Loving this set!

I am sure that I have mentioned before that my church has a "Card Ministry." First, there is a ministry that sends cards to those in need of one (i.e. a sympathy card, a congratulations on a new baby card, welcome cards for new members, cards for deployed troops, and etc.) There are people dedicated to writing those on the church's prayer list. The part I take part in is making the cards by hand that get sent out. (We have a church with over 5000 members and even more counting the regular attenders... we sure can't keep up with that kind of card demand, but we make as many as we can. They use our cards first and then rely on other resources when we can't make enough. Anyway... I am off the subject now.)

So, the other night when we gathered to stamp/make cards, I had a definite idea what I was going to make... and I wanted to use my Stampin' Up! Priceless set. Well, my idea had to evolve due to card size and paper availability and stuff... and a series of cards came out of it all.

Above is one of the many cards I will be posting that showed this explosion of ideas. They just kept coming! It was sure fun!

Cute Set!

Lots of times when I need a child's birthday card, I grab this set from Stampin' Up! (now retired, I believe... Party Animals!) Add some glitter to the design and wah-lah! It is a girl's card! Stick a small page od stickers and there is your surprise for the birthday person!

I have fun with slightly different, yet still simple, folds. I tend to do this with this set to make it more fun for a child to look at it (??? Maybe... I guess I do not know what a child prefers, I guess!) Anyway... there is one for today!

(Surprise, Jaimie!!! Not the cards from Hope Stampers yet! Hee hee!)

Goofin' Around

At my last Stampers 10 get together, I got my order... and in it was a new background stamp (Canvas... Stampin' Up!) So, you see it here... stamped with blue ink and embossed with clear embossing powder (to make is a raised impression). On top of it is a white piece of paper, torn on one end, that has been brushed on with floor polish mixed with Pearl Ex Powder (silver). Then a heat gun was taken to the silver piece to give it some rough texture (it kind of bubbles up). The next layer up is just an image plainly stamped and matted on top of a darker color paper... held on with a brad combo piece (the metal thingy you see there... what is that thing called again???) Anyway... just another one I had fun "dinking around" with and completing.

Priceless

Here is another card using the "Priceless" set from Stampin' Up! This layout is totally copied from their catalog/idea book... but with my own touches.

Hope everyone has a great week!

Finally! A New One!

Got my "Priceless" stamp set (from Stampin' Up!) and just had to try it out right away. So... this card is not THAT well thought out... but I had fun making it. The hearts are stamped on using white craft ink (Stampin' Up! again) and then I used chalks to apply the color that they are. (Thanks, Jaimie, for the technique idea!) The circles are just stamped on and then additional color was sponged on for a textured look. The words "So Kind" are raised up with a dimensional foam dot. Not much to it, really... and I felt for the longest time that it still looked unfinished... but now I think it is fine for a simple "thank you" card.

More again soon!

Here I go...

I have gotten my Christmas cards all made! And I have actually gotten some other cards made JUST FOR FUN!!! (Haven't done that in a while!) I will get pictures of those up sometime soon... in the meanwhile I found one in the ol' archives to post for today.

This card was one of about ten (all the same) that I made for MOPS. I was to be a table leader for my local group, but changes in my son's education made it so that I could not participate last year. (MOPS is a great organization for stay-at-home-moms of toddlers. I would recommend every mom to check one out.) Anyway... these cards were made to be used as introduction cards for everyone at my table. Inside I had listed (printed out from the computer) my name, address and phone number... and some other little facts about me so that everyone at my table could know a little bit about me right away. I was so excited to be a discussion leader... oh well. Helping out my bigger little guy was first priority... and it was, of course, well worth it!

What I loved about the design of this card was using a new template and paper piercer to make the faux stitching along the red sheet of paper. New technique for me at the time and I love it still!!! (For those of you maybe unfamiliar with these tools... basically I pierced the paper with a pointy tool and the holes are perfectly spaced using a small plastic template. Then, I used a white pen to create the "stitching." It is a fun effect!)

So, a sunny "hello" to you all today!

Christmas Bells are Ringing!

Just hammered out a design and got all the pieces made for my Christmas cards... now all there is to do is assembly... and to figure out what will be printed on the inside of the card. Well, and then there is the actual getting them ready to send. All by the time I want to send them out... which is the week after Thanksgiving. I think I can do it! Sorry... no other posts for now. I'm just busy stamping and having fun getting into the holiday spirit!!! Have a great weekend!