Actually a 'manly' birthday card

So I got out my creative juices and came up with this card for my brother. I have confirmation from my husband that it is acceptably manly.

I used the retired set In The Wild, well, because I have it. I got the template for the faux postage here but I used regular paper instead of acetate for the stencil (the acetate I've seen is really expensive). I also saved it to my computer and changed the numbers to 52 to reflect current postage :)

I stamped the image in black and then used pastels to colour the squares. I tried stamping in Versa Mark but didn't like the look, the giraffe wasn't bold enough. To finish off the postage I cut it out with pinking shears, it turns out that you can actually get postage sissors but that just seemed a bit excessive to me!

I sponged all over the orange CS with orange ink to add some interest. I'm not sure of the paper colours since they are from a craft store and the brads are from the same store. Needed to use up my old stock of generic stuff.

A 'manly' birthday card?

So now my mom's birthday is over my brother's is coming up. I found a card this card that I really liked but it wasn't 'manly' my husband informed me, he wouldn't sign it - sheesh after making it and everything. I kinda thought he was right but isn't pink the new hot colour for guys? I thought I would share this card anyway since I really like it.

I cased it from Splitcoast (I love that site) from Kristina Werner (she's so talented). I changed mine to use Old Olive CS and Kiwi Kiss DSP. I have determined that Kiwi Kiss is just a lighter shade of Old Olive so they go really well together.

The cupcake top is Pixie Pink stamped off to get a lighter look that would match with the Pretty in Pink Grosgrain Ribbon. The spots on the cupcake are Chocolate Chip and then I topped it all off with some Iridescent Ice embossing powder. The green ink is all Kiwi Kiss on Very Vanilla CS and the candles are cut out and stuck on. If I had any yellow ink at all I would colour them in like Kristina did, I need to add it to my next order for sure now.

Wish me luck in the task to make a 'manly' birthday card - no ribbon or glitter, Im not sure I can manage the task!

Catalogue Card Reinvention

I spent last weekend on Vancouver Island visiting my mom for her birthday. It was a very last minute trip since my dad thought at the last minute he would like to have a party for my mom, and it turned out to be a surprise party since it was so last minute that no one had time to spill the beans! It was nice to go over and spend time with them and my brother, our significant others were not able to come due to the spur of the moment nature of it all.

As always my brother did not have a card (he did come up with a tasty present though) so I let him sign my card. This is the one that 'we' gave to my mom. You may recognize it from various places in the catalogue but this one had slight modifications. I really liked the one in the catalogue but I didn't have any textured cardstock so I used regular Kiwi Kiss and Very Vanilla CS. I distressed around some of the edges and used the paper piercing template and a pin (I don't have the authentic pointy thing since it doesn't come in the mat pack) for the other edges. I also didn't have the same ink colours but I do have the Rich Regal Stampin' Spots so I used those for the flowers (Rose Red and Regal Rose) and then cut them out and affixed them. The Rich Regals ribbon colours were too dark I thought to go nicely with the Kiwi Kiss CS so I chose the Pretty in Pink Grosgrain instead. I like that it all goes really well together but it doesn't 'match'. Stampin' Up! does such a nice job of making all their colours work together regardless of colour family.

I think if I make this card again I will put the tree off to the left instead of centered so I can have the greeting all on the very vanilla piece. I think that would make for a more even look, but other than that I am very pleased with how it turned out.

Christmas Stamp-a-Stack Details

So it occurs to me know that I posted a Christmas card without any of the information about the class itself. I just get so excited that things get away from me...like class details. I think I may have to watch A Christmas Story this afternoon to get my Christmas "fix". I have to do this on the sly while the husband is at work since he doesn't share my early Christmas enthusiasm.

Anyway back to the task at hand - I will be having a Christmas Stamp-a-Stack on Sunday November 16th at 1 - 4 in the afternoon. If weekends aren't best for you then I was planning on having one on Wednesday November 19th at 1-4 as well, if there was enough interest. We will be making 15 Christmas cards (5 each of 3 designs) with matching envelopes for $25. The class would be at my place so seating is limited. If you are interested in coming just let me know and I will save you a seat.

We will totally be getting into the Christmas mood (if you couldn't guess) with tasty treats and carols playing in the background. It will be so much fun, I can't wait!

Christmas Card preview 1

I love this stamp set, it is Season of Joy, once I saw it I knew I could do something cute with it, it was just a matter of what. There is a really awesome Christmas tree in this set as well, but since I really wanted to use red I went with the poinsettia instead. I cased this from katstamperupper on Splitcoast. It is one of the cards that I was going to do for the Christmas Stamp-a-Stack on Nov 16th. This card has some dry embossing around part of the white and some glitter in the center of the poinsettias. I thought it was elegant but let me know what everyone thinks. Does it need to be spiffed up some, does it seem to simple or is it perfect the way it is? Post your comments to let me know and I can make another preview!

Marker and Technique Clubs

So I have some clubs starting up with some spots still available. I am starting a Marker Club and a Technique Club in January (or sooner if everyone wants). The way these clubs will work is they will be held at my place and there are 8 spots so they will run for 8 months. These clubs will be held together unless there are lots interested people so if you want to join the marker club but your friend wants to join the technique club then you can still come together :)

Everyone in the Marker Club will get

• all the Stampin' Write Markers including the Neutrals (52 markers!)
• the Colour Spritzer Tool
• a box of Blender Pens
• You will also get one month where you are the hostess and then you get a hostess gift and the regular hostess benefits (a free stampset and $20 in merchandise).

At the club night you will learn techniques to use the markers and other new goodies. You will also make a project to take home with you. All you have to do is sign up and supply me with post-dated cheques for $25 (which covers the cost of the products above).

At Technique Club you get a monthly class where you will learn a technique and complete a project with that technique. You also will get a month where you are the hostess and get all the associated perks (free stampset and $20 in merchandise)! All you have to do is sign up and agree to spend at least $25 per class in catalogue merchandise.

Both of these clubs are a great if you are in love with most of the catalogue because you can spread out the cost over 8 months, this keeps the budget happy. Let me know if you are interested in joining, I'd love to show you how to create some great projects.

Finally a demo!

So I have been stamping for years, almost since Stampin' Up! came to Canada I realized when I was looking through the materials in my starter kit. I never though about becoming a demo until I went on maternity leave and started to crave crafting and adult conversation! And what is it that can combine both of those things...stamping of course! As they say the rest was history.

I've been a demo for a few weeks now and I love it, I am so excited about the upcoming Christmas season and the Christmas Stamp-a-Stacks that I have planned. Stay tuned for some sneak peaks of what I have planned for the classes.