Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #127 - Judy's "All About Birthdays Challenge"

Here we are again for another Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  This week Judy is hosting an "All About Birthdays" challenge.

This challenge is open until Monday July 17th at 5pm Mountain Time.  We hope you'll join us.  All the details for linking up your creation and our rules are posted on the home page of the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge Blog.  See you there!  

Here's My Card:

At the end of May before Stampin' Up transitioned into the new Annual Catalogue, I had an opportunity to purchase the Life Me Up Bundle featuring hot air balloons and clouds.   For this week's Watercooler Wednesday challenge I've made a Birthday card using this set and a fancy fold card called a Double Z Joy card, and I'm so excited to share it with you.

Supplies:
Stamp Sets:  Lift Me Up (142896) and Birthday Blooms (140658)
Ink: Night of Navy
Card Stock: Whisper White, Night of Navy and Silver Glimmer Paper (135314)
DSP:  Carried Away Designer Series Paper from the Spring Occasions Catalogue (Retired)
Accessories: Paper Trimmer, Big Shot, Heat Gun, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Bone Folder, Up and Away Thinlet Dies (142748), Tom Bow Glue, Tear N' Tape, Dimensionals.

Details:
1.  The card base  is Whisper White Card Stock measuring 11" x 4 1/4" and is scored at 2 3/4" and 5 1/2".  I used my bone folder to burnish the mountain and valley folds on the card base.

2. Before adding the Z fold panel decorate the card base with DSP and stamping. Begin on the front panel by adhering a 2 1/2 x 4" piece of DSP.  I absolutely adored this Carried Away DSP and couldn't wait to cut into it.  On the For the center panel stamp a collage of large and small balloons and clouds with Night of Navy ink.  Cut a 4" x 5 1/4" piece of DSP and adhere on the back panel. 

3. The Z Fold begins with a 10" x 2 3/4" piece of Night of Navy card stock scored at 2 3/4" and 5 1/2".  Before decorating, attach the Z Fold Panel to the center of the card base. To begin adhere two strips of Tear N' Tape to each of the end panels of the Z fold and remove the strips from the adhesive part. Now close the card base and hold the Z fold panel over the center of the card base.  Eye-ball where you want to place the Z fold and then press it down to the card base.  Your Z fold is now attached and ready for finishing.

4. To decorate the front panel cut a piece of Whisper White card stock 2 1/2" x 4 1/4" and adhere to the first panel of the Z fold. Stamp the sentiment "Hope Your Day......." in Night of Navy Ink in bottom right corner.  Using the Up and Away Thinlet Die cut out three clouds from Silver Glimmer Paper and adhere with Mini and Regular Dimensionals above the sentiment.  Using the Up and Away Thinlet Dies cut out a Night of Navy and a Silver Glimmer Paper hot air balloon.  Offset the balloon images with the silver one on the bottom and glue together with Tom Bow glue.  Adhere the balloon die cut to the front panel  and card base with dimensionals. Note:  I purposefully did not remove the slats from the basket on the die cuts so I would have a solid surface to put my glue and dimensionals on. 

5.  To finish the Z fold decorating cut two 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" piece of Whisper White card stock and adhere to the center and end panels. Cut a 2 1/4" x 2 1/4" piece of DSP and adhere on the center panel.  Note:  When you cut this piece try to keep the design looking the same as the other DSP pieces.  Finish off the Z fold by stamping the sentiment "Happiest of Birthdays To You" from the Birthday Blooms stamp set in Night of Navy.         

And that's it!  This is a quick and easy card to make.  Remember when you are cutting DSP that has an up and down pattern to make sure all pieces are cut in the same direction.  I'm totally in love with this Balloon and Mountain scene from the Carried Away DSP and didn't want to waste any of it with miss-cuts so I cut the 12 x 12  paper into two 6" x 12" strips and then cut my remaining pieces from these.  

Well that's it for today's card.  I hope you enjoyed my pictures and details on how to make this card and that it inspires you in some way.  As always, I appreciate your leaving me comments as it in turn helps to inspire me. Before you get on your way use this link to check out the birthday cards from the rest of the Watercooler Wednesday Design team.  You'll find some great inspiration there.  

Happy Stamping!
Penny Tokens Stampin' Spot 

Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #126 - Fiona's Feminine "Anything Goes" Challenge

Well it's a whole new month, and we're starting it off with a fresh new look.  What do you think of our new banner and badges?  It was time to update our Watercooler Wednesday image and I think that Heidi Weaver and Marsha Reid have done an excellent job of recreating our look.  I'm loving it and I think it's very modern and cool looking.  

This week's WWC126 challenge, hosted by Fiona Whitehead has a "Feminine" Anything Goes theme. 

If you're interested in playing along with this challenge all the rules can be found on the Watercooler Wednesday Home Page.  This challenge runs until 5:00pm MT Monday June 10th, 2017.   

Here's My Card: 
With summer finally heating up this week, I've noticed one of Nature's true wonders, the dragonfly, is back.  I've spotted several around my garden and have watched them in fascination.  Because they've so inspired me, I decided to feature dragonflies on my Feminine "Anything Goes" card this week.

Supplies: Stamp Sets:  Dragonfly Dreams and Beautiful You
Card Stock:  Whisper White and Tranquil Tide
Ink:  Tranquil Tide
Accessories:  Paper Trimmer, Basic Rhinestones, Tom Bow Glue, Wink of Stella, Score Pal.

Dimensions:1.  Card Base measures 8" x 7 1/4" and is scored at 4". Whisper White.

2.  1st Layer - 3 1/4" x 6 5/8" Tranquil Tide

3.  2nd Layer - 3 1/8" x 6 1/2" 

4.  I stamped two Dragonfly images from Dragonfly Dreams on the 2nd layer in Tranquil Tide ink and added 5 Basic Rhinestones to the body of each of them.  The sentiment "Live with Passion, Laugh Out Loud and Love Deeply " is from the Beautiful You stamp set.   Wink of Stella was brushed across the wings to add some magical shimmer.

   
5.  Even Clean and Simple cards sometimes need a little boost of elegance, so using my Score Pal I scored a line 1/4" around the Tranquil Tide layer on the card front.

6.  I stamped the dancing girl and the sentiment "Life Looks Beautiful on You", in Tranquil Tide ink in the bottom right hand side of the card base inside the card.  

So that's it for this week's post.  Thanks for dropping by to take a look.  I hope you liked the clean and simple lines of this card.  Leave me a comment if you get a chance and come back next week for another great Watercooler Wednesday challenge.

Happy Stamping!
Penny Tokens Stampin' Spot

They're Back! 
If you enjoyed Stampin' Ups! Bonus Day Coupons last year, you're in for a real treat because they're back.

During the month of July for every $60 you spend (before shipping and tax), you’ll get a $6  Bonus Days coupon that you can use between August 1–31. 

The Fine Print:  

• There's no limit to the number of coupons you can receive per order or throughout the duration of the promotion.  
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• Bonus Day coupon codes arrive by email after you've placed your order so you must have a valid email address to participate in this offer.  
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• All order types qualify for this promotion with the exception of Starter Kits for new demos.

Happy Stamping!
Penny Tokens Stampin' Spot
 

Christmas in July for New Demos

Ho, Ho, Ho! Join my team during the month of July and you can start to celebrate with Stampin' Ups! Christmas in July promotion.  

It's never been easier or more rewarding to sign up to be a demonstrator! Simply purchase your Starter Kit by July 31 and you will receive a FREE Essentials Gift Pack including Paper Snips, SNAIL Adhesive, Grid Paper, two D Acrylic Blocks, and a Bone Folder. That’s an added value of $68 CDN!

And, if that's not rewarding enough, you'll also receive for FREE the Carols of Christmas Stamp Set from the holiday catalog ($26 CDN Value)! 

With so many basic items included with your kit, you’ll be able to spend your Starter Kit dollars on the fun stuff—like your favorite stamp sets and accessories.  And, you'll be able to start making your Christmas cards in July! Click here to see some of the benefits of joining Stampin' Up!

What are you waiting for.  Call me today I'd be happy to answer any questions and help you get started.  Or click here to join.

Happy Stamping!
Penny Token's Stampin' Spot

Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #125 - Kath's Christmas Challenge

I found it ironic that this week's Watercooler Wednesday Challenge hosted by Kath, is a Christmas theme just when the sun has finally decided to shine and the temperature gauge is rising.  When "it's beginning to look at lot like summer" outside I find it hard to get into a creative Christmas mood but I actually did.  Kath's challenge WWC125 is all about using Non-Traditional Christmas Colors.  Here's her inspiration poster. 

Here's My Card:
The colours I chose for my card are Black, Gray and Dijon.  In my neck of the woods that's pretty non-traditional. What do you think?

I love this little Eskimo image.  It's hard to tell whether its a boy or a girl the way it's bundled up in its cute little outfit.  I stamped the image once on Very Vanilla and again on Delightful Dijon card stocks and then punched them out with the Cookie Cutter Builder Punch.  I fussy cut around the Delightful Dijon jacket and shoes and then paper pieced them to the Very Vanilla image.  The rest of the Eskimo's attire and skin were coloured with markers and skin toned blendabilities.

I used my Misti to stamp the bold Christmas Banner image from the Time of Year (R) stamp set.  Because I was able to ink up the photopolymer stamp three times to achieve the contrast I wanted, the banner really pops off the page.  I created a "Midnight Sun" by layering a Basic Gray 3" Stitched Circle die cut, a Delightful Dijon medallion from the Eastern Medallion Thinlet Dies and a Basic Gray snowflake from the new Seasonal Layers Thinlet Dies.  The addition of Basic Rhinestones to the snowflake and medallion really adds some seasonal sparkle to this card face.

Inside the card I've added two of the snowflake images from the Seasonal Layer's Thinlet set and the sentiment "Let it Snow" is an A Muse Artstamp.

Supplies:
Stamp Sets:  Cookie Cutter Christmas (R), Time of the Year (R)
Ink:  Momento Tuxedo Black, Sahara Sand, Smokey Slate, Soft Suede markers and the Skin Tone Blendabilities (R)
Card Stock:  Basic Black, Basic Gray, Very Vanilla, and Delightful Dijon (R)
Designer Series Paper:  Warmth and Cheer DSP
Accessories:  Big Shot, Paper Trimmer, Tom Bow Glue, Misti, Dimensionals, Cookie Cutter Builder Punch, Seasonal Layers, Eastern Medallion and Stitched Shapes Thinlets, Wink of Stella.

Well that's my take on this week's challenge. I always get such a kick out of working with the Cookie Cutter Christmas stamp set and punch and was delighted to find out they'd been carried over to the 2017-18 Annual Catalogue. I'd love to have your feedback on this card and whether you would use non traditional colours like this for your own cards. 

If you haven't checked out the creations by the Watercooler Wednesday Design make sure you visit the home page. And, I hope you'll join us and create something in a non-traditional Christmas colour because along with myself, the Design Team would love to have you link up with us. This challenge runs from June 28th through 5pm on Monday July 3rd, 2017.

HAPPY STAMPING!
PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT

Watercooler Wednesday #124 - Fiona's Masculine "Anything Goes" Challenge

Well we managed to make it through another soggy weekend here in Abbotsford.  I'm starting to grow webs between my toes.  Too bad it wasn't nicer for Father's Day on Sunday.  It poured most of the day and I know a lot of BBQ's and camping trips were rained out.   Sigh......

This week's challenge at the Watercooler Wednesday is a "Masculine Anything Goes" theme hosted by Fiona.  This challenge will run from June 21st until Monday June 26th at 10:00MT.   I hope you'll join our Design Team (DT) and share a masculine card or project.  We'd love to have you join us this week.

Here's My Card:

This is another Twist N' Pop card made with love for my youngest brother who turns 58 on July 4th. He's an outdoorsy kind of guy who loves nature and fishing, so I thought he'd appreciate this birthday card. Oh and I added images from one of my favourite stamp sets "Bear Hugs" because we've had a bear lurking around in the woods behind our house for the past week. Hopefully he'll keep on trekking down to the river and out into the Valley, so I can get out for a walk soon.

I wanted to send a gift card with this birthday wish so I added a 4" x 2 1/2" piece of basic black card stock for a gift card holder in the top of this card.  I punched a half circle with a 1" circle punch in the center of the card to make for easier access for the gift card.

Supplies:
Stamp Sets:  Bear Hugs, Thoughtful Branches, and Balloon Adventures
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black for images and sentiments.  Early Espresso and Soft Suede for bears.  Dapper Denim, Tranquil Tide, Watermelon Wonder, Pear Pizzazz, Soft Sky and So Saffron for background scenes and fish.
Card Stock: Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Very Vanilla
Designer Series Paper (DSP): Warmth and Cheer (R) - Clearance Rack 
Accessories: Big Shot, Paper Trimmer, Bear Hugs and Ovals Thinlits, Acrylic Blocks, Wink of Stella, Aqua Painter, Sponge Daubers, Dimensionals, Sticky Strip or Tear N' Tape, Tom Bow Glue. 

The fish, baby bear and sentiments are all from the now retired Bear Hugs stamp set.   Definitely this is one of my favourite stamp sets.  So cute!

Sentiment is from Balloon Adventures.

How It's Made:
My instructions are for this specific card, however they can be adapted for any Twist N' Pop card layout.  I'm a very visual person and while I watched a lot of videos on how this card was made, it didn't come easy for me until I made a paper template I could follow.  I cut my original template from plain white card stock and included all the measurements and placements for the Tear N' Tape placement and score lines. This works for me and I hope it will work for you too. Okay so here we go:

This Twist N' Pop card starts with two 8 1/2" x 11 sheets of Crumb Cake card stock.  

• From the long side of the first sheet cut:
• 4 1/4" x 11" card base scored at 5 1/2".  Mark a dot at the center of the score line for positioning the Hinge piece.
• 10" x 3 1/2" panel scored at 2 1/2, 5 and 7 1/2" for the Picture panel. Fold along score lines and burnish with bone folder. Your piece should have a valley, mountain and valley fold when it's facing upright.  To decorate the picture panels cut the following:
• 4 pieces of Basic Black card stock 3 1/4" x 2 1/4" - one for each panel
• 4 pieces of  Very Vanilla card stock 3" x 2" one for each panel.  The two center panels will be stamped with images and/or sentiments, so are left plain.  Do your stamping before adhering.
• 2 pieces of DSP 2 7/8" x 3 7/8" for the two outer panels. 
• Once the above layers have been adhered with Tom Bow Glue, flip this picture panel over and put two strips of Tear N' Tape in the top right hand corner of the first panel and on the bottom inside left of the last panel. 
• Cut a 3/4" x 10" piece for belly band and score it at 2" and 6 3/8" (Note:  you may have to adjust scoring for the belly band dependent on the thickness of the finished card - so don't score until you're finished).

• From the second sheet create the Hinge Panel:
• On short side of 8 1/2" x 11 card stock cut an 8" x 3 1/2" piece and score it on the long side at 1 3/4". 
• On all four sides measure down 2 1/4" and mark with a pencil. Make sure these measurements are exact or your hinge won't work properly.
• Use your score bar on your paper trimmer to make the X in the center of this piece.  Start from the right side and score a line from the 2 1/4" mark to the corresponding mark on the left hand side. Make sure both marks are sitting in the well of the trimmer before scoring.
• Repeat this score line but this time go from left to right. Your scored lines should have formed a perfect X in the center of the hinge panel.
• Fold on the 1 3/4" score line and burnish with your bone folder.  Next fold in on the diagonal lines making sure they line up and once you're satisfied burnish with your bone folder.  You should now have a piece that looks like a house.  Put two strips of Tear N' Tape on the triangular part of the house peak on both sides.  
• Remove the Tear N' Tape on both sides of the peak.  Carefully line up the peak of the house against the mark you made on the score line of the card base.  Before pressing down make sure the hinge is even on both sides and precisely in the middle with the tip of the peak touching the score line.
• Close the card base and press down.  Your hinge should now be securely mounted to the inside of your card base. When you open the card base it should open fully. 

• Adding the panel to the hinge:
• Open the card base so the hinged piece is lying flat.  Make a small pencil mark so it shows above the score line to help you with placement of the picture panel.
• Remove the sticky strips from the picture panel and with the decorated side of the picture panel facing upwards center the mountain fold of the panel against the mark made on the card base. Make sure the top edge of the picture panel is not only lined up with the center of the card, but it is also sitting against the top and bottom edges of the hinge piece.
• When you've got it exactly in the middle and you've lined up everything just press down the sides of the picture panel and they will adhere to the hinge.   Now close the card.  If you've done everything correctly the picture panel and hinge will magically close.  You may have to do it a couple of times to make it move fluidly.   

My Template: 

I'm sharing the drawn out template with you as well as pictures of my actual cut out template pieces.  For easy reference I store the cut out template pieces in a clear envelope so it's handy every time I make this fancy fold card.  Enjoy. 

The measuring/cutting dimensions for the card base, picture panel and belly band of my Twist N' Pop card.

This is the back side of the Picture Panel template and shows wear the Tear N' Tape is placed. 

This diagram shows the cutting and scoring lines for the Hinge Panel as well as the placement of the Tear N' Tape, when the hinge has been folded.  The red dashed line is not a score line in this picture.  You'll see in the cut template pictures below that the two sides of the house are actually split in the center and if scored and folded properly should line up side by side. 

These are my template diagram pieces all cut out.  It makes it easier for me to use as a teaching tool and to jog my memory on placement if I haven't made this fancy fold card for a while. 

This picture shows the reverse side of the picture panel and the right side of the Hinged Panel when it's folded and the placement of the Tear N' Tape.  Don't use too much tape and make sure you've got it placed properly or the Hinge and Picture Panels will not work together.

Here you see the folded hinge panel being placed against the center mark on the inside of the card base.  If I was doing this for real, I would have removed the Tear N' Tape strips from both sides of this panel.  Once I've made sure this hinged piece is lined up evenly on both sides and with the center mark then simply close the card and press down to make sure the adhesive on the both sides of the peak adheres to the card base. 

Once you've adhered the hinged piece and you open the card base it will look like this.  Bear in mind that my sample isn't glued down so it looks bulgy in the center.

Take the picture panel and I fold the two outer panels inward and then set up this panel over top of the "now" adhered hinge panel and line up with the center of the card base. You can see the Tear N' Tape is facing towards the outside on both the top and bottom of the Picture panel.

Once I had it lined up properly in the last photo I removed those strips of Tear N' Tape and simply open both sides of the Picture Panel and press down.  The Tear N' Tape will adhere to the Hinged Panel and Voila you have a Twist N' Pop card.

Well that's it for today Stampers.  I hope you've enjoyed my card and my little tutorial and it was easy to follow.  I'd like to have your feedback if you plan to use my instructions and how they work out for you.  Trust me once it's all cut out and you play with it a bit you'll find it's one of the simplest cards to make.  The main thing is remembering to mark everything for placement and be precise with it.  It's a pain, I know but remember the old carpenter's saying..... "measure twice cut once", as it really applies with this card and will save you from wasting both time and materials. 

If you've come directly here and haven't checked out the other Watercooler Wednesday design team's masculine cards make sure you do, as you're in for a treat.  And remember this challenge is open until June 26th.  We'd love to have you join in.

Happy Stamping!
Penny Tokens Stamping Spot

Watercooler Wednesday #123 - Marsha's "Fireworks" Theme Challenge

The Watercooler Wednesday challenge this week, hosted by Marsha is a Clean & Simple Challenge with a "Fireworks" theme.

After getting off to a super slow start with this "CAS Fireworks" challenge, I believe I came up with a pretty good interpretation of it with this card.   

I initially had a lot of difficulty because I was really stressed over the fact that I didn't have any fire works stamps.  I knew what I wanted to make and spent a lot of time trying out several different floral, star and splotch stamp images in my search for something that resembled fireworks even if it was in an abstract way.  In the end, I lucked out at the Clipper Street Garage sale this past weekend when I  found a gently used fireworks stamp from Great Impressions that worked for me and got my mojo going.  

Here's my card: 

Supplies:
Stamp Sets:  Holiday Home (R-135095), Great Impressions - Fireworks (Non SU), Beautiful You (143637)

Card Stock: Whisper White, Real Red

Inks: Basic Gray, Momento Tuxedo Black, Smokey Slate, Night of Navy, Elegant Eggplant, Marina Mist inks; Real Red, Old Olive and Daffodil Delight SU Markers, and Red, Yellow and Green Sharpie Markers

Accessories: Big Shot, Paper Trimmer, Bitty Banner (R) and Bunch of Banners (144488) Thinlet Dies, Post It Notes for Masking, Aqua Painter, Wink of Stella, Dazzling Details in Cherry Cobbler, Stickles in Green and Yellow, Basic Rhinestones, Cherry Cobbler, Crushed Currie, and Crushed Cucumber Embossing Powders,  Sponge Daubers, Coffee Filters, Heat Gun and Post It Notes for masking.

Details:
1.  4 1/4" x 11 piece of Real Red card stock scored at 5 1/2" for a Top Fold card base. 

2.  4" x 5 1/4" Whisper White panel  adhered to card base.

3.  3 3/4" x 5" Whisper White panel:
a.  Begin by stamping the house images from the retired Holiday Home stamp set in Momento Tuxedo Black ink along the bottom portion of the panel. 

b. Stamp and fussy cut three more images from Post It Notes and use these to mask off the houses.

c. I began sponging, starting at the top of the panel and working downwards,   starting with Basic Gray ink.  This was followed with Night of Navy, Marina Mist, and Elegant Eggplant inks to create the night sky.  I sponged around the edges of the entire panel with Momento Tuxedo Black ink, so the Whisper White card stock didn't show through. 

d. After sponging the panel I removed the masks and coloured the houses with Smokey Slate, Basic Gray and Daffodil Delight inks and an aqua painter.

e. I stamped the fireworks image with Versa Mark ink and covered each of the three bursts with embossing powders in Cherry Cobbler, Crushed Currie and Cucumber Crush and then heat set.  Tip:  I stamped the first image which has three bursts and carefully poured the embossing powder individually over the images trying not to overlap the colour.  I used coffee filters to capture each of the inks separately.  Once the Embossing Powder was spread I heat set the image with my heat gun and then repeated this process for the next image.
 

f. I finished off the star bursts with medium sized Basic Rhinestones that were coloured with Sharpie Markers.  Using Dazzling Details and Stickles I outlined each of the star bursts to add some shine.  I coloured the small bits in the background with Wink of Stella.

 

4.  For the inside of the card I cut a 4" x 5 1/4" piece of Whisper White card stock. Instead of embossing the image I coloured the fire works stamp with Real Red, Daffodil Delight and Old Olive markers and stamped the image in the bottom left corner.  Note:  I didn't add a sentiment to the inside as this card could be used for many different types of celebrations.

5.  For the sentiment I stamped the "Celebrate" stamp from Beautiful You on a scrap of Whisper White, cut it out with the Itty Bitty Banners dies and then mounted it to a Real Red banner from the Bunch of Banners thinlet dies.  I used Tom Bow glue to adhere it flat across the house images.
  

Well that's it for this week's card challenge.  I hope you'll leave me a comment and let me know if this card works for you. I'd also like to hear what you would substitute for fireworks if you didn't have a stamp. 

If you want to play along with this challenge (and I hope you will), it's open for link up until 5pm Mountain Time on Monday May 19th.  All the rules and information for posting are on the home page.  

If you haven't checked out the other Design Team creations pop on over to the Watercooler Wednesday challenge blog.  Trust me there are some amazing renditions of fireworks to be seen.

Until next time.........

Happy Stamping!
Penny Tokens Stampin' Spot