting as part of a very unique one-time only blog hop.  

Heidi nominated me to play along with the "Creative Blog Hop" and I have to say I was thrilled to accept her invitation. Why?  Well, there are a couple of reasons.  My main one was that Heidi has long been one of my Canadian "stamping idols". Seriously, she is just so uber creative and is always busy on some project that catches my eye! The second reason is that it was a one-time-only commitment. In and out so to speak and I find that awesome. So thanks Heidi, it's a real pleasure to accept your nomination!  

My Project This Week:
As a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator I earned a free stamp set called Painted Petals, when I attended the recent launch of the Spring Occasions Catalogue and Sale-A-Bration flyer.  After using this fantastic set I can honestly say I would have bought it............... it's just the best!  So today I'm going to share with you some of the projects I've made using this 13 piece set.  I hope you love these as much as I do.  

I'm disappointed this picture doesn't show the additional score lines (see step one) on the night of navy card stock.  They really add an extra  "wow"  and super finished look to this card.  

I made this card for a shoe box swap I participated in last week, and it was very well received.  Everyone commented that although it was a quick and easy card to stamp and assemble they thought it had great appeal.  

I have to admit that I had a bit of trouble positioning some of the leaves and petals with my clear mount set, but with a little practice things came together really well. No brushes are required to achieve an amazing watercolour effect, just the ink pad, and because there are 13 stamps in the set, you get lots of versatility in choosing which stamps to stamp with.

Painted Petals You’re Amazing Thank You Card
Stamp Sets:   Gorgeous Grunge, Painted Petals
Ink:   Lost Lagoon, Mossy Meadow, Night of Navy
Card Stock:   Whisper White, Night of Navy, Lost Lagoon
Accessories: Lost Lagoon 3/8” Satin Ribbon, Basic Pearls, Lovely Lace Embossing Folder, Big Shot,  Simply Scored Scoring Tool

Assembly: 
1. Cut card base from Night of Navy card stock. Score at 4 ¼”, 4 ½”, 4 5/8”, 8 2/8”, and 8 3/8” with Simply Scored Scoring Tool.  Note:  The additional score lines add a really nice effect on the face of your card.2. Cut a piece of Whisper White to 5 ¼ x 3 ½” a. Emboss with the Lovely Lace embossing folder.

b. Use the speckled stamp from Gorgeous Grunge stamp set and Lost Lagoon ink to lightly add random speckles

c. Attach a 5 ¼” piece of ribbon to the left hand side leaving a 1” margin. Attach to the back of the Whisper White card stock with sticky strip or tape. Attach bow to ribbon with glue dots. 

d. Use sticky strip to adhere this piece to the front of the card base. Line it up with the scored lines and center. 3. Cut a 3 x 3” piece of Whisper White card stock. a. Stamp speckles with Gorgeous Grunge stamp set for back ground effect. b. Stamp “You Are Amazing” sentiment from Painted Petals in Mossy Meadow inkc. Stamp leaves in Mossy Meadow ink 

d. Stamp flowers in Lost Lagoon and Night of Navy and add pearls to three flower centers.

4. Cut a piece of 3 1/8” x 3 1/8” Lost Lagoon card stock and adhere to the Whisper White stamped piece

The water colour effect in this stamp set is amazing.  Beautiful images with very little effort. 

5. Cut a piece of 3 ¼” x 3 ¼” Night of Navy and adhere the previous two layers to it. Adhere with dimensionals to the right hand side of the Whisper White layer. 6. To finish the inside cut a 5 x 3 ¾” piece of Whisper White card stock. a. Stamp “Thank You” sentiment in center in Mossy Meadow 

b. Stamp the dotted border stamp from Painted Petals in Lost Lagoon ink across the bottom

c. Adhere this piece with sticky strip (only at the top) to the inside of the card.
Voila! You’re Done

Some Additional Projects with this Set:

The Lovely Lace Embossing Folder is so beautiful and there is just so much detail in it.  It's one of my new favourites!

I love the colour mix in this card. I used Hello Honey, Lost Lagoon and Night of Navy.  I've combined Painted Petals with the Butterfly Basics set and they worked well together. 

I'm still working on this card and will be doing a tutorial later on, but I just thought I'd share it here. This is a very simple pop up card that's a lot of fun to make.  

Just Answer the Questions:
As a participant in the Creative Blog Hop I was asked to answer the following four questions:

1)  What are you working on now?  My stamp space is currently cluttered with about 6 different projects.  I'm working on my customer appreciation "thank you" cards and outlines for my spring schedule of classes and stamp clubs and I have a few pop up cards in the making for up coming birthdays.

2) How does your work differ from others in your genre?  I really love vintage style.  I know a lot of stampers who think vintage is passe but for me it rocks.  I'm at my most creative when I'm working with flowers, lace and bows. Soft subtle colours like crumb cake, blushing bride and very vanilla along with basic pearls and taffeta ribbon, really work for me.  Oh and another thing, I like layers, lots and lots of layers. I'm also a sponge addict and love to sponge and distress everything to achieve the look I want. White space and clean and simple terrify me....actually CAS (clean & simple) isn't even in my vocabulary! 

3) Why do you create what you do?  I never felt talented enough to be an artist in the traditional sense but I sought out a variety of arts and crafts over the years in search of something that would fulfill my longing to make beautiful things. I taught myself calligraphy, knitting, crocheting, and every form of stitchery imaginable, and when, quite by accident, I found stamping, it was like my creative world exploded.  I'd finally found a niche where I could be creative and indulge my passion for art work but on a small and timely scale.  I can honestly say paper crafting and sharing what I love has brought me endless hours of joy and happiness. 

4) How does your creativity work?  Oh this is a tough question for me. You see, I'm one of the world's biggest procrastinators, and I have a lot of difficulty making time to stamp. Sometimes it's almost like I'm afraid to take out my stamps and ink them up, which is silly because every waking moment I'm thinking about projects and stamping.  So I think to answer this truthfully, for me the mood has to be absolutely just right, and my Mojo definitely has to be working.  But, when all the stars and planets align, look out because there's nothing that can stop me.  I've been known to jump out of bed in the middle of the night, much to my husband's surprise and consternation, so I can get an idea down on paper, or try something different.  And, I usually don't sleep until it's done, so I'm the epitome of the "late night stamper". 

Inspiration is every where for me and I love to experiment and try new techniques and to demonstrate what I've learned to anyone who wants to learn something new.  

My Nominees For Next Week's Creative Blog Hop:  
And now it's my turn to nominate two great stampers who'll post next Monday February 9th on the Creative Blog Hop. My first nominee is Karen Gilbert from Kamloops, BC. Karen is an incredibly talented stamper who posts videos and tutorials galore on her wonderful blog Simply Said With Karen.  Karen also sends out a fantastic monthly newsletter that's full of tips and information. Although we've never met in person, I feel like I know her from all our on-line communications and I'm happy to to call her a friend.  Please drop by Karen's blog and check out all her wonderful projects and leave her some comments. 

My second nominee is Carol Held from Ontario Canada. Carol's blog Stampin Ribbons is chalk full of ideas.  She is the queen of stamping and crafting videos and produces them prolifically   I know you'll enjoy Carol's projects as much as I do, and hope you'll visit her site and leave her a comment or two.  You won't be sorry.  
Happy Stamping!
Penny Tokens 

Where Did January Go?

Wow!  I absolutely cannot believe we're at the end of January.   2015 seems to be passing me by in a rush and I'm not having any time to do the things I want to do, mainly stamping and posting for you. 

I've been busy organizing events for our community and I apologize but that's the real world and takes precedence over my hobby........ hmmm I think I need to change that.  

Anyway life's been hectic, but I haven't forgotten about any of you.  I've just been involved in a Shoebox Swap event and will have lots of pictures to show you of the cards I made.  Come back again real soon.  


Happy Stamping!
Penny Tokens 

Christmas Cards from Friends Part II

As I mentioned in this post,  I've received some absolutely beautiful hand made cards from friends and family this season. These cards are so outstanding and I wanted to share them with you. 

The first card is from my good friend and fellow stamping demonstrator, Ethel DeTemple from Surrey, BC.  

I smiled when I took this fun Christmas card out of its envelope.  In our world, Ethel is totally the master of decorating cards and tags with her wonderful little owls.  Therefore I was simply thrilled to receive one of her signature cards. She uses the Stampin' Up! Owl Builder Punch for her creations.  

I love how she spotlighted this little gem by adding a window to the card interior.  She also combined a beautiful mixture of smokey slate and pear pizzazz designer series paper for a clean look on her card.  I have to say this card is just amazing inside and out.   Thanks so much Ethel for making my day with this great card! 

View of the interior of the card where she's added another owl image to match the one on the front.  So clever. 

My second card came from another friend and Stampin' Up! demonstrator Debby Evoy who is from the Abbotsford area.  I love Debby's cards.  She's always so creative and likes to try different techniques.  

For this card she stamped on a piece of vellum to create a snowy window scene over top of the beautiful pine bows from the Ornamental Pine stamp set (retired).  This card front is amazing!  It's like looking out a portal at a snow blizzard. Wonderful job Debby, it took my breath away! 

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The top layer of Debbie's card is dry embossed with the Wood Grain Embossing Folder.  It really looks like a front door the way she's layered it with the vellum on this card front.    

The snow is created by stamping the speckled stamp from Gorgeous Grunge in vellum and then heat embossing Whisper White Embossing Powder over top. Simply beautiful technique! 

The third and final Christmas card I want to share with you is from my talented sister Heather Hopson.  This card took ever so long to arrive because of an address mix up,  but when it finally did and I took it out of its envelope, you could have seen my smile from a mile away.  I loved every aspect of this card from the clean and simple lines to the textured embossing and silver pine bow. Well done Heather! 

Well that's it for Christmas 2014 season, but I hope you enjoyed seeing the beautiful cards I received from my friends and family this season.

Happy Stamping!
Penny Tokens 

SPRING OCCASIONS CATALOGUE IS NOW AVAILABLE

The new Spring Occasions catalogue has just gone live and it is one of the most awesome collections of stamping products yet!  If you haven't received a Spring Occasions Stampin' Up! catalogue here's a link to get you started.  

Remember if you shop in my on-line store or at one of my events and make a purchase of $25.00 or more before shipping and handling, in a stamping year, you become eligible for a free copy of this catalogue and all the other catalogues and flyers released during the Stampin' Up! year.  

Happy Stamping!
Penny Tokens

SALE-A-BRATION 2015 IS HERE!

It's the most wonderful time of the year................. Sale-a-bration is finally here!  From now until March 31st you can earn a wonderful free product from the Sale-a-bration Flyer for every $60.00 (before s&h and taxes) you spend on Stampin' Up! products from the Annual or Spring Occasions catalogues. 

It’s Sale-A-Bration Time! With so many ways to participate in Sale-A-Bration and get FREE products, you can’t miss out!

Shop: 
Earn a FREE Sale-A-Bration product for every $60 you spend between January 6 and March 31.  Just click here to go to my on-line store just click on shop now.

Host: 
Hostess Benefits are great during Sale-A-Bration. Host a  Sale-A-Bration party or a virtual event for a chance to earn discounts and extra host dollars!  Contact me to set up a date or discuss the type of party you'd like to host. 

Join: 
It’s a great time to join Stampin’ Up! as a new demonstrator! Join my team during Sale-A-Bration between January 6 and March 31.   Create your own Starter Kit – choose up to $155 in Stampin’ Up! products (from all current catalogues, or clearance rack) and pay only $125.  That's the first step, and then you can choose one of the following limited-time Sale-A-Bration offers available just for new demonstrators:

Option #1: Receive a FREE Simply Created Project Kit from the occasions catalogue with your Starter Kit.

Option #2: Receive 2 FREE Sale-A-Bration items of your choice with your Starter Kit.

You also get free shipping if you join during this event! 

Happy Stampin!
Penny Tokens 

Lovely Lace and a Sneak Peek

I'm counting down the hours until New Years so will do just a quick post today featuring a Sneak Peek from the new Occasions Catalogue that will be available on January 3rd, 2013.

The focal point on this card is stamped with the new Painted Petals stamp set in Whisper White Ink on Early Espresso card stock.  This fun two-step watercolour style stamp set comes with 13 beautifully coordinated stamps and will be available in Wood, Clear and Photopolymer.  That's so exciting!  

I've coordinated this stamp with the Lovely Lace Embossing Folder available in the Annual Catalogue.  I embossed the Early Espresso card base with this folder and then used Whisper White ink and a sponge dauber to bring out the beautiful lace background. 

Once I'd applied enough Whisper White and had heat dried the card stock,  I sponged over over the pattern with Crisp Cantaloupe and Calypso Coral inks  to bring even more life and design to the background.  Wow did it look impressive! I was almost reluctant to cover it up with the center layers.  

I stamped the flowers and one of the sentiments "You're amazingly AMAZING" from the Painted Petals stamp set in Whisper White ink on Early Espresso card stock. Tip: I find that when I'm working with Whisper White ink on a dark background such as Early Espresso, Night of Navy or Basic Black card stock I like to use my heat gun to quickly dry the ink so I don't get any smudging. Don't hold the heat gun too close to the card stock and keep it moving, otherwise you will warp the card.  Once my card stock was dry, I used a light hand and Dazzling Details to give some subtle sparkle to the flowers. 

I sure wish these pictures had turned out better, because the stamping on this card had a real dreamy watercolour effect. I have such poor lighting in this house and it was simply too cold, cloudy and wet outside the day I made this card to take the pictures outside, so unfortunately I had to make do.  I foresee a light box in my future.   

Here is the inside of the card and one last look:

More images from the Painted Petals set for your exclusive Sneak Peek. Enjoy!

Wishing you and your families a most Happy New Year! 

Happy New Year & Happy Stampin!
Penny Tokens 

Silhouettes and Baskets All Occasion Cards

Today I'd like to take a break from sharing Christmas Cards and show two cards I made at one of Cheryl LeFore's stamp club meetings.  Both cards are suitable for "all occasions".  

Stamp Clubs are a really great way to get together with other stampers and friends, learn new techniques and try out new stamp sets and products. That's how I started out stamping and I've never regretted joining one.  

I'll be starting a Stamp Club this Spring, and I'm looking for new and seasoned stampers who want to get together and have fun.  My club will run from April through September and will feature wow techniques, stamp sets and products from the new Spring Occasions catalogue, oh and did I mention fun!  If you're interested in joining in stay tuned for more information, which will be posted in my new tab on the main menu, appropriately called "Stamp Club". 

World of Dreams Silhouette All Occasions Card:

This beautiful card takes less than 15 minutes to assemble and would be wonderful for almost any occasion.  

Supplies:

Stamp Set:     World of Dreams

Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black Ink, So Saffron, Soft Sky

Card Stock:    Basic Black, Whisper White and So Saffron

Accessories:   Oval Framelits Collection Dies, Itty Bitty Accent Punch (flower), Sponge Daubers, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Post It Notes for Mask, 1/8" Black Taffeta Ribbon, Dimensionals, Basic Rhinestones, Wood Grain Embossing Folder, Trimmer and Big Shot.

Here's a view of the full card. Isn't it beautiful?   

 Assembly:

1. Cut an 8 1/2 x 5 1/2" piece of Basic Black cardstock for the card base and score at 4 1/4" for the fold line. 
2. Cut a piece of So Saffron cardstock for the first layer measuring 4" x 5 1/4". Emboss this layer in the Big Shot with the Wood Grain Embossing Folder. 
3. Beforing adhering the So Saffron layer, cut a 6-inch strip of 1/8" Black Taffeta Ribbon and wrap it around the left hand side of the card layer. Secure the ribbon ends to the backside of the layer with scotch tape or sticky strip.  Using another piece of ribbon tie a small bow and adhere it to the front of the card with a glue dot.  
4. Using Ovals Collection Framelit dies, cut an oval from Basic Black using the 5th oval from the center and a Whisper White Oval using the 4th from the center oval die.  Note:  I number my framelits starting from the center outward.
5. Ink up the bird silhouette from World of Dreams with the Momento Tuxedo Black Ink (this ink doesn't smear when it dries so it's really good for these types of images, plus it gives you a clear total coverage), and stamp the image in the center of the Whisper White oval.  
6. Punch out a mask from the Post It Note with the 1 1/4" circle punch and place the circle (sun) over the bird image.
7. Using a sponge dauber sponge the oval with Soft Sky ink working from outside the oval to the inside.  Leave some white space below the nest.
8. Remove the mask and sponge So Saffron ink from the white space up towards the sun, but don't cover the sun, just some of the bottom.  
9. Adhere the ovals together with adhesive, and then add dimensionals to the back of the black oval.  Adhere this layer to the card front, slightly overlapping the ribbon on the left hand side.  
10. From a scrap of So Saffron card stock punch out two flower shapes with the Itty Bitty Accent punch and add to the card front with dimensionals.  Add basic rhinestones to the flower centers.  

This three pack of punches are awesome!  Just the right size when you want to add a little sparkle to your projects.

1. Cut a 3 3/" x 5" piece of Whisper White card stock for the inside of the card.  Stamp the leaf image twice in So Saffron to the bottom left hand corner of this piece.  Do not re-ink between stamping the image, just move the stamp slightly to the right and stamp the second image.  This creates a shadow effect.  Adhere this layer to the inside of the card, and you're done! 

Here is a view of the inside of the card.  You'll see that the leaf image is slightly offset on the second stamping and gives a shadow effect.   To get this effect do not reink your stamp and just move the stamp to slightly to the right of the original image.  Because this card can be used for any occasion I won't stamp a sentiment on the inside until I'm ready to use it.  At that time I would stamp the image in Tuxedo Black ink.   

Basketweave Technique Happy Birthday Card:

The basketweave technique used in this birthday card front is a perfect example of how to use small scrap pieces of designer series paper to add a quick and easy design to a card.  No extra-ordinary skills or equipment are required here.

Supplies:

Stamps:           And Many More 

Ink:                 Lost Lagoon 

Card Stock:     Lost Lagoon, Hello Honey, Whisper White and Basic Grey 

DSP:                Moonlight Designer Series Paper Stack 

Accessories:   Decorative Dots Embossing Folder, Elegant Butterfly Punch, Bitty Butterfly Punch, Trimmer, Adhesive, Big Shot Machine, Basic Pearls and Dimensionals. 

Assembly:

1.  The card base is an 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" piece of Lost Lagoon card stock scored at 4 1/4 for the fold.

2.  The first layer of Hello Honey card stock measures 4" x 5 1/4".  Before adhering this layer to the card base use the Elegant Butterfly punch to punch out one solid butterfly image and then move to another area of the cardstock and punch out a butterfly image with the Bitty Butterfly punch, then center the negative image with the Elegant Butterfly and punch out another large butterfly shape.  This piece will be used for the interior of the card. 

3.  Cut a third layer from Whisper White card stock measuring 3 3/4" x 5" for the card front.  Before adhering this to the Hello Honey layer stamp "happy birthday" from the And Many More stamp set in Lost Lagoon ink in the bottom right hand side of the card, about 1 inch from the bottom and a half inch from the side of the layer. 

This 23 piece mixed style stamp set is perfect for capturing all the occasions in your life.  It comes in Wood and/or Clear Mount style and is available in French, Spanish and Englsh. Check it out for yourself on page 20 of the Annual Catalogue.

4.  Cut a strip of Basic Grey cardstock measuring 1 1/2" x 5" and then embossing it in with the Decorative Dots Embossing Folder in your Big Shot machine .  Adhere this strip on the left hand side of the Whisper White layer, leaving 1/8" of the Whisper White card stock visible on the left hand side.

5.  Okay now the fun part.  Cut six strips measuring 1/2" x 3" from the Moonlight Designer Series Papernpack.  Lay three of the strips vertically on your work surface and starting with one strip weave it horizontally across the vertical strips.  Repeat for the second and third strips.  Flip the woven piece over and adjust so the basket weave is firm and in a square shape, then add sticky strip to hold the shape together.  When you're satisfied with the shape and it won't fall apart attach it to the face of the card on an angle.

6.  Punch out a  Bitty Butterfly shape from a scrap of the coordinating DSP. Mount this small butterfly with dimensionals to the back of the solid Hello Honey butterfly image.  Add small basic pearls down the center of the small butterfly. Add dimensionals to the back of the larger butterfly and mount it to the card front.  

7.  For the inside of the card cut a piece of Whisper White card stock measuring 3 3/4" x 5".  Before mounting this piece to the inside of the card, punch out an Elegant Butterfly shape on an angle from the bottom right hand side of this layer.  

8.  Insert the Hello Honey large butterfly image into the punch out butterfly image.  Flip over the card stock once the butterfly is placed and then secure the butterfly outline very carefully with small strips of sticky strip along the sides of the butterfly.  Note: Make sure you can't see the tape from the other side of the layer.  For some more detailed instructions for this technique click here to see my original tutorial.  You need to scroll down in the post for the detailed pictures.  

9.  Finish the inside layer by stamping "Celebrate" in Lost Lagoon ink.  Stamp the image three times, one image over top of the other without reinking in between stamping. Note:  I just eyeballed this in the stamp camp meeting, but if I were doing it at home I would've used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to get the placement of the sentiment just right.  Enough said.  When you're finished stamping adhere this layer to the inside of the card with sticky strip on all sides. 

  

Hope you enjoyed these "non-Christmas" cards today.  Drop by and leave me a comment or if you have any questions about the tutorial I'd be happy to hear from you.

Happy Stampin!

Penny tokens