FAST & FABULOUS FAUX SILK

I saw this technique on the Stampin' Up! Demonstrator's website and decided to try it for myself.  I can't believe how easy it is to create this beautiful, soft effect.  The added texture over your stamped image just makes you want to reach out and touch it.  Every time I go into a store I can't help but reach out and touch the textures of the fabric and run my fingers over the fine details of jewelry.  I'm sure I drive the salespeople crazy but I can't help myself.  Do you do that too?

This is one of the cards the ladies in my Technique Lover's class created this past week.  I think the vintage look of this card was voted one of their favorites : ) It makes me happy to hear my customers say, "Oh, this is definitely my favorite project."  KWIM?

Here's a close up look at the distressed edges.  It kind of reminds me of vintage lace.  There's virtually little work to achieving this look.  Just take a 1" piece of cardstock and punch one side with Stampin' Up!'s eyelet border punch, run your cardstock through the crimper back and forth and use your bone folder to smooth out the crimping.  Don't run your bone folder over the crimped edge too much.  You'll still want to see some of the crimped detail.  (Using your bone folder will help break down the fibers in the cardstock.)  Next, use your fingernails to rough up the edges and after a short while the fibers in the cardstock will separate giving it a distressed look.

Thanks for peeking in on me today.  I really do enjoy when you stop by to visit me and your lovely comments put me over the moon happy!  Be sure to check back later this week.  I have a card to show you using the lastest Mojo Monday sketch challenge!

BUH-BYE WINTER

This is going to be the last "winter" project I post until later this year.  I'm am so "over" the winter season.  It seems a little strange to post this card when in reality we're experiencing 60 degree weather here in Ohio.  Oh, and guess who is loving it?  Me, of course.  Don't be jealous.  This is Ohio and the weather is subject to change at any given drop of a hat.  No complaining here though.  I'll take the beautiful weather even if it's only for a little while.  I think it gives a person the hope that spring is just around the corner.

I CASed this card from Michele Zindorf.  You can view her original card here.  You just have to love this brayer technique.  It looks so difficult to achieve, but with a little patience, a brayer and a post-it note or two, you can create a beautiful landscape in virtually no time.

SPINNER TREAT CUP CARD

As promised, here is one of the cards created during my class last week.  It's a treat holder using Stampin' Up!'s Sweet Treat Cups.  I saw a video tutorial for this type of card on the Stampin' Up! Demonstrator website.  The card shown in the video was a sunflower.  I tweaked my card a bit and came up with a Valentine themed card.

The circle stamped with "love you" is a wheel with a hole punched from the side of the circle.  It allows the recipient to get the candy out without tearing into the card.  Here's how it works.  Simply turn or "spin" the dial so that the punched out circle is exposed and.................................................

There you have it!  An easy way to get to the candy without destroying all the hard work you put into creating your beautiful card!  What a clever idea!  And, if for some reason, you pour one or two or three too many pieces of candy into the treat cup, you could just eat them!  No need to put the candy back in the bag.  Plus, after cleverly designing and assembling this card, you deserve your own treat!  That's all for me today.  I hope you have enjoyed this cute little Valentine project.  Thanks for peeking in on me.  Your visits mean so much!

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BRIGHT AND CHEERY THANKS

Here's one of the cards my fabulous stamping  friends made at my Spring Fling card classes.  As you can see, there isn't much stamping on this card.  It's made using mostly punches.  Cards made with punches are fast and easy which is great when you need to whip up a card in a flash. 

I also ran the Flower Folds die through my Big Shot to make the large outer layer of the flower.  To give my flower a little depth, I used the edge of a bone folder to curl the petals.  (Similar to how you would use scissors on curling ribbon - KWIM.)  As an added touch and an effort to quit hoarding all my wonderful Stampin' Up! products, I attached a lovely Real Red corduroy button to my sentiment banner.  I used the edge of my square punch tilted sideways in order to get the nice "V" edge along the outside of  my banner.  Believe me when I say this is so much easier than eyeballing the edge and cutting it with scissors.  Try it some time!  You'll see what I mean.  Well, that's it for me tonight!  Thanks for taking time to peek in on me today!

Supplies:  Stamps - Thank You Kindly; Ink - Basic Brown; Paper - Kraft, Bermuda Bay, Very Vanilla, Summer Sun, Real Red, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper; Accessories - Big Shot, Bigz XL Flower Folds die, Tombo Adhesive Glue, Real Red Corduroy Button, Linen Thread, Bone Folder; Punches - Small Oval Punch, 1 1/4" Square Punch, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch