Valentine...

Here's one of the cards we will be making in the "Valentine Elegance" class currently being taught at the shop.  You can check out the class schedule on the website - www.stampeddesigns.com.    This uses the new Vernay Heart die from Memory Box that was just released this month.  The trickiest part to the card is cutting out and embossing the floral heart die - as it is a pretty delicate piece.  Once you get that done, it is a layering game.  I also used the Lavish Branch die from Memory Box to add a little color to the design.  And, to set it off, I used the black chevron paper from BoBunny as the bottom layer.  That layer is mounted to an ivory card - which you cannot see from the top, as the chevron paper is cut to 4-1/4 x 5-1/2".

Thanks for checking us out today!

Jeannette

2nd Sneak Peek for Lots of Layers Class

This is another card in our upcoming "lots of layers" class.  I used a fun flower image from Penny Black - cut out the flower section and layered it over the stamped image that was stamped on a piece of cardstock a little small for the total image.  I used a beautiful paper from SEI - they always have gorgeous printed papers.  Add some extra layers and ribbon - and you have a great card!

Thanks for stopping by!
Jeannette

This is a little tag I made in a class here at CHA taught by Elizabeth Craft Designs on Friday evening.  You cut the base tag from one of their small tag dies, then die cut some vines, a brand new flower design (which now has a glittered base) and a couple cute ladybugs.  Put everything together and you have a great project that you can use as a tag, or creatively mount to the front of a card for a nice greeting card!

Thanks for stopping by and making us part of your day!

Jeannette

Here's another sneak peak from an upcoming class - Lots of Layers.  True to the class name, I layered a bunch of squares to create an interesting background for the wording.  To dress up a plain card front, I took the simple dot background stamp from Impression Obsession, inked it, then tapped the card front several times to create a nice, random dot pattern.  This is a great way to use a stamp in a different way for a wonderful effect!  This class is being taught January 15th - and you'll make 2 additional cards besides this one.

Jeannette

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Okay, so here I am trying to make good on my Stamped Designs' New Year's resolution and post on the blog at least 2-3 times/week!  This is a little "look ahead" to the upcoming House Mouse Happy Days class in a couple weeks.  I am very excited to see Stampendous take over this line and start producing the images in a smaller size, which allows us to use them in a variety of ways.  Today's card features Maxwell jumping for joy on a birthday cupcake!  I did a little paper piecing with the cupcake wrapper - using a fancy paper that worked well for a cupcake wrapper.  Then, after coloring the rest of the image with watercolor pencils and a blender pen, I added a dot ribbon across the bottom of the cupcake, then punched the words out in a circle and attached that with foam tape.  The fancy paper that makes up the background is from Darcie's.  Because this is a white-backed cardstock, you can either cut the entire base card out of the patterned cardstock, or cut a quarter sheet and layer it over a solid color card.  This is a pretty quick card to make and is good for everyone!  A nice one to have in your stash when you need a card in a hurry!

The January dates we are offering the "House Mouse Happy Days" class where you will make this card along with 2 others is January 17, 20, 22 and 25.  There will also be a few dates in February, as well.  So, if you're looking to add to your on-hand card stash, come out for a class!

Jeannette

Last evening we were given the opportunity to walk around the show floor and chat with the vendors at PaperArts.  It was great to see everyone and see what is new.  Here's some of the new items from Art Impressions:

I also took a class with Art Impressions yesterday afternoon.  The projects were great fun - and, even after our painfully long winter last year, kinda got me in the Christmas spirit!

Jeannette

Weekend SALE!!!!

As we prepare to move in a month - we are reducing our inventory to make it easier to make the move - here's this weekend's specials (in effect March 29th-30th):

All My Favorite Things stamps - 60% off
All marked Stampendous products - 60% off
All marked Penny Black products - 60% off
All red-marked Christmas products - 70% off

Come in early for the best selection!

Cat on a Post

This is another Gary Robertson image from Impression Obsession.  I had a cat who would lay on our deck and watch the butterflies on a butterfly bush in the back yard - it would fascinate him for hours!

This card was stamped with black Memento ink and colored with Copic markers.  The blue sky background was created using Pan Pastels.  I added an orange bow (May Arts ribbon) and did some layering - the butterfly was stamped a second time and layered on top of the base card.

Jeannette

Patriotic Cat

I just love the Gary Robertson images from Impression Obsession where he sneaks in one of his infamous cats!  I am a cat person and I love the way some just "appear" in his designs.  This is a spectacular image - I really like the stars and stripes quilt, though I was concerned about trying to color it.  As we approach the anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings, I really liked using the patriotic image.  I ended up picking out 4 Copic reds and just quickly coloring the pieces that make up the red stripes (I used R21, R05, R14 and R24).  Then I chose some light beige colors for the white stripes (E30, E41 and E50).  Finally, the blues I chose was B91, B93 and B95.  I "colored" the cat with N3 just to give him a little definition.  It was quicker than I first feared and gives a nice look.  I am sure that if I spent hours detail coloring each square, it could really be spectacular, but I am pleased with this look with limited time spent.  I also used a natural cardstock instead of white to give it a more vintage look and did not color the stars at all - left them the natural color of the cardstock, thinking it made them stand out a bit from the stripes.

I took a "Just for You" word stamp from the CL306 All Occasion I clear set, also from Impression Obsession, punched it out with a 1-1/4" circle, then mounted that to a brown cardstock punched from a 1-1/2" scallop circle.  I used a little foam tape to pop the circle piece over the ribbon and not have it detract too much from the card design.

The ribbon is from May Arts (KB14).  The colored cardstock used is Chocolate Felt and Fossil from The Paper Cut and Jacaranda from Bazzill Basics Paper.

Thanks for stopping by and making us part of your day.

Jeannette

Another Window Card...

This card uses the Grand Madison Window from Poppy Stamps, along with one of their birdcages and window box.  I really enjoy working with the window dies - you can do some many things - either from the perspective of inside the house, or outside the house.  I used punched flowers - shaped with a tool and some leave sprigs from an Impression Obsession die.  I used a distress striped embossing folder to add a little dimension to the "outside" of the "house" and a striped paper which could either be considered a curtain or wallpaper.  Just a nice happy card - and no snow!

Jeannette

Looking for some new inspiration? Check out the new stamps & dies from Penny Black!

We just got in our order from CHA from Penny Black!  New stamps and dies - perfect to get your creative juices flowing!

Jeannette

Kitty in the Window!

Nothing like a pretty cat silhouette sitting in a window to put a smile on your face.  I used the grand arched window from Poppy Stamps and their large sitting cat die.  I used an edge punch to create the "curtain" edge and added some light green Bazzill cardstock for my background.  Add some greenery and punched flowers to add a little zip and some cheer.

Enjoy!
Jeannette

Watch the weather today!

If the snowstorm form as predicted, Stamped Designs will be closed on Thursday February 13th.  We will re-open on Saturday February 15th at 9 AM.  Please be safe out there!

Jeannette

Chickadees in the snow...

Seeing that Mother Nature seems to think that we don't have enough snow and plans to blast us with more on Thursday, I felt that an image of chickadees in the snow would be appropriate for one of the cards for our February Christmas cards class.  This image is from Northwoods and is first stamped on white cardstock and colored with Staedtler watercolor pencils and a Dove blender pen.  Then I stamped the word part of the image on green cardstock - cut it out and attached it to the white image.  This adds a little color.  Layered and a ribbon bow add a little pizzazz. 

Thanks for stopping by!
Jeannette

The Great Jelly Bean Heist!

The little mice are at it again!  This time they are raiding the jelly bean jar!  This is a larger House Mouse image - which is more the norm with these images.  This card is still a standard A-2 size (4-1/4 x 5-1/2") but you can see that the image is the majority of the card!  I inked the image with VersaFine black ink - then colored with Staedtler watercolor pencils and a blender pen.  I added the bright purple ribbon to add some additional color to the bottom of the card.

Thanks for stopping by!
Jeannette

How to make a "wrapped bow"

We use a lot of wrapped bows in our class cards and folks often ask how we get them some nice and tight.  Well, there is a trick, but it only works if the bow is around a piece that is layered.  It is quite easy, actually.  First, get a sturdy object like a hard plastic glass (that is my favorite tool).  I am using one in the picture below.  Simply cut a piece of ribbon, wrap it around the glass and tie a bow.  The sturdy object allows you to tie a nice, tight bow and adjust as necessary.

Now all you need to do is slide the ribbon piece down the glass and then cut the ribbon loop.  This is what you will "wrap" around a layer (like in the cat Valentine's card in the previous post).  It is easy and pretty fool-proof!  Give it a try!

Jeannette

This cute cat image from Penny Black Rubber Stamps wants to wish you a very Happy Valentine's Day!  I started with the image stamped on white cardstock with Versafine ink - then colored with Staedtler watercolor pencils and a Dove blender pen.  Cut out with a Spellbinders circle die, layered to a black circle one size bigger, then layered to a coordinating scallop circle.  I ran the pink layer through a dotted embossing folder, layered to a black square and then wrapped the ribbon bow around those layers.  The "hugs" piece is actually cut from silver cardstock with a Penny Black word die and attached.

Jeannette

Here's a cute card with what I call a "smaller" House Mouse stamp.  As many of you know, most of the HM stamps are very large - making it more difficult to do very much in the adornment department.  However, there are some images that are on a smaller scale - this image is only about 2x3-1/2".  That allows you to use a more standard size card - this one is only a 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" card and add some ribbon and words.

Jeannette

Here's another fun little card with images from Lawn Fawn.  The little elephants are colored wit Copics and then cut out with the corresponding dies - which makes it SO easy!  I love those dies!  Do some layering and heart stamps and you have a great little valentine!

Jeannette

A Cute Lawn Fawn Valentine!

We received these adorable Valentine stamps from Lawn Fawn and we are going to use them in a class on Thursday this week.  This is a cute little idea - using the chemistry bottles in one of the clear sets and the 2 little birds, also in the same set.  Here's one of the best things - there are matching dies to cut out the images!  Easy to use and give a very professional finish!  Talk about making your life easy!  It was great.

Jeannette