Technique Tuesday: Faux Stitching

Faux Stitching is connecting holes punched in paper to give the illusion of stitching on a card (without pulling out the sewing machine).  The first card was one of my swaps for Stampin' Up! Convention 2012.  I used a white gel pen to create the stitched effect.

Friday Focus this week will highlight to wonderful paper piercing tools that Stampin' Up! offers, which makes this technique super easy.

This card was designed by my upline, Cheryl Navarrete, for one of her stamp classes.  The sponged edges, faux stitching, and crochet trim give a gorgeous vintage look to this card.

You can see the drawn lines between the punched holes, which was done with a Stampin' Write Marker.  A fun technique to add some interest to your craft projects.

Papers: Wisteria Wonder (#122922), Elegant Eggplant (#105126), Certainly Celery (#105125), Whisper White (#100730), Soft Suede (#115318), Summer Starfruit (#126839), Cajun Craze (#119684), Very Vanilla (#101650), Comfort Cafe DSP (#126898)
Inks: Elegant Eggplant (#126969), Soft Suede (#126978)
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes (#115370), Itty Bitty Banners (#126255)
Other Supplies: Stampin' Pierce Mat (#126199), Piercing Tool (#126189), Essential Piercing Pack (#126187), Big Shot (#113439), Apothecary Accents Framelits (#127003), Square Lattice Folder (#119976), Organza Ribbon (#114319), Crochet Trim (#119481), Little Leaves Sizzlit (#114511), 3/4" Circle Punch (#119873), Corner Rounder (#119871), Signo Gel Pen (#105021), Decorative Label Punch (#120907), Bitty Banner Framelits (#129267), Glimmmer Brads (#121003), Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430), SNAIL Adhesive (#104332), Multipurpose Liquid Glue (#110755)

Essential Paper-Piercing Pack (#126187)

Apothecary Accent Framelits (#127003)

Comfort Cafe DSP (#126898)

Going Digital for FREE
Experience the ease and endless options of the My Digital Studio software.  You'll love all the design features, the exclusive artwork, and ordering products for professional results.   And you can try it all for FREE with the MDS2 30-Day Free Trial.

Fab Friday #2

I was gone this weekend visiting family and needed to be efficient today.  So, I have made one card for three purposes.  I am using this card for two challenges and a gift.

The main challenge that inspired this card was the Fab Friday Color Challenge: So Saffron, Sahara Sand, Basic Gray.  When I saw these colors I was not sure what I would make, then I saw the SplitcoastStampers Technique Challenge for Rolled Flowers and it all came together.

Once I started putting the card together, I remembered that these colors were very similar to a wedding invitation that I received recently, so deciding on a sentiment was easy. 

The rolled flowers are simply a punched circle that I cut in a spiral and then rolled up.  I love using colors that are not conventional.  Instead of pink roses and green leaves, this gives a more vintage look.  Nothing says wedding like pearls, so I added them for the flower centers.

Papers: So Saffron (#105118), Sahara Sand (#121043), Basic Gray (#121044), Very Vanilla (#101650)
Ink: Basic Gray (#126981)
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes (#115370)
Other Supplies: Big Shot (#113439), Circles #2 Die (#114526), Apothecary Accents Framelits (#127003), Wood Grain Folder (#127821), 1" Circle Punch (#119868), Little Leaves Sizzlit (#114511), Word Window Punch (#119857), Pearls (#119247), Paper Snips (#103579), Multipurpose Liquid Glue (#110755), Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430)

Wood Grain Folder (#127821)

Teeny Tiny Wishes (#115370)

Going Digital for FREE
Experience the ease and endless options of the My Digital Studio software.  You'll love all the design features, the exclusive artwork, and ordering products for professional results.   And you can try it all for FREE with the MDS2 30-Day Free Trial.

Friday Focus: Aviary Stamp Set

This week I have decided to focus on one of my favorite stamp sets, and one you have seen in my posts before: Aviary.

This is a card that I used for a challenge earlier this month.  You can see the post here.

This card was made by heat embossing the cages and sentiment.  Since water based inks do not adhere to the embossed image, you can stamp the birds after embossing and they still look like they are caged.

The bird images are also great for accents on other designs.

In this "room" the bird cage is an accent on the table (I CASE'd this card design from Kristin Moore).  I used one bird in the window and one as a piece of art for the wall.

The table was made with the negative from the decorative label punch as a table stand.

Matting the sentiment in two colors and adhering it with dimensionals gave enough height to keep the easel card from sliding down.

Papers: Marina Mist (#119682), Not Quite Navy (#101722), Whisper White (#100730), Soft Suede (#115318), Pool Party (#122924), Riding Hood Red (#111348), So Saffron (#105118), Wild Wasabi (#108641), Storytime DSP (#126907)
Ink: Not Quite Navy (#126971), Wild Wasabi (#126959), So Saffron (#126957), Soft Suede (#126978), Riding Hood Red (#126968), StazOn (#101406), VersaMark (#102193)
Stamps: Aviary (#116956), Four Frames (#123440), Curly Cute (#120510)
Other Supplies: Organza Ribbon (#114319), Decorative Label Punch (#120907), Window Sheets (#114323), Big Shot (#113439), Adorning Accents Edgelits (#125595), Wood Grain Embossing Folder (#127821), Stripes Embossing Folder (#123128), Paper Snips (#103579), Simply Scored (#122334)

Aviary Stamp Set (#116956)

Curly Cute (#120510)

Storytime DSP (#126907)

Only TWO DAYS left!! Offer expires September 16th! 

Get a Spooktacular Project Kit (Valued at $60)

Purchase the Stampin' Up! Starter Kit for only $99.  You get to choose $125 worth of Stampin' Up! product and as a bonus you will receive everything you need to make this cute Printer's Tray project.

Whoo's Having a Birthday

My father-in-law's birthday is coming up, so here is a masculine birthday card for him.  I was inspired by a card I made at my upline's (Cheryl Navarrete) class a while back.  The new wood grain embossing folder from the Holiday Catalog gives this card great texture and helped to make the matching envelope. 

The owl punch is one of my favorites and I seem to use it all the time. It is perfect with the wood grain. The two tone blue keeps it clean and sleek. I also love the way the tiny hearts on the DSP matches the heart from the punch.  Happy Birthday!

Papers: Midnight Muse (#126843), Marina Mist (#119682), Whisper White (#100730), Patio Party DSP (#126916)

Ink: Midnight Muse (#126860)
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes (#115370)
Other Supplies: Owl Builder Punch (#118074), Big Shot (#113439), Wood Grain Folder (#127821), Word Window Punch (#119857), Neutral Brads (#119736), 1 3/8" Circle Punch (119860)

Owl Builder Punch (#118074)

Wood Grain Folder (#127821)

Back to "Spool" Special

In honor of the new school year, Stampin' Up! is offering a Back to "Spool" Special.  During the month of September, you can receive a FREE package of 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon with every $40 purchase.  Pick from any of the 2012-2014 In Colors  Qualifying product totals exclude shipping and tax.

Color Combo: Craze Pumpkin Midnight

This weeks color combo is Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie, and Midnight Muse.

This is the card that I submitted for CC392 on SplitcoastStampers.  I love the bold blocks of color and the simplicity of the design.  The little touches of bling don't hurt either.

I decided to try a few other designs with these beautiful fall colors.

This one is a simple Thanksgiving card.  The background was stamped and then embossed to soften the stamped images. 

Besides using each color separately, I wanted to try and use them all together in one image.  Using the Stampin' Write Markers allows you to color each part of a stamp to produce a stunning effect.

These colors were perfect for Fall and made for some gorgeous cards.

Papers: Very Vanilla (#101650), Cajun Craze (#119684), Pumpkin Pie (#105117), Midnight Muse (#126843)

Ink: Cajun Craze (#126965), Pumpkin Pie (#126945), Midnight Muse (#126860)

Stamps: Lacy & Lovely (#122887), You're Amazing (#126722), Affection Collection (#127949), Teeny Tiny Wishes (#115370)

Other Supplies: Big Shot (#113439), Chevron Folder (#127749), Square Lattice Folder (#119976), Stripes Folder (#123128), 1" Circle Punch (#119868), Decorative Label Punch (#120907), 3/16" Corner Punch (#119871), Rhinestones (#119246)

Lacy & Lovely (#122887)

You're Amazing (#126722)

Affection Collection (#127949)

Back to "Spool" Special

In honor of the new school year, Stampin' Up! is offering a Back to "Spool" Special.  During the month of September, you can receive a FREE package of 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon with every $40 purchase.  Pick from any of the 2012-2014 In Colors  Qualifying product totals exclude shipping and tax.

Technique Tuesday: Quilling

Quilling is an art form that uses strips of paper that are rolled and shaped to create decorative designs.  The paper is rolled into a coil which is then pressed to form other shapes.  I used my Tabletop Paper Cutter to make 1/8" strips of cardstock to make my coils.














By forming the coils into teardrop shapes I was able to make these flowers.  I used longer strips to make the larger center flower.  The longer the paper strip, the larger the coil becomes.

Some quilling can be simple.  Just a few loops added to a punched out image adds more interest.  I have also been playing with the glimmer paper lately to add some sparkle to my holiday projects.

My final example is going to be a card for my son's fifth birthday.  I made five candles by making teardrops and squares out of the coils.   I also used the Stitched Ribbon from Stampin' Up! on all these cards, which is featured in the special at the bottom of this page.

Papers: Whisper White (#100730), Primrose Petals (#126841), Basic Grey (#121044), Gumball Green (#126840), Midnight Muse (#126843), Marina Mist (#119682), Glimmer Paper (#124005)

Ink: Primrose Petals (#126858), Gumball Green (#126861), Midnight Muse (#126860), Marina Mist (#126962)

Stamps: Lacy & Lovely (#122887), Curly Cute (#120510), You're Amazing (#126722)

Other Supplies: Primrose Petals Stitched Ribbon (#126844), Gumball Green Stitched Ribbon (#126848), Midnight Muse Stitched Ribbon (#126847), Decorative Label Punch (#120907), Ornament Punch (#119847), 3/4" Circle Punch (#119873), Multipurpose Liquid Glue (#110755), SNAIL Adhesive (#104332), Tabletop Paper Cutter (#106959)

Lacy & Lovely (#122887)

You're Amazing (#126722)

Tabletop Paper Cutter (#106959)

Back to "Spool" Special

In honor of the new school year, Stampin' Up! is offering a Back to "Spool" Special.  During the month of September, you can receive a FREE package of 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon (used in this post) with every $40 purchase.  Pick from any of the 2012-2014 In Colors  Qualifying product totals exclude shipping and tax.